(Image credit: Cambria Bold) What's the best way to clean granite countertops? We've read a lot of varying views on this — use Windex! No, never use Windex! Use a special granite-only cleaner! No, you don't need a special granite-only cleaner! — but after doing our research, we think we've discovered a consensus among stone experts on how to care for granite. You really don't need any special cleaners to get those countertops shiny and streak-free. DO: Make sure your granite countertop is sealed. While granite is a very hard surface and less porous than marble, unsealed or weakly sealed granite will soak up oils, spills, and stains. To check whether your granite is sealed, leave a few drops of water on the surface. If it beads up, you have a secure seal. If after a few minutes the water has soaked into the granite, then it's time to reseal the stone. DON'T: Use harsh or abrasive cleaners and sponges, Windex, acidic cleaners like vinegar, lemon, lime, or anything with ammonia or bleach.

Frequent use of these chemicals will dull and weaken the sealant over time. Basically, the harsher the cleaner, the quicker it will break down the sealant. DO: Wipe up spills as soon as you notice them. DO: Use warm water, a mild or gentle dish soap, and a nubby washcloth or microfiber cloth for daily wipedowns. A well-sealed granite countertop is relatively impervious to bacteria. Hot water and dish soap should be adequate for daily sanitizing. However, if a stronger disinfectant is desired, mix together a 50:50 solution of water and 91% isopropyl alcohol. Spray onto the granite, allow to sit for 3-5 minutes, then rinse with water and dry with a clean microfiber cloth. Avoid bleach or ammonia-based cleaners. There are granite cleaners out there, like this one from Method and this one from Granite Gold. Some all-purpose surface cleaners also specify that they're safe for granite. Use these cleaners if you want — just know that you don't have to buy them if you don't want to.

The cleaning tutorial below will work just fine! Mild or gentle dish soap Clean microfiber cloth or terrycloth towelCleaning granite countertops is really a cinch despite what you may have read. Myths and mis-interpretations that get passed around create confusion, but you don't need to be a stone savant or attend a special class tobest pool cleaner with leaves learn how to clean granite countertops quickly and effectively.auto pool cleaner above ground Answers to your questions and all the information you need regarding proper granite countertop care are found below.best pools las vegas mgmFollow the various links for more detailed tips & advice on sealing granite countertops, how sealers work, Do's & Don'ts, etc.best way to clean grout between ceramic tiles

First, lets start with a basic outline and a... Hot water and dish rag or sponge is all you need to clean spills and wipe away crumbs to keep your countertops clean and tidy throughout theAt the end of the day, a quick spray and wipe of the main areas of use with a good Granite & Marble Spray Cleaner is sufficient to clean, disinfect and protect your countertops and provide a streak-free shine.handheld steam cleaner pet Remove (or move aside) all items on the counter and use the granite cleaner over the entire surface and edges todry steam carpet cleaning reviews remove all dust and debris that collects around appliances,This also serves to condition the stone and maintain Temporary polishes like the Topical Conditioning Stone Polish can be used periodically (weekly to monthly as you like) to enhance the shine for the ultimate in natural stone and granite care.

Such topical dressings are not for maintenance or repair. And such products are not what make the counter top shiny. The shine or "polish" is achieved by big machines using intense friction at the factory.This type of product "enhances" the shine (like waxing a car), improves cleaning and provides a slight bit of protection. Various stone care products call themselves "polishes", but will have completely different purposes.If your granite countertops have become dull for some reason you will most likely need to consult a professional. (FYI... marble dullness is a different story and )No chemical or product will restore damage to a granite surface (marble and travertine are a different story. In most cases, DIY methods exist).A topical polish may improve the look a bit, but will not correct the problem. And since it's not meant to be permanent, it will wear off with use and cleaning. Testing for sealing granite countertops annually is a good idea to determine when you need to re-seal.

However, that does NOT mean you should be sealing every year.  will likely know anyway that it is time to re-seal when you start to notice that water around the sink darkens the stone... meaning that itInsider Tip: When shopping for any natural stone you should perform the Lemon Juice Test prior to purchase on a sample of the exact slab to determine suitability of the stone for its intended use. kitchen countertops especially you don't want a stone that is too absorbent (there are some) or a stone that will etch like marble. Of course, you should also perform the water test upon installation (if you didn't do it while shopping) to determine if your natural stone even needs sealing (many do not and cannot be sealed). You'll hear and read that you should re-seal every year or every 3-5 years, but the proper frequency for applying a granite sealer is not set in stone (ohh!) and really depends on a number of variables. you don't have to know anything about all the factors or even your

stone... results from testing will tell you the whole story and give you a clear answer to seal, re-seal or not. When necessary, I recommend SenGuard or these sealers.Just like cleaning granite countertops, sealing is a very easy job and unless you have a stone that really shouldn't be sealed (i.e. some black, blue, brown or green varieties), then re-sealing when needed will ensure that your countertops are wellLearn more about how a stone sealer works (click here). Now that you understand the basic routine you should follow for cleaning granite countertops, take a look at our countertop care: Do's & Don'ts page for more guidelines concerning specific situations and activities. Answers To Cleaning Granite Countertop QuestionsClick on the links below to read detailed answers to common (and unusual) marble cleaning questions. Black Galaxy Water Spots  QUESTION: I just recently had installed Black Galaxy graninte countertops in all bathrooms, the kitchen countertops and island.

I have so many water … Gas Cap Stain On Venetian Gold Granite  QUESTION: I have venetian gold granite counter tops. My husband laid a gas top from a mower on the counter in two areas. It took the shine away … Dark Spots on New Granite Countertop  QUESTION: Hi, We just moved into our newly built house and we had installed the giallo venegiano granite for our kitchen countertops. Stains on Black Galaxy Granite  QUESTION: I had black galaxy granite countertops installed in my wet bar. After one family event, there were glass ring "etched" stains all over … Candle Wax Stain on Black Galaxy Granite  QUESTION: How do you clean stains from spilled candle wax on my Black Galaxy Granite countertop? My husband wiped the candle wax off immediately … Cleaning Granite Countertops With Hydrogen Peroxide  QUESTION: I recently read that many hospitals use Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) to clean surfaces, floors and counter tops instead of bleach or chlorine …

Cleaning Granite Countertops Advice Not rated yet QUESTION: My wife and I just installed granite tiles. What exactly is the process for cleaning granite countertops for the first time. Do we just … Cleaning Granite Countertop CLR Damage Not rated yet QUESTION: How do I remove CLR stain from surface. The surface is now cloudy in certain areas of the granite countertop. Professional Granite Floor Cleaning Not rated yet QUESTION: I have a multi-coloured granite floor. When I bought the house, it was all shiny. Now it has waxy looking build-ups , and I swear there … Dark Rings On Ubatuba Granite Countertops Not rated yet QUESTION: How do I remove dark water-rings on Ubatuba? ANSWER: Huh... don't know that I can answer that one without more info. Cleaning UbaTuba Granite Not rated yet QUESTION: We have UbaTuba and the saleperson from the builder did not recommend that we seal it. So, I asked her what is the best for cleaning granite …Granite Counter Top Maintenance (main page)