Similarly, never use steel wool or abrasive scrubbing pads on granite because these can scratch the surface, leaving you with difficult and costly repairs. According to the majority of online cleaning tips, the best way to clean granite countertops is with mild dish soap and water.
Never use coarser grade steel wool, as it will easily scratch the granite surface, which can be difficult and expensive to repair. Test your cleaning method on a small and hidden area of the granite first to make sure it will not damage it.
Use the flat side of a razor blade for removing stuck on tape residue, dried paint, glue, dried food, etc. Use #0000 or finer steel wool to remove dried water spots, smudges, hazy areas, and for general cleaning to bring out the shine. Do not use the steel wool wet.
Slight surface scratches may be buffed with a dry 0000 steel wool. Deeper scratches and nicks in the surface of the stone should be repaired and re-polished by a professional. Always remember to rinse the stone thoroughly and remove all the excess residual of steel wool dust as it may that may cause stain marks.
Avoiding Scratches Granite is a quartz based material and can therefore be scratched by quartz or anything harder. Knives will not scratch granite, although cutting on your countertops is not recommended as it will very quickly dull your knives. Diamonds will scratch granite, so please be careful with jewelry.
Saturate the granite surface with dish-rag soaked with hot soapy water and leave it for some time. With little pressure and cleaning, some scratches will fade. Rinse once or twice with hot water. Light superficial scratches will disappear, a deeper scratch will remain as is.
Unsealed Counters
Acidic spills, oily foods and strongly colored foods like wine or grape juice can leave their mark on your counter. You can also scratch or dull granite by placing a hot pan directly on the surface. Engagement rings can also hurt unsealed counters.
It requires special abrasives and polishing pads. Steel wool can be helpful for some granite countertop maintenance situations (like hard water build-up) to remove gunk stuck on the surface and it can in some instances buff out light scratches.
So, yes I do recommend a good stainless steel polish and granite/stone cleaner for your home kitchen, as well as a basic cleaning kit including white vinegar (floors), Murphy's Oil (wood cabinets), Pine Oil, dish soap (granite, stove burners and top), and Soft Scrub with bleach cleanser (porcelain sink).
CARING FOR YOUR SURFACE
When caring for any natural stone surface, it is very important not to use any harsh commercial detergents or ammonia based cleansers. This includes products such as VIM, Mr. Clean, S.O.S. pads, Windex, et cetera.
Clorox, whether it is Clorox wipes or the Multi-Purpose cleaning fluid, is not safe to use for cleaning and disinfecting your granite. The multi-purpose cleaner contains bleach, which is extremely harmful for granite and many other natural stones.
To clean granite most often you want to use just a wet rag or paper towel. Make sure the paper towel is sturdy and won't shed or rip apart on you as you wipe. That's why I use Viva® Vantage Paper Towels. I can get them wet and wipe down my granite counters without it falling apart on me.
If you're lucky, the dullness on your granite countertops is simply the buildup of soap film. Using dish soap or other soap-based cleaners to clean your countertops will result in a film that makes surfaces look dull. It's an easy fix, though. Simply get a quality soap film remover to get the shine back.
Can granite be damaged? Even though granite is one of the most durable naturally occurring materials and is almost indestructible, granite countertops can be damaged. The good thing is that most forms of damage are the result of mistakes that can be avoided.
To put a shine on your granite, pour a little cooking oil on a soft cleaning cloth and wipe it across the countertop. Buff it gently. This makes the counter a little bit stain-resistant and gives it a glossy shine. Even if you know how to clean countertops correctly, your granite will need to be resealed periodically.
From their website: "Wet & Forget Shower has been tested on ceramic, natural stone, chrome, brass, bronze, nickel, copper, acrylic, rubber, vinyl, stainless steel, granite, slate, glass tiles, cultured marble and fiberglass. Wet & Forget is not recommended for use on natural marble."
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. Spray it onto the granite, allow to sit for three to five minutes, and then rinse with water and dry with a clean microfiber cloth. Avoid bleach or ammonia-based cleaners.
Don't Use Harsh Cleaners on Wood Flooring or Furniture Surfaces.
A filmy haze on granite countertops is often the result of allowing sealer to dry on the surface of the stone. Seal stone correctly by applying sealer in three-foot sections. Immediately buff the sealer into the stone until the surface is completely dry. Never simply apply a sealer and allow it to “soak in.”
Cleaning Granite With Windex
Windex can be used safely on granite just as it can be used on a glass surface. Spray a light mist of Windex onto the granite countertop, and wipe off with a dry cleaning rag.
Mix a poultice paste of baking soda and water (for oil-based stains), or baking soda and peroxide (for others), until it's as thick as peanut butter. Spread the mixture over the spot, cover it with plastic wrap that you've poked a few holes in, and secure it with masking tape. Let the poultice paste stand for 24 hours.
The natural stone is mostly scratch-resistant or at least hides small scratches well, due to the depth of its colour and patterns. Granite will only be scratched by another piece of granite or with specially sharpened tools designed to cut through the material.
High impact blows can harm granite just like any other solid surface. Because of its crystalline structure, granite can chip if subjected to sharp hard objects. A chip can be filled with a granite dust and epoxy mixture.