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As one of the most significant investments in a kitchen, a granite countertop is a critical part of regular home cleaning and maintenance. That’s why finding the best granite cleaner is so essential. In addition to a market saturated with options, some products work specifically as a cleaner or polish and others combine tasks and ingredients. You also can find natural products or granite cleaners that are tough on stains as well as being protective sealers.
Consider some of the hard work done: With your cleaning goals in mind, this guide shares tips for choosing the best granite cleaner to keep your countertops looking like new.
- BEST OVERALL: Granite Gold Daily Cleaner
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Black Diamond Stoneworks Granite Counter Cleaner
- BEST NATURAL: Puracy Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate
- BEST DAILY: Method Daily Granite Cleaner
- BEST ALL-IN-ONE: Weiman Granite Cleaner and Polish
- BEST SEALER: TriNova Granite Sealer & Protector
- BEST POLISH: Goddards Granite & Marble Polish
Types of Granite Cleaners
Kitchen countertops can take a beating, so it’s no wonder there are so many different types of products you can use to clean and protect them. Not only are there special cleaners for stone materials, but cleaner types also vary based on purpose or frequency of cleaning, from daily cleaners to yearly sealers. How the stone is used and the amount of wear and tear it undergoes will dictate the cleaners or polishers that work best.
Daily Cleaners
Spilling coffee while rushing out the door and setting a sauce spoon down while cooking dinner are just two examples of daily dirt and grime that can build up on a kitchen countertop. To keep your granite countertop looking its best and protect it from getting stained, use a daily cleaner. Spraying this formula and wiping the day’s spills away quickly will help prevent buildup of stains or grime.
It’s important to look for a cleaner that is safe to use on granite and safe for daily use. Some cleaners have a polishing component to them that, if used daily, could actually cause buildup and give your countertop a dull appearance.
Polishes
After having cleaned your countertop every day for the past week, you might notice the shine from the granite is fading. This is where polishes step in. Polishes bring your granite back to life and give it that showroom shine. Some polishes come as stand-alone products, and others combine a cleaner with a polish.
Polish can help the granite sparkle like new and provide the stone with a protectant from water stains, fingerprints, and streaks. Although it won’t protect your countertop to the extent a sealer will, weekly polishing your stone is a great way to give it a thin layer of product between sealings.
Sealers
Granite sealers are a resin dissolved in a solvent. When applied to the stone and left on the surface for a set amount of time, they will absorb into the stone’s pores. Once it’s polished off, you then have a protective layer of product on your granite, keeping spills and accidents from staining the surface.
Unlike daily cleaners and polishes, sealers typically are not something you will use daily. It will depend on the sealer, but you might apply it weekly, monthly, or yearly. However, a few products on the market suggest they are cleaners, polishers, and sealers all in one.
All-in-One Care
With work, family, side hustles, and hobbies, it can be difficult to find the time (or the desire) to spend precious minutes cleaning, polishing, and then sealing granite. If you’re nodding your head in agreement, you’re probably going to want to invest in a quality all-in-one product for your granite cleaning options.
As the name implies, the all-in-one care products include a cleaner, polish, and sealer, so you can tackle three jobs in one go. Spray on and wipe off according to the manufacturer’s directions, then spend an extra second sliding your hand over that silky smooth granite. Then get back to your show when the commercials are over.
Our Top Picks
Spend less time in the cleaning aisle making a decision with help from this list of recommendations for the best granite cleaner. From top brands to worthwhile natural products, these cleaners can get the job—cleaning, polishing, sealing, or all three—done and safely work on granite.
Best Overall
Granite Gold Daily Cleaner
With a fresh citrus scent, Granite Gold Daily Cleaner smells good, while its ingredients are safe for daily deep-cleaning of granite. The no-streak formula leaves these stone countertops looking smooth and shiny. Spray the 24-ounce bottle of Granite Gold onto the countertop, wipe it with a paper towel, and you’re done. A neutral pH balance means this product won’t damage or dull granite over time, even with daily use.
This daily cleaner also is biodegradable and safe to use on food prep surfaces; no need to worry about harsh chemicals lingering behind and getting into after-school snacks.
Best Bang for the Buck
Black Diamond Stoneworks Granite Counter Cleaner
Although no granite cleaners come cheap, Black Diamond Stoneworks Granite Counter Cleaner sells at a reasonable price and comes in various size options. This allows families to bulk buy in whichever quantity works best for them. A plant-based cleaner, this hypoallergenic spray will quickly remove fingerprints, oil, grease, and daily cooking mishaps.
With a neutral pH balance, Black Diamond is safe to use daily without harming your countertop. It’s common in “all-purpose cleaners” to see a rainbow shine on the surface after each use. This product’s streak-free formula will eliminate that often undesirable effect and leave the countertop shiny and smooth from the get-go.
