Don't pour soap directly on granite countertops. Stone is porous, and full strength soap can seep into pores causing tough to remove stains. Always dilute your soap with water before cleaning. Don't use an abrasive scrubber.
Follow these tips for the best way to clean granite: Don't use harsh chemicals, acidic cleaners, or abrasive scrubbing tools: Stick with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft microfiber cloth.
Luckily, everything you'll need to clean your hard surfaces can already be found in your home: Concentrated dish soap that's tough on stains and grease while staying gentle on stainless steel, granite, and glassware, like Dawn® Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray. Soft cloth and sponge.
Clean stone surfaces with warm water and a mild soap such as a clear Dawn Liquid Soap. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Change the rinse water frequently.
Frequent use of vinegar, Windex or bleach will dull the granite and weaken the sealant. Instead, a little soap and water should do the trick. Add dish soap and warm water to a sponge, get a good lather and begin cleaning. Avoid using abrasive pads, as granite can be scratched.
A mild dish soap is the handiest cleaner you have that is safe for granite. Alternatively, consider a commercial cleaner that's specifically formulated for granite. Many natural cleaning products are also safe for use on this surface, but read the label for confirmation before using them.
If you have a quartz countertop, you should be able to use Dawn Dish Soap without any issues. However, if you notice any discoloration or staining, you might need to switch to another brand of dish soap.
Look for terms such as “soft” and “gentle on hands.” Among the recommended dish soap brands are Palmolive, Ivory, and as mentioned earlier, Dawn. Avoid anything that says “antibacterial” or “industrial strength” or the like, as these usually spell bad news for marble countertops.
Daily granite countertop care is as easy as cleaning with a gentle cleanser like Murphy's Oil Soap or mild dishwashing liquid. If needed you can use a synthetic scrubbing pad to clean your granite counter. With the proper maintenance, granite countertops stay new-looking for a long time.
If you're looking to get your granite clean and shiny in a pinch, Rapinchuk's favorite daily cleaning formula is combining 1.5 cups water, 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol, and 0.25 teaspoons castile or dish soap. “Pour in a spray bottle, spray on counters, and wipe clean,” she advises, with no rinsing necessary.
Disinfecting wipes are convenient and they are effective but you should avoid using them on granite or any other natural stone surface.
A well-sealed granite countertop is relatively impervious to bacteria. Hot water and dish soap should be adequate for daily sanitizing. However, if a disinfectant is desired, reach for a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol.
Acidic or Abrasive Cleaners
However, because granite is a naturally occurring stone, using acidic or abrasive cleaners could cause problems in the long run. In addition to causing discoloration, the wrong cleaners could also dissolve protective sealants or scratch the surface of your counter.
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.
Abrasive cleaners such as bleach, ammonia, window cleaners, and all-purpose cleaners should never be used on your granite countertops. These harsh chemicals can remove the protective sealant and expose your countertops to deterioration and stains. Even products that claim to be natural should be avoided.
“Dish soap does have a way of leaving streaks if it isn't rinsed,” says Jessica Ek of the American Cleaning Institute. What to use instead: “A product formulated to clean a particular surface or material is always the most effective option,” Ek says.
Do Not Use On Granite or Marble. If you have soft surface countertops like granite or marble, step away from the magic eraser. You can use them on laminate, Corian, quartz, and other solid surface countertops, but do a spot check.
When using Dawn Powerwash, you should avoid cleaning porous surfaces such as marble and other soft natural stones or untreated wood. It is also best to keep Dawn Powerwash away from painted surfaces, too. Always make sure to test new cleaning products on inconspicuous areas of surfaces first.
Dawn dish soap is by and large the best of the mild detergents to use. It is gentle enough to keep your finish on your deck, but strong enough to remove tough stains.
Regular Dawn or other dish soaps work well. Do use a soft cloth. No special tools needed here: a soft cloth will help remove all grime and dirt without damaging countertops.
For stubborn dried spills use a soft cloth and gentle common kitchen liquid cleaner such as, Dawn Ultra Antibacterial Dishwashing Liquid. Green Works Dish Soap. Ivory Dish Soap (All Scents)
Granite polishing powder: Also called stone polishing compound, powder offers a quick and easy way to put a fresh gleam on granite while removing minor scratches and stains. If using it dry, choose a buff polishing pad to work the polish over the surface of the granite in a steady, circular pattern.
Typically, granite should be resealed every 12 to 18 months. Nevertheless, there are some other factors that come into play when determining how often to reseal granite countertops. For example, a lighter colored granite will need to be resealed more often because it is typically more porous.
Clorox and Lysol sprays and wipes are convenient, but they are not safe for granite countertops. They rarely contain bleach, but they do generally contain citric acid to help remove soap scum. Avoid using bleach as well.