Granite is the most popular and widely used stone for making countertops. It is a hard rock that won’t be easy to break, but its chances of chipping or breaking increase when it gets engineered. Granite countertops give an elegant look to the kitchen and bathroom, but with time when people ignore their proper care, they may get stains, chips, and burn marks.
Removing stains from granite countertops is not too hard; you can do it yourself easily with the help of baking soda and other materials. But, first, you have to consider the type of stain, is it hard or easily removable? And then make a solution to wipe it out. Here we will guide you to remove all possible spots on countertops safely and quickly.
Understanding the stains and their types
Usually, stains occur due to different substances like oil, water, tea, & others; when their remains are left on the granite countertop for weeks, the pores in granite start absorbing it and make a big dark spot. Some of them are easy to remove with the help of water, and some spots vanish with baking soda.
Let’s dive deeper and learn about different granite countertop stains and how you can easily remove them.
Tea & coffee stains
While preparing tea or coffee, sometimes it spills on the worktop surface and causes stains. The stain becomes hard and makes the look of the countertop ugly. Whether the stain is of a cup ring or a spill, we will guide you to remove it.
Take a dry cloth, put some toothpaste on it, and rub it on the stain with little force. Now, prepare a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and apply it to the stain. Keep rubbing the stain with a cloth; you will notice the dark spot vanishes slowly. When you see the stain has completely gone, wipe out the surface with water. You can apply granite sealer to protect the countertop from future stains.
Soap stains
The sink is the major area where stains are appeared because of soap scum. As the sink is used multiple times a day, you may forget to clean the soap residue on the countertop surface when you are in a hurry. This residue dries and makes a stain on the surface. Soap containers are also responsible for stains, so let’s learn how you can kick out these stains from your granite countertop.
Try cleaning with a soft cloth: Take a soft cloth and dip it into the water to make it wet. Gently rub it on the stained area and keep doing it for 3-4 minutes. If you see the stain disappearing, continue the process until the whole stain vanishes.
Prepare a poultice: Again, we will use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a poultice; you can also use acetone in the mixture. Apply the poultice on the areas with stains and forget to cover it with plastic wrap. Let it dry and check the poultice on the next day. Use a plastic scraper to remove the dried mixture, and in the end, wipe out the surface with water.
Use isopropyl alcohol: Using isopropyl alcohol is an effective and safe way to remove stop stains because it is non-acidic and has neutral pH. Take a soft cloth, put some isopropyl alcohol on it, and start rubbing over the surface with stains. Keep adding alcohol and rubbing the stain till the stain is completely removed.
Bleach Stains
Most people use bleach for cleaning or disinfecting purposes. It is also used in bathrooms, removing stains from clothes and countertops. Bleach can cause a stain on your granite countertop because it starts weakening the sealant layer when it stays on the surface for a long time. A time comes when bleach damages the sealant and enters the granite pores, making a stain over the surface. So, today we will guide you to remove the bleach stain through the poultice method.
Make a poultice: As always, we first recommend cleaning the stain with water and cloth; if it is not removed, make a poultice. For making a poultice, you will need talcum powder and hydrogen peroxide. Mix both of the elements in a bowl and make a thick paste. Put the poultice on the stain and cover the area with plastic wrap. Wait for 24 hours to sit the mixture on the surface, put off the wrap and check whether the poultice is dried or not. If it turns into dry form, remove it and clean the surface with water. The bleach stain will be removed from your granite worktop.
Color Stains
The granite countertops get blue or green color stains because your naughty
Kids may drop some blue ink or used markers on the worktop surface. These stains become tough and won’t easily remove with the simple use of water. So, we have two effective methods to remove these stains.
Use toothpaste: Apply the toothpaste to the stains and spread it over the surface with the help of a plastic spatula (You can use any available tool). Please wait for some hours so the paste sits on the stain and can lift it. When the toothpaste becomes try, remove from the stain and clean with water. You can also use a granite polish to give a shiny look to the countertop.
Try removing with alcohol: The quick way to remove any color stain from the worktop is by rubbing a soft cloth dipped in alcohol. Take a cloth, put some alcohol on it, and start buffing on the stain in a circular motion. Repeat this process 2-3 times; the stains will disappear from the surface.
Red wine stains
While enjoying the party, sometimes a wine glass accidentally drops from your hands and spills over the countertop surface. You’ve gone to sleep, and the next day you will notice a big red stain on the countertop surface. This is due to the granite that absorbs wine and makes a tough stain that cannot be easily removable. But don’t worry; we will help you to remove the wine stains from the granite surface.
First, try cleaning with ordinary soap and water. Apply some soap to the stain, scrub with a cloth, and then wash it with water. Still, if the stain does not disappear, proceed next.
For this method, you will need baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, water, plastic wrap, and a dry cloth. Follow the steps:
1. Safety first: Wear safety gloves because some people are allergic to baking soda. So wearing gloves will help to prevent any issues.
2. Make the paste: Take a bowl and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 hydrogen peroxide. Mix well to form a thick paste.
3. Apply on the stain: Put the baking soda paste on the stain and cover it with plastic wrap. Leave it for a day; you can also put tape on all sides to make a proper seal.
4. Wash the stain: After 24 hours, remove the plastic wrap and dry paste from the stain. Put some soapy water on the stain, scrub it and clean it with a dry cloth. Hurray! The stain has disappeared.
Vinegar stains
Vinegar is a daily used item in our homes for different purposes. Many people are unaware that using vinegar on the countertop will mar the surface beauty and also damage the sealant. Vinegar is acidic; if it mistakenly spills over the countertop surface, it will react, resulting in a stain. To remove the vinegar stains permanently, you can follow the two given methods:
Try with mild soap
The safest and cheapest way to get rid of vinegar stains is using mild soap and warm water. Put a little soap around the stain and add some water to it. Take a cloth and start rubbing the stain; continue adding the soap until the spot disappear. If the stain has gone, wash the surface with fresh water and dry it. That’s it!
But if the stain is still there, you can use the baking soda method below.
Use baking soda & water combo
Removal of stains using baking soda is quite an easy process. You must have baking soda in your home; if not, buy it. First, you have to check how much the countertop area that stains have covered. Now, make a paste by adding baking soda and water. Put the paste on vinegar stain and leave it for some hours until the paste turns into a solid form. In the next step, remove the paste and clean the surface with water. We hope the stain will get removed from the countertop.
Rust stains
Rust usually occurs in places where there is excessive use of water. The areas on countertops like the sink or faucet have high chances of getting rust. It is also due to placing rusty metal on the countertop that contacts with water and leaves rust stains. So, if your worktop has rust stains, let’s clean it to restore its appealing and glassy look.
Try granite polish or cleaner: If the rust stain isn’t too old, you can easily remove it with the help of a granite cleaner. Spray the cleaner on the stain and wait for some time to sit it on the surface. When you see the cleaner lifting the rust, take a toothbrush and clean the stain properly. This is the best to remove the rust stains.
Using baking soda poultice: If the granite cleaner doesn’t work, you can try applying a poultice to the stain. Making the poultice is easy; you need baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. So, prepare the mixture, and apply it to the rusted area when it’s ready. Here we need to seal the poultice with the help of plastic cling film. Also, use duct tape on all the edges of the cling film. When the poultice becomes dry, you can remove it and clean the stained area with water. That’s All!
Tips to protect granite countertops from stains
Whether stains are on the countertop or clothes, they ruin the real beauty. So, we must take preventive measures to stop stains and keep our countertops always shining. Follow the tips here:
Do daily cleaning: Daily cleaning will help to prevent any stains on countertops. You can use a combination of soap and warm water, put it on the spot, and scrub it with a microfibre cloth. In the end, wipe out all the surfaces using a dry cloth.
Seal the surface properly: Sealing the granite countertop is the best option to save from hard stains and surface discoloration. So, let’s learn how you can seal your granite countertops safely.
- Clean gently with water: First, remove everything you have placed on the countertop, including fruits, vegetables, spices, & other stuff. Before proceeding to the next step, clean the surface with water to remove dust or tiny debris and leave until it dries.
- Avoid using acidic solutions: Using acidic solutions or lemon juice on the granite countertops may cause discoloration. So, never use them on the surface; you can try a soapy water mixture.
- Use granite sealer: You can get granite sealer from online stores easily. First, try sealing a small portion of your countertop to check if it works perfectly or causes discoloration. Hopefully, it will not cause any issues because these sealers are specially made for granite stones. Now, spray all over the countertop’s surface, and don’t miss any section, even a single inch. Wait for half an hour, so the countertop pores absorb the sealer. Take a cloth and spread the sealer over the surface properly. Leave it for a day; the next morning, the sealer will build a shiny layer over the countertop surface that will look polished & glassy.
Last Words
Getting stains on countertops is normal; you can prevent them by daily cleaning. The best protection of granite countertops is by sealing them properly. When the sealing layer is added over your worktop surface, it saves you from any hard or soft stains. We hope you find this guide helpful; don’t forget to share it with your friends and family.