Did you know that granite is derived from magma that cooled in the Earth’s crust over millions of years? Granite is a very hard and stylish rock that you can find in many houses worldwide. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns and while it is very attractive, it can be hard to clean if you’re not familiar with it.
Fortunately, learning how to clean granite doesn’t have to be difficult, but you will need to be careful if you don’t want to damage your granite. Once you learn how to go about granite cleaning, the granite in your home will last for many years to come. Keep reading to learn more about how to clean granite countertops and other granite surfaces.
What to Avoid When Cleaning Granite
Many people think that because granite is such a sturdy type of stone, they can clean it with whatever cleaning product they see fit. However, this isn’t true at all and if you use certain cleaners on granite, you will find that the stone will end up damaged. Granite is actually a porous type of stone and, as a result, it can absorb certain liquids.
If it absorbs the wrong kind of liquid, it may end up stained and you could end up ruining your granite for good. While the sealant on the granite will protect it to a certain extent, it won’t render your granite surfaces invincible. To start, you should avoid anything that has acid in it, even if it is a weak acid like lemon juice.
Many people make homemade cleaners made from lemon juice and vinegar, but both of these substances are very bad for granite. Both of them could end up dissolving the surface of the granite and making the stone look dull as a result. In some cases, they could even end up etching the granite.
You should avoid certain store-bought cleaners as well, such as Windex. Windex contains acid that may be good for cleaning certain surfaces like glass, but certainly not granite. Avoid abrasives at all costs.
The Details
Many people like to make cleaners out of baking soda because it is abrasive and can scrub out stubborn stains. However, when it comes to granite, you will find that baking soda and other abrasives will only function to scratch the stone and ruining. Steel wool is another abrasive that you should avoid for this kind of stone.
It is even worse than baking soda because it is so firm and unforgiving. Finally, avoid cleaners that contain citrus scents. some of these cleaners might have real citrus juice in them which could damage the granite due to the acid content. If you’re unsure whether your cleaner has acid in it, it is best to err on the side of caution and use another kind of cleaner that you’re sure is acid-free.
Now that you know what to avoid when it comes to cleaning granite, how should you go about cleaning this unique stone?
How to Clean Granite Like a Pro
To start, you will need two basic materials: a soft sponge and some dish soap. Wet the sponge with tap water and pour a drop of soap into the middle of the sponge. With these two materials, you’d be surprised at how much cleaning you can get done.
A bit of soap and water will be enough to remove most of the dirt and grime from your granite surfaces. It is important that you choose a soft sponge, however. Better yet, you should invest in a microfiber cloth that is much softer than any sponge you’ll be able to find.
This is important because granite scratches very easily and the last thing you want to do when cleaning is to realize that all of your efforts ended up ruining your granite. When cleaning, make sure that too much water doesn’t end up sitting on the granite as it might absorb into the stone and discolor it.
What You Need to Know
Your sponge or cloth should only be slightly damp. When wiping down the counter, move in small circular motions rather than up and down or back and forth. Circular motions will make it much easier to pick up all of the dirt and grime on the granite. Moving your rag back and forth will only serve to smear the dirt around.
Once you’ve wiped down the entire surface, don’t forget to dry every inch of the granite. Again, be sure to use a soft cloth for this and move in circular motions. Doing this will not only remove the excess water, but it will also make your granite very shiny.
If you don’t want to use soap and water, you can always use a special granite cleaner (go to 2getadvanced.com to learn more). Granite cleaners tend to be much more convenient than soap and water and they can save you quite a bit of time.
To remove stains, you will want to use special granite stain removers. These will help to break down the pigment of the stain and lift it up and out of the stone. Best of all, they won’t damage the granite in the process.
Everything You Need to Know About Keeping Granite Clean
Learning how to clean granite isn’t as hard as you might imagine. All you need to do is avoid certain products such as vinegar or lemon as they might damage the stone. Instead, opt for soap and water or a special type of granite cleaner.
As long as you do that, your granite should be in great shape. To learn more, check out the other blogs on our website.
