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.
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.
Do use a mild detergent soap. 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.
Dawn Power Wash is safe quartz. Use it for extra cleaning power or as your daily cleaner.
Oxalic Acid is a mild cleaning solution similar to Purex and is most effective for removing rust and mud stains from quartz crystals. It is recommended that you clean your crystals outside or in a well ventilated area. Rubber gloves may be used when placing crystals in acid solution and when removing them.
A solution of mild dish soap and water is the perfect quartz countertop cleaner for daily care and maintenance. Either cold or warm water works well. However, be sure to use a soft cloth as opposed to brushes with tough brittles. This solution can be used to wipe the countertops as often as needed.
DON'T: Use harsh or abrasive cleaners and sponges.
Windex; acidic cleaners, like vinegar, lemon, lime; or anything with ammonia or bleach should be avoided. 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.
For regular granite cleaning, the best cleaner is nothing more sophisticated than mild dish soap diluted with water. (You can also make a homemade granite cleaner made with a base of rubbing alcohol.) Wet a sponge with water from the tap and squirt dish soap into its center. Bear in mind that granite scratches easily.
Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (specific products from Lithofin for example), or a dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a clean soft cloth for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks.
Keep It Simple to Clean Natural Stone
“I always recommend starting slow, and if you need something a little more aggressive, going up from there,” Alicandro says. You can use any type of mild soap detergent, such as dish or hand soap, and mix it with a little water.
The safest liquid to try first is water with a little dish soap. Soak your finds in soapy water for a day to loosen any packed-in dirt, and wipe or brush them clean. An abrasive toothpaste can also dislodge grime from smaller surfaces. Many collectors choose to remove calcite from rock and mineral specimens.
Simply brush the stone surface with a scrubbing brush using a mixture of water and washing up liquid or vinegar, and make sure to rinse off the large stones with a hose once the entire surface has been cleaned. This is a great method for removing algae in particular which is far more likely to surface near damp areas.
Clean with warm water and a couple drops of dish soap: Wet a cloth and apply a bit of soap to the countertop or your cloth. Wipe the entire surface once to clean it. Wring your rag in fresh water periodically to avoid spreading food, dirt and grease.
Scrub the Surface
Since granite countertops have a sealant on them to keep them shiny and stain-resistant, you want to avoid using anything too acidic or basic on the granite. 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.
Pour one-half cup of rubbing alcohol, one-half teaspoon of dish soap, and one-and-a-half cups of warm water into the spray bottle. The disinfecting properties of alcohol, coupled with the de-greasing powers of dish soap, will deliver a one-two punch to banish bacteria and grime from the granite surface.
Wash the area several times with mild soap and warm water. If the stain persists, use a small amount of hydrogen peroxide diluted in warm water to gently wash the area. This should remove the worst of the discoloration. If all else fails, get in touch with your countertop contractor for help.
Windex contains ingredients that can permanently damage the granite. While the most common damage done by Windex is dulling the shine of the countertops, it can also cause pitting.
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.
Magic Erasers are abrasive, so avoid using them on delicate countertops such as marble and granite. Not only can you damage the sealant but the eraser may make the countertop appear dull.
The following products are safe to use when disinfecting quartz countertops: Isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol, can be mixed with water to make an effective disinfectant. Mix 2 parts rubbing alcohol to 1 part water—we recommend using a spray bottle—and apply as needed.
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.
To get them looking beautiful again in no time, the best way to clean them is to use dish soap, warm water, nonabrasive glass cleaner, microfiber cloths, and nonabrasive sponges. Maintain clean quartz countertops daily and you won't have to worry about any damage to your quartz countertop down the road.