Acetone is safe for any kitchen countertops whether they are made of laminate, marble, corian, quartz, or granite. Test the acetone on an unseen part of the surface first, to make sure it won't discolor the area. Some surfaces, like finished granite, will require you to repair the finish after removing the glue.
Although granite is harder and less porous than marble or limestone, it is even more vulnerable to strong alkaline chemicals, including ammonia and harsh detergents.
Acetone, the main ingredient in nail polish remover, is a stone-safe organic compound. For the purpose of removing stains on natural stone, however, forget your nail polish remover. Some nail polish removers contain other chemicals, and non-acetone nail polish remover has no acetone whatsoever.
Watch out for red wine rings if you leave your glass on the countertop, or a leaking carton of fresh blueberries. Some other culprits include coffee, tomato juice, grape juice, mustard, citrus products, toothpaste, and anything with chemicals.
Mix a paste of baking soda and water that has the consistency of sour cream. Slather the paste on the stain. Cover the paste with plastic wrap. Let set for 24 hours, then remove the poultice, and clean the area.
A mix between bleach and water can help remove tough stains, such as food and drink stains, including coffee and wine on sealed granite countertops.
Products that have acetone are safe to use when you follow the manufacturer's instructions. The chemical is very flammable, so you need to avoid using things like paint and nail polish remover near open flames. Breathing in large amounts of acetone can cause health problems like: Nose, throat, eye, and lung irritation.
If left to long on plastic, it can actually dissolve the plastic causing permanent surface damage. Due to the difficulty in restoring the finish of the plastic surface, the only fix is often to replace the part completely. Acetone can also cause severe surface damage on paintwork if left for too long.
Acetone can help to remove some of the pesky stains that can affect your granite. You should keep in mind that you need to take extra care when using it.
Still, when you clean your granite surfaces, avoid using anything acidic. "This includes lemon juice, products with citric acid, vinegar, or corrosive cleaning agents, such as bleach or ammonia," she says.
Rubbing alcohol is a natural bactericide and can also kill fungus and viruses. It has no ill effects on your granite or the seal on your granite so it's an ideal way to keep countertops clean. The list of disinfectants that are harmful for granite countertops is very long.
Some cleaners are too abrasive or acidic for quartz. Products that are not specifically made for cleaning stone, such as oven cleaners, lime scale removers, bleach, and acetone, can damage quartz by discoloring or bleaching out the resin binding the quartz materials together.
Conditions to Avoid: Open flames, sparks, static discharge, heat and other ignition sources. Prolonged exposure to sunlight. Incompatible Materials: Reacts violently with: oxidizing agents (e.g. peroxides), organic acids (e.g. acetic acid), strong reducing agents (e.g. hydrides).
Polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are both resistant to acetone too. In fact, the bottle of acetone I have in my workshop is made of HDPE.
Solvents can clean oils and organic residues that appear on surfaces. Unfortunately, solvents themselves (especially acetone) leave their own residues.
Acetone has very weak inter-molecular forces and therefore evaporates at room temperature. No water is needed to wash it away unless you work in a freezer in Antarctica (or if you just have a cold laboratory). An efficient method of washing glassware is to use water first, then acetone.
Acetone can be bad for the skin when it's on for too long or when you're exposed to large amounts. The fumes can also cause irritation to your nose, throat, lungs, and eyes.
Generally, acetone is a great cleaning solvent that is commonly used on metals, wood, fiberglass, epoxy, polyester resin, and glass to remove contaminants, dirt, grease, wax, and oils.
Acetone reacts with OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); ACETIC ACID; and NITRIC ACID to form explosive peroxides. Acetone attacks PLASTICS.
Mid-Range Fix
Buy a polishing powder designed for natural stone countertops. You'll generally have to mix the powder with water to form a paste. Then “polish” problem areas with a soft cloth. Some products require you to leave the paste on overnight (mostly for stain removal).
Though commonly used as a wound disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide also works wonders on your granite tops. A solution of hydrogen peroxide removes stains without bleaching or discoloring your countertops.