Granite countertops are both gorgeous and resilient, but it's important to properly clean and maintain this stone surface. Use these tips and common cleaning products to keep your granite countertops pristine.

Tools

  • Microfiber Cloths
  • Cleaning Cloths
  • Spray Bottle (Optional)

Materials

  • Dish Soap
  • Paper Towels
  • Granite Cleaner (Optional)
  • Granite Sealant (Optional)

How to Clean Granite Countertops

Maintaining the sealant of your granite countertop is essential to preserving its inherent beauty and strength. To avoid the buildup of food, oil and residue, clean your countertop after every use, removing crumbs from the toaster or grease speckles that come from pan-frying bacon.

How to Spot-Clean Granite Countertops

To spot-clean your countertop, use a mixture of dish soap and water.

Step 1: Prepare the Surface

Create a mixture of mild dish soap and water. Dip a cleaning cloth into the mixture and wring out the cloth until it's merely damp.

Step 2: Scrub the Counter

Wipe the countertop in a circular motion, applying extra pressure to any dried-on pieces of food. Repeat as necessary.

Step 3: Wipe the Counter

Wipe away any dish soap residue with a cleaning cloth, microfiber cloth or paper towel.

Step 4: Dry the Counter

Use another cleaning cloth or paper towel to dry the damp area.

Tip:

Keep a spray bottle filled with a diluted dish soap mixture to easily and quickly clean up any messes.

How to Deep-Clean Granite Countertops

For tough grime and buildup, use a specialized granite countertop cleaner. Most are easy to use, but follow the instructions on the bottle for the best results.

Step 1: Apply the Cleaner

Apply your counter cleaner or granite stain remover to your target area.

Step 2: Let It Soak

Let the cleaner soak for a couple of minutes so it can penetrate the grime or stain.

Step 3: Wipe the Counter

Wipe away the cleaner with a cleaning cloth, microfiber cloth or paper towel.

What to Avoid

When you're cleaning your countertop, it's important to keep the following in mind:

  • Avoid generic cleaners such as bleach, common household cleaners and degreasers.
  • Bathroom cleaners usually contain some sort of abrasive component and aren't food safe, so don't use them.

How to Seal a Granite Countertop

Granite is porous and absorbs liquids, grease and grime. It's important to seal and protect it to prolong its longevity.

A granite sealant works its way into the pores so that other materials can't. Water-based sealants vary in how long they last as well as whether they're food safe.

Tip:

To see how quickly your countertop absorbs water, find a discreet area and drip one drop of water onto the counter. Observe how quickly the granite absorbs the water droplet. If it's absorbed in fewer than 15 minutes, it's time to reseal your countertop.

To seal your granite countertop, follow these steps.

Step 1: Clean the Counter

Using diluted dish soap, wipe down and rinse the counter until clean, letting it dry for 24 hours before sealing.

Step 2: Apply the Sealant

Following the manufacturer's instructions, apply the sealant.

Step 3: Wait for the Sealant to Dry

Give the sealant time to set properly — usually 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 4: Wipe the Counter

Using a clean, dry cloth, wipe down the countertop in broad, circular motions.

Tip:

Test your sealant on a small, discreet piece of counter to make sure it doesn't discolor your granite.

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