How to Clean Granite Countertops: Daily Care, Stain Removal, Sealing, and Shine

Granite holds up well in a busy kitchen, but the wrong cleaner can dull it, strip its sealer, or leave streaks behind. Knowing how to clean granite countertops comes down to a gentle daily routine, a few products to avoid, and an occasional deeper step for stains, sealing, and shine.

This guide covers everyday cleaning with dish soap and water, safe disinfecting, removing stubborn stains, knowing when to reseal, and restoring a dull finish.

The Quick Answer:

Mix a few drops of dish soap with water in a spray bottle, spray the counter, and wipe it with a damp towel. Then dry and buff the surface with a clean, dry microfiber towel so no streaks or soap residue are left behind.

What You Need

• Dish soap (Dawn is the preferred choice, since it cuts through grease and grime well)
• A spray bottle
• A damp towel
• A clean, dry microfiber towel
• A plastic scraper for stuck-on food
• A non-scratch scrub sponge, such as a Scrub Mommy or Scrub Daddy
• 70% isopropyl alcohol, for disinfecting
• Baking soda, plastic wrap, and painter’s tape, for stains
• A granite sealer (Granite Gold is the one used in the video)

Everyday Cleaning With Dish Soap and Water

For daily cleaning, simple is best. A few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle of water is gentle enough that it won’t damage granite or other natural stone, and it still works on grease and grime.

1. Spray the countertop with the soap-and-water mixture. A few sprays are enough, since a little goes a long way.
2. Wipe the surface with a damp towel, scrubbing as you go.
3. Give extra attention to high-use areas, such as around the stove, near the sink, and at an island where people eat. Grease and grime build up fastest in these spots.
4. Rinse the surface by wiping with a damp cloth. Soap left behind can dry sticky and attract dirt over time.
5. Dry and buff with a clean, dry microfiber towel.

Why You Should Dry and Buff the Surface

Many people stop after wiping, then come back later to see streaks across the counter. Buffing with a dry microfiber towel prevents that. It matters most on darker granite, which shows streaks more than lighter colors do. It also removes water spots that can form as the surface air-dries.

Removing Stuck-On Food

If a bit of food or gunk is stuck to the counter, slide a plastic scraper across it. A plastic scraper is gentle and won’t scratch the stone.

A Store-Bought Option

If you’d rather buy a cleaner, Bar Keepers Friend Granite and Stone is a gentle option that won’t damage the surface.

What Not to Use on Granite

• Vinegar: It can etch the stone, remove sealer, and dull the countertop over time. It might seem fine a few times, but it isn’t a good long-term solution.
• Bleach: It can damage granite, so don’t use it to disinfect.
• Steel wool, SOS pads, and Magic Erasers: These dull the finish over time.

If you need a scrubber, use a non-scratch scrub sponge. Warm it in warm water first so it stays gentle on the surface.

How to Disinfect Granite Countertops

Dish soap and water is enough for most days. When you need to disinfect, such as after raw chicken has touched the counter, use 70% isopropyl alcohol instead of bleach.

• Make a sprayer: Remove the cap from the alcohol bottle and thread on a spray nozzle from another spray bottle. The threads match, and this costs less than buying small ready-made sprayers that run out quickly.
• Let it sit: Like all disinfectants, isopropyl alcohol needs time to work. With 70% alcohol, leave it on the surface for a minimum of 3 to 5 minutes.
• Why it works well: It’s inexpensive and sold at most grocery and big-box stores.

How often to disinfect depends on your household and how your counters are used. The expert uses it as needed, especially after cooking with raw meat, and cleans with the dish soap mixture on most days.

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How to Remove Stains From Granite

Granite is porous, so a spill left sitting gets absorbed and held. The best prevention is to wipe up spots and spills as soon as they happen. For stains that regular cleaning won’t remove, make a baking soda poultice, which is a baking soda paste. In the video, it was used on dried red and coffee stains that had set for about a day and a half.

Baking Soda Poultice Steps

1. Mix equal parts baking soda and water in a dish. Aim for the consistency of toothpaste. It shouldn’t be runny, so it stays put and covers the stained area evenly.
2. Spread the paste evenly over the stain.
3. Cover it with plastic wrap and tape the edges down so it can’t shift. Use painter’s tape, because other tapes can leave a sticky residue you’d then have to clean.
4. Poke a few small holes in the plastic wrap.
5. Let it sit for about 24 hours, until the paste dries completely.
6. Remove the wrap and paste, then clean the area.

The baking soda is very absorbent. It pulls the stain out of the stone’s pores, which is the reverse of how the stain got in. Sometimes one application removes the stain completely, and sometimes it takes a few rounds, so repeat the process if needed.

How to Seal Granite Countertops

Sealing helps prevent stains and makes granite easier to clean. The recommendation is to seal granite countertops once or twice a year.