Best Natural
Puracy Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate
Don’t doubt the power of the all-purpose nature of Puracy Multi-Surface Cleaner. Plant-based and all-natural, this cleaner is safe on granite and fights spills, stains, and grime as well as many granite-specific cleaners. A fresh green tea and lime scent will fill the air as you spray and wipe your countertops clean. This all-natural product with ingredients like decyl glucoside (a vegetable-based cleanser) and sodium citrate (a plant-based pH neutralizer) is safe for use around pets, kids, and food prep surfaces. Speaking of animals, it’s also a cruelty-free and vegan product! Puracy comes in a concentrate like this to mix up a gallon of cleaner or in spray bottles filled with 25 ounces of premixed cleaner.
Best Daily
Method Daily Granite Cleaner
Sometimes it can be unnerving to smell those harsh chemicals when cleaning your home, but with Method’s Daily Granite Cleaner, you can clean granite countertops daily with only an apple orchard scent. The plant-based formula is safe, and its nontoxic ingredients will dissolve grease, dirt, and oil while leaving behind a glossy finish free of residue or streaks.
Method’s spray bottles hold 12 ounces of cleaner and are made of 100 percent recycled material. The cleaning products are not tested on animals, and the ingredients are biodegradable, so you can feel better about using the cleaner often. Look for larger refill bottles as well so you can reuse the spray bottle and reduce waste.
Best All-in-One
Weiman Granite Cleaner and Polish
Weiman Granite Cleaner and Polish comes from a company well-known for cleaning products. This 3-in-1 granite cleaner, polish, and sealer carries the “Good Housekeeping” seal, and it can polish and seal granite countertops with one application.
Not only will it rid your countertop of dirt and oils, but the all-in-one product can add depth to stone and enhance the look of the natural veining in granite. More importantly, it will help seal the granite and protect it from further staining or etching. With a neutral pH balance, the Weiman cleaner helps protect your beautiful countertop from discoloration and deteriorating.
Best Sealer
TriNova Granite Sealer & Protector
TriNova’s Granite Sealer & Protector can seal and protect gorgeous granite countertops. A blend of polymers seeps into the stone and protects it from ugly stains. It will also shield the stone with a thin layer of protectant to prevent water spots and future stains.
TriNova recommends using their sealer monthly alongside a daily cleaning and weekly cleaning regimen, and it’s simple to use. Starting with clean granite, spray the sealer and buff with a microfiber cloth. Then allow the sealer to cure for one hour before using the surface of the countertop. The product comes in an 18-ounce bottle.
Best Polish
Goddards Granite & Marble Polish
From Northern Labs comes Goddard’s Granite & Marble Polish as a way to retain the natural beauty of your granite countertop. Goddard’s polish is designed to polish and enhance the natural colors and veins in granite and marble. It will also provide a bit of sealing along with cleaning and sanitizing properties. Although this could be considered an all-in-one product since it also cleans, its polishing abilities are what make it shine—no need to buff the countertop for an extended period. The product is easy to apply, and you can rejuvenate your granite countertops in three simple steps: Shake before use, apply to the surface, and wipe with a paper towel.
How to Use Granite Cleaner
The ritual behind your countertop care is as important or more than the type of granite cleaner you buy. Keeping on top of spills and messes is the best way to ensure your top isn’t riddled with stains that you’ll have to spend hours cleaning up. For example, avoid leaving spilled red wine to clean up later. Even worse, stains might not come out at all if left alone too long. Granite is a highly porous material and can soak up a dark wine even if the countertop is sealed.
Some tools you’ll need to clean your countertop include:
- Your granite cleaner of choice
- A cleaning cloth or paper towel
- A fresh microfiber cloth
All your cleaning tools must be clean to prevent possible etching or staining from leftover cleaning jobs. Don’t use a cloth you used to clean the backsplash, and be sure to clean your microfiber cloth between uses.
Although the products’ manufacturers will tell you how to clean granite countertops with them, they follow the same basic steps:
- With a dry paper towel, remove crumbs, dirt, or debris from the surface of your countertop.
- Dampen your cleaning cloth with warm water.
- Either spray or apply your granite cleaner to the surface.
- Using the damp cleaning cloth, wipe down the surface of your granite.
- Then go back over the surface with the microfiber cloth.
If using a polisher or sealer, read the instructions to ensure the best results in protecting your counter.
Before using any new cleaner, test it on a small, easily hidden spot. Although many cleaners say they are safe, it’s smart to double-check on your own granite surface.
- Keeping your granite countertop clean will keep it looking brand-new longer.
- If allowed to age without sealer, polish, or regular cleaning, granite will begin to deteriorate.
- Cleaning up regularly will keep the cleaning process easy.
- A well-polished and sealed granite countertop is much easier to clean than a rough and dull stone.
FAQs About Granite Cleaner
It can be intimidating to jump in and start cleaning your granite with a new product. It can also be scary not knowing what could be harmful to your countertop during its everyday life. In addition to keeping your granite looking great, you want to be sure to keep your family safe from germs. Here are some common questions about what is and is not safe when it comes to granite cleaners.
Q. Is hydrogen peroxide safