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.
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).
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.
Don't use harsh chemicals, acidic cleaners, or abrasive scrubbing tools: Stick with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft microfiber cloth. Steer clear of vinegar, which can dull the granite and weaken the sealant—though there are plenty of other ways to clean with vinegar around the house!
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.
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.
A half teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to 2 cups of water, applied via spray bottle, is typically all it takes to care for granite slabs. Be especially careful of acidic, caustic cleaners to prevent the dulling of granite surfaces.
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.
Bar Keeper's Friend is a reliable choice for cleaning around the kitchen and home. The granite cleaner and polish kit comes with a spray formula and a microfiber cloth so you can get the best shine. It is safe for granite, quartz, silestone, and soapstone, and won't scratch delicate surfaces, even with daily use.
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 should be avoided.
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.
Instead, make a paste out of baking soda and water and apply it to the problem area. Let the paste sit on the granite for 15 minutes to an hour. If the paste dries up place a damp cloth over it to wet it again and wipe it away. Still, having issues with cloudy film no matter what you try?
Any typical oil will work, for example vegetable or olive oil. Apply a small amount of oil to a soft, clean cloth, and buff the granite using circular motions. Don't forget to polish the edges of your counter! Oil will give your granite a nice shine, and also help it repel water.
Granite is a composite of magma and different kinds of minerals such as quartz, feldspar, amphiboles, and mica. The mineral mica is found in a lot of granite, and it is one of the things that gives granite a shimmery shine in certain places.
Rock Doctor Granite and Quartz Polish is the best polishing agent for granite and other natural stone surfaces. If you are looking for a product that both keeps your granite's glossy finish intact and protects the stone from moisture, look no further than the Rock Doctor Granite and Quartz Polish.
Mix one part water and one part rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Spray it on the countertop and let the disinfectant sit for five minutes. Rinse with a damp cloth and buff the granite with a dry microfiber cloth to restore the shine.
As good as a cleaner for windows and other glass surfaces, Windex has some elements on its compositions that can permanently damage granite when used for a long time. For that reason, you should never use Windex on granite.
After shaping a granite edge, it is ready to polish. Polishing is usually done either wet or dry. Wet polishing is done with water; dry polishing without water. Wet polishing will usually give an excellent polish in the least time for most stones.
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.
Most of the time, stained granite countertops can be cleaned with household items so common that you probably already have them in your pantry. No matter the source of the stain, start with baking soda.
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.
The list of best disinfectant for granite countertops is short and alcohol-based. Isopropyl, more commonly known as rubbing alcohol, is considered to be the most widely available and effective disinfectant for granite. Rubbing alcohol is a natural bactericide and can also kill fungus and viruses.
Mix baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and warm water in a bowl until there is a thick paste. 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.