What do you clean granite countertops with?

Question

I've seen granite and marble countertop cleaner...what can happen to them if you dont use the special cleaner? Is this just another scam to get you to buy some special cleaner when normal rag and water/soap will work just fine?

Answer 1

Interesting that the cleaner you mention is sold for both granite and marble, as these materials have very different properties. Marble, for example, can be stained easily by liquids that granite would be relatively impervious to. Much depends on the degree of polishing the stone is subjected to - i.e., to a smooth gloss, or a duller matte, whether the open bubbles of travertine, say, have been filled with resin or not, and so on.

You don't need specialized, expensive cleaners for most granite kitchen countertops. It is a dense, dimensionally stable material that absorbs nothing to speak of in everyday terms, and will wipe clean with soap and water. An inexpensive product very good for polishing is Bon-Ami, a non-abrasive, unchlorinated powdered product (ground feldspar, if I'm not mistaken).

This is excellent, too, by the way, in the bathroom, where you want to preserve the quality of glazed surfaces, preferable, in my experience, to products such as Comet.

Answer 2

Use a sponge and water with some mild dishwashing liquid if your granite countertops are really dirty or grasy. Then rinse with a clean wet sponge, and dry with a soft cloth.

Real granite countertops are very tough and stain resistent. To keep them nice and shiny, avoid contact with acids, including vinegar.

Answer 3

I am in the cleaning business and here is our secret!
We buy this cleaning cloth off the internet. You have to buy in packages of 5 but they are only like $3 bucks a piece. I have ordered them and use them on everything, especially cleaning windows and clean mirrors. They are made out of tiny fibers. They are guaranteed not to scratch and all you do is rinse the cloth under water, wring it out and wipe ANY surface with no streaks or scratch. Use em over and over. I have not thrown one away yet!
I am sold on this ...I encourage you to try it out….hope this helps…Steve

Answer 4

it will work, but you have to buff to get sreaks out. never use anything amonia in it on your granite. I use a granite cleaner, buy it home depot. works well.

Answer 5

water

Answer 6

vinigar