Every sealer is different, so read the label and follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly. The video used Granite Gold, which the countertop manufacturer recommended. Its directions were:

1. Work in 3-foot sections.
2. Spray the sealer onto the surface.
3. Spread it evenly with a towel.
4. Buff it in with a dry, clean, lint-free towel.
5. Let it dry for 20 to 30 minutes, then repeat for a second layer across the whole countertop. This product recommends a few layers.
6. Don’t clean the counters for at least 24 hours so the sealer can set and cure.

How to Tell If Your Granite Needs to Be Resealed

Pour a small amount of water onto the countertop.

• Water beads up and stays on the surface: The sealer is working.
• Water spreads out and starts soaking in: It’s time to reseal, so the barrier is back and water no longer soaks into the stone.

How to Make Dull Granite Shine Again

A second video shows a way to bring back shine on dull granite without professional or expensive polishes. The method uses regular furniture polish, so read the notes below before trying it.

Prep the Countertop First

1. Clear everything off the counters so you have room to work.
2. Remove loose dirt with a towel or vacuum.
3. Wipe the counter with a sponge, a mild cleaner, and warm water to remove all the dirt. Polishing over dirt would lock it in, the same way you wouldn’t wax a car before washing it.
4. Dry the surface thoroughly with a dry towel.
5. Let it air-dry for 10 to 15 minutes. Running a ceiling fan helps. The counter must be fully dry before you polish.

Polish With Furniture Polish

The expert in this video uses regular furniture polish, Pledge in the demonstration. He prefers a version without lemon, though the lemon one also works.

He has used this method for over 20 years without damaging granite and has shown it to hotels and retirement centers with hundreds of rooms.

He also points out that the product’s label lists granite among the surfaces it’s meant for, along with sealed wood furniture, sealed leather, stainless steel, laminate, and quartz.

1. Shake the can well.
2. Spray the polish close to the granite, working along the surface and including the backsplash.
3. Lightly wipe it in with the rag you used for drying, getting the edges and backsplash too.
4. Let it soak in until it dries. This took about 10 minutes in the demonstration. Run a finger across the surface. If it isn’t wet, you’re ready for the next step.
5. Buff the whole countertop, including the backsplash, with a dry towel, as you would when polishing a car. Flip to a clean side of the towel as you go.

When you finish, the towel should glide easily across the polished area. In the side-by-side comparison, the polished half reflected much more than the untouched half. This can be done once a month or as often as you like.

Safety Precautions for Using Furniture Polish

• Protect your floors: Keep the spray close to the counter. Overspray on tile or wood floors can make them slick.
• Keep it off stovetops.
• Watch the pilot light: If you have a gas stove with a pilot, keep the spray away from it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using vinegar or bleach on granite
• Scrubbing with steel wool, SOS pads, or Magic Erasers
• Leaving soap on the surface instead of rinsing it
• Skipping the dry microfiber buff, which leaves streaks and water spots
• Letting spills sit instead of wiping them up right away
• Using ordinary tape instead of painter’s tape on a poultice
• Polishing a counter that hasn’t been cleaned and fully dried

Conclusion

Granite care stays manageable with a few habits. Clean with dish soap and water, rinse with a damp cloth, and buff dry. Disinfect with 70% isopropyl alcohol when needed, treat stains with a baking soda poultice, and reseal once or twice a year.

Use the water test to know when the sealer needs refreshing. If the surface looks dull, the furniture polish method can restore its shine, as long as you take the floor and stove precautions seriously.

If you’re planning to refresh your kitchen, take a look at these 2026 kitchen trends.

If you prefer a warm, classic kitchen look, you might also like these Nancy Meyers kitchen ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best everyday cleaner for granite countertops?

A few drops of dish soap mixed with water in a spray bottle. It cuts through grease and grime without harming granite or other natural stone.

Can I use vinegar to clean granite?

Vinegar isn’t recommended. It can etch the stone, remove sealer, and dull the surface over time.

How do I disinfect granite without bleach?

Use 70% isopropyl alcohol, and leave it on the surface for at least 3 to 5 minutes.

How do I remove stains from granite?

Spread a toothpaste-thick paste of equal parts baking soda and water over the stain, cover it with plastic wrap taped down with painter’s tape, and poke a few holes in the wrap. Leave it for about 24 hours. Repeat if the stain doesn’t fully lift.

How often should I seal granite countertops?

Once or twice a year, following the directions on your sealer’s label.

How can I tell if my granite needs to be resealed?

Pour a little water on the counter. If it beads up, the seal is working. If it spreads and soaks in, it’s time to reseal.

Why does my granite look streaky after cleaning?

Streaks usually come from skipping the final step. Drying and buffing with a dry microfiber towel prevents them, which matters most on darker granite.

What should I use to scrub granite?

A non-scratch scrub sponge warmed in warm water. Avoid steel wool, SOS pads, and Magic Erasers, which dull the finish over time.

How often can I polish granite for shine?

The expert in the polishing video says once a month, or as often as you like.