How to Care for Granite

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This article is made possible by Rock Doctor. As always, my opinions are always 100% my own.

blue bowl of fruit on black granite counter with white cabinets in background with text overlay reading How to Care for Granite

We have renovated several spaces in our home and in each one have added granite counters because they’re durable and gorgeous, so learning how to care for granite was important to me.  Caring for stone counters is critical to preserve our investment and keep it looking beautiful for years to come. Fortunately, it’s simple to do when you know how.

When we renovated our kitchen four years ago, we decided on granite counters because they’re so durable. That’s what initiated my research in learning how to care for and clean our granite. It was a very large investment and I wanted to learn how to protect that investment but also be able to actually live in our kitchen (I didn’t want the equivalent of plastic couch covers in our kitchen).

grey and white speckled bathroom counter with grey folded towel and bottle of soap

When we renovated our basement around the same time we did our kitchen, we also added granite in the bathroom…

grey speckled counter of wet bar with white cabinets

…and basement wet bar.

With all this granite, it was imperative that I learn how to care for all these square feet of stone countertops. 

The most important thing to know about granite is that is is porous. Yes, it’s stone and it incredibly durable, but because it is porous, it’s important that you care for it properly.

How To Care for Granite Countertops

  1. Wipe Up Spills Immediately
  2. Treat your Granite Counters with Care
  3. Use the Proper Cleaning Solution
  4. Use a Soft Cloth
  5. Periodically Seal Your Granite Counters

Wipe Up Spills Immediately

Simply wiping up spills and not letting them sit on your counter, will prevent most issues. Be particularly aware of oils and acidic materials that can stain and etch the granite.

Treat the Counters with Care

Your granite is a durable material, but that doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. You don’t have to pamper your counter, but you do want to care for it properly. 

  • Don’t place hot items directly on the stone counter. Rapid, drastic temperature changes can weaken the granite and may cause the sealant to discolor and become cloudy. Using a trivet or hot pad easily solves this issue.
  • Don’t drag potentially rough surfaces, like the bottom of a pot or pan, across the surface. The finish of your counter can be scratched. Don’t stress over this – just beware of items that could potentially scratch the counter.
  • Be aware that your stone counter can be cracked or chipped if hit with a hard object. Again, you don’t need to stress about this, but choose to pound items, like cube steak, on a different surface than your granite counter.

Use the Proper Cleaning Solution

I am a big fan of using homemade cleaners as a natural way to clean, but I won’t use homemade cleaners on my granite because many of them incorporate problematic ingredients. Beware of any cleaners that are acidic and include vinegar, lemon juice, vinegar, ammonia, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, oils or abrasive ingredients. These can all discolor and etch the finish.

3 spray cans of granite cleaner on black counter top with white marble backsplash

Rock Doctor has been caring for stone countertops for 20 years. Their granite cleaner has been specially formulated to clean your stone counters without damage, discoloration or etching. Rock Doctor Granite Cleaner and Polish can be used on stone, marble and solid surface countertops.

 You can grab this convenient 3-pack of Rock Doctor Cleaner, Polish and Sealer on Amazon

  • The cleaner is a non-abrasive, non-acidic, and non-CFC granite cleaning solution specifically formulated to treat granite. It can be used daily or as often as you need.
  • The polish can be used weekly or as often as you’d like to maintain the look of your granite.It will help maintain the sheen and beauty of your granite and prevent dulling and streaks. 
  • You should seal your granite every 12-18 months to keep it looking beautiful and protect against stains, moisture and more. 
spray bottle of granite cleaner on black countertop with green plant in white pot

Additionally, Rock Doctor has a natural granite cleaner that contains plant-based biodegradable cleaners. It is safe for use on granite, marble, limestone, ceramic, porcelain, quartz and man-made surfaces.

Use a Soft Cloth

Stack of 7 rainbow colored cleaning cloths

In the same way that you don’t want to use an abrasive cleaner, you don’t want to use a scrub sponge or rough cloth. Instead, choose to use soft cloths. You can even find pretty rainbow colored microfiber cleaning cloths that work well (and look lovely, too).

marble bathroom sink with bottle of soap

In addition to the granite counter in our basement bathroom, we have a marble countertop in our powder room half bathroom. The good news is that it’s not any more difficult to care for stone counters in the bathroom.

How to Care for Granite Countertops in the Bathroom

  1. Just like in the kitchen, it’s important to clean the stone surface regularly to prevent stains. Additionally, it’s critical to prevent residue build up from personal care items like hairspray, hair care products, toothpaste and make-up. 
  2. Use a cleaner designed specifically for cleaning and caring for granite.
  3. With granite being porous and the most activities in the bathroom involving water, it is necessary to seal the granite regularly.
blue bowl of fruit on black countertop in kitchen

When you know the steps, it’s easy to know how to care for granite and stone counters, whether it’s in your kitchen, bathroom or wet bar. Be sure to pin for future reference.

Find all my best cleaning tips and hacks in the table below. You can scroll though the table and look for ideas or search for specific ideas with the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner (on desktop). Click on the topic and then click through the specific article.

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14 Comments

  1. This is great! I would love to use these products to better care for my granite kitchen counter tops!

  2. Thanks for sharing this. We haven’t been great about using granite-specific cleaners in our kitchen; we haven’t even re-sealed our counter tops in the years since we moved in. So … I’ll be checking out these products. Thanks.

  3. We have a BLACK granite bar top in our media room and everyone puts everything on it including wet glasses that leave rings. I would love to win!

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