Natural Stone Experts Discuss Standard Cleaning Practice for Granite Counter Tops

Is there a best way to clean granite countertops? If you ask three persons, there will be four different answers for this! “You can use Windex.  No, never use Windex.” “Use special granite cleaner. No, you do not need special granite cleaner; simple cleaner is enough,” etc. etc.

After doing extensive research, the natural stone cleaning experts on the Gold Coast, Australia discovered how to take care of granite. You do not need any special cleaners to make the counter tops look shiny, fresh and attractive.

Essential Facts on Cleaning Granite:

Do’s:                                                                                                       

• Ensure the granite surface is sealed. Granite is very hard and competitively less porous than marble. However, weak or unsealed granite will easily soak up spills, stains and oils. To check the sealing of granite, place few drops of water on the granite surface. If the water drops beads up, your counter top is securely sealed. If after few minutes, the water got soaked into the granite, it is time to reseal it.
• Wipe up the food spills as soon as you notice them.
• Use warm water, gentle dish wash soap, microfiber cloth for daily wipe downs.

Don’ts:

Do not use harsh and abrasive cleaners & sponges, acidic cleaners, vinegar, lemon, lime, ammonia or bleach. Frequent application of these chemicals will dull and darken the sealant over a period of time. The harsher the cleaner, the quicker it breaks down the sealant.

What to do for Disinfecting a granite countertop? 

A granite counter top which has been sealed well is highly impervious to bacteria. Sanitize granite countertop regularly to keep down the population of bacteria that healthy immune system of human beings can handle.  A Brazilian/Portuguese study reveals that 590 percent more bacteria can live on a granite surface comparing to a plastic surface like polypropylene polyethylene. So to prevent colonisation of bacteria, sanitising the granite countertop is very important. 

To properly sanitise and clean granite counter tops, all you need are warm water, gentle dish wash, dish cloth, terry cloth towel, and 91 percent isopropyl alcohol. The granite cleaning procedure is as follows:

• Wet the dish cloth with warm soapy water.  Initially fill the sink with warm water and mild dish soap, and then wet the clean dish cloth.
• Now wipe the granite countertop to remove any spills or crumbs on it.
• To avoid streaking, dry with a micro fibre cloth or terry cloth towel.

About Special safe cleaners for granite: 
There are different granite cleaners available in the market. Some all purpose surface cleaners specify that they are safe to use for granite cleaning. Use them only if you’re sure about it, or else ask a stone restoration specialist. 

To periodically disinfect your granite counter top, restore the shine and remove any residue, you can mix equal amount of water and 91% isopropyl alcohol. Spray the solution on the surface of the granite. Allow it to be there for three to five minutes, then you can rinse with water. Dry the surface with clean microfiber cloth.

This way you can enjoy shiny, nice cleaned granite counter tops. If you would like to have regular granite sealing and maintenance in Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, Gold Coast, Central Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast, call Australia‘s No.1 stone polishing and sealing specialist, ‘The Marble Man’. Their team of professionals will provide affordable and appropriate sealing, restoration and maintenance services after checking your granite counter tops. You can contact them by visiting their website or calling them on 1300-627-626.