How To Disinfect Granite Countertops, Everyday Care & Stubborn Stains
While quartz surfaces are gaining in popularity, there is nothing like a beautiful, functional granite countertop in the kitchen or bathroom. Granite is durable, versatile, and heat resistant – an ideal surface no matter what task is at hand. From food prep to homework to entertaining, this material allows for everyday use from everyone in the family. There is one detail about this natural stone that homeowners must not only be aware of but act on as well – hygienic maintenance. Due to the porous nature of granite, you will need to spend some time and energy keeping surfaces clean and free from stains, germs, viruses, bacteria, mold, and mildew. Every kitchen surface needs to be cleaned properly and regularly, your gorgeous granite countertop is no different.
How to Disinfect Granite Countertops
We always get the question ‘what cleaning products are safe to use on marble and granite?’ Granite Gold is our go-to disinfectant spray safe for granite, marble, travertine, and other natural stone surfaces. The Daily Cleaner helps preserve and protect the sheen and durability of the surface, while the MonoFoil D is a dual-action disinfectant and antimicrobial that aids in the protection against bacteria growth. Use soft cloths when wiping down to keep surfaces smooth and to upkeep the countertop’s integrity.
There is also the option of mixing equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water together, spray on the surface, and let sit for a few minutes. Wipe clean with a paper towel and voilà, beautifully brilliant countertops.
Like any kitchen countertop, granite requires a purposeful approach to keeping it safe for food and preventing the spread of cold and flu germs. Whether you just got done butchering a chicken or just want the assurance of a germ-free countertop, regularly disinfecting kitchen surfaces needs to be done.
Everyday Care & Scheduled Maintenance
It is important to incorporate daily and weekly granite care tasks into your cleaning routine. For daily care, wipe off any dust on the granite surface with a microfiber cloth. This helps maintain the condition of the sealant and granite surface. Blot up spills and kill germs with a gentle combination of mild antibacterial dish soap with warm water. This can get streaky, so it will be necessary to remove streaks and soap scum with a granite cleaner recommended for daily cleaning.
To make your porous granite countertops nonporous, seal them and then reseal them once or twice a year depending on usage and quality. You can test if your granite countertops need to be resealed by simply splashing water on them. The water will either bead up into water droplets or it will flow freely across the granite surface. When the water starts flowing freely, that means it is time for a reseal.
Stubborn Stains
Life happens, and so do stains. It is not the end of the world if stubborn cooking oil, ink, or red wine make their way onto your granite surface. Typically there are two types of stains that can occur on granite: oil-based and organic-based. Oil-based stains can be removed with either a baking soda/water paste or pure acetone. A common misconception is that nail polish remover can be used as acetone, however, with there added chemicals used specifically for nail polish, it can in fact be harmful to your countertops. Tough organic stains can be eliminated with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and a small amount of ammonia.
