They appear as chalky white residue or light-colored spots on your granite surface. Unlike simple water stains, they do not disappear on their own. To remove hard water stains from your granite countertops, you will need to use a specialized cleaner for granite, such as Granite Gold® Daily Cleaner.
Usually you only need a soft bristle brush and a mild detergent. Just rub in a circular motion and the water spots should disappear quickly. Sometimes these little stains are just soap scum and can even be removed with a damp cloth.
However, if the granite is unsealed, the liquid may penetrate the stone's pores. Nevertheless, even when this occurs, the stain is not necessarily permanent. A topical paste can be applied to draw out the moisture and effectively remove the stain in most cases.
Granite Water Stain
If you have discovered a water stain on your granite counters, there is no need to panic. It can normally be removed easily. Use a soft-bristled brush, mild soap and warm water to lift the spot from the counter.
Sealed granite is NOT waterproof. Water left on the surface will soak in a bit and make a dark area that disappears when it dries out. Not a big deal and not a problem. There are some sealers that are more like a clearcoat on a cars paint that actually do waterproof the granite but they are expensive ($10 - $12 per sq.
You can identify hard water stains by their appearance. They appear as chalky white residue or light-colored spots on your granite surface.
The porous surface of stone allows water to cling to it and absorb, darkening the appearance. Usually, liquids that have been spilled on your countertop will evaporate within half an hour, so even if you have very porous granite, spilling something like water or oil isn't going to permanently damage your counter.
Typically it takes about 12 hours for granite to dry prior to applying sealer. This is assuming normal, room temperature drying methods. Optimal sealing conditions are at or above room temperature.
Sometimes, a thorough cleaning can help lighten darkened granite. Use a granite-specific cleaner to gently cleanse the surface, removing any surface stains or residues.
After scraping away the residue and cleaning the stone with water, you can use a polishing powder to restore the shine. These polishing products are safe for most stone. You will need to reseal the stone after completing this process. Another option for small areas is Stone Scrub or Acetone to remove residue.
So is oil spillage. To remove an oil stain from granite, baking soda mixed with water should do the trick. Pure acetone is also used to remove oil stains from granite.
If left unsealed, granite countertops can become vulnerable to stains and damage over time. Granite, being a porous material, naturally absorbs liquids. Without proper sealing, liquids spilled in the kitchen, such as wine, oil, coffee, or food can seep into the pores, leaving behind stubborn stains.
If stubborn stains persist after following the above techniques, try using baking soda to remove any remaining marks, says Sokolowski. Mix baking soda and water until a paste forms. Gently spread the paste over the stain. Let the paste sit overnight.
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.
In these cases, it will usually dry back out within 15-20 minutes. In some cases, particularly with oils or grease, liquid left on the counter can soak in and create a stain. However, even when this happens, the stain is not necessarily permanent.
Baking soda is a classic method of removing hard water stains from a multitude of surfaces. Simply mix baking soda and water until you have the consistency of a paste, and then apply the paste to the surface with water stains. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then scrub it gently with an old toothbrush or sponge.
Your granite countertop is sealed when installed, and it is recommended that it be resealed one year after installation or sooner if you start to notice water stains that evaporate slowly in a given area. You might also consider sealing granite if you are selling your home.
Why Granite Can Stain. Imagine granite countertops like a sponge, but a really hard one! This sponge can soak up things like water, juice, or even oil if they're spilled on it. That's because granite has tiny holes in it called pores.
While it's not generally wise to use abrasive cleaners on your natural stone countertops, you can safely treat stubborn hard water stains with a paste of baking soda and water. Simply apply it to the affected area and scrub it with a soft-bristled brush, then rinse with water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
It has a natural water resistance that helps protect it. However, it isn't water-proof. Because granite is a stone, it is also naturally porous. And while it won't absorb in the same way as, say, sandstone or limestone, it will still absorb bits of moisture that can eventually damage your counters.
The granite erodes very slowly at only one inch every 10,000 years, while the mica schist is eroded relatively quickly into canyons and gullies. Water is the main erosive force threatening to make any real change to the mountain. Water freezing over the years can wedge the blocks of rock apart.
Granite is a natural stone made up of rocks like mica, feldspar, and quartz. When water touches granite, it can briefly change the way it looks and make the colour look darker. This happens because water works as a magnifier, making the natural colours and patterns of the stone stand out more.
You can use acetone on granite but for a home remedy, mix distilled white vinegar and water in equal parts as the acid in the vinegar will help dissolve the limescale and the water reduces its potency preventing damage to the granite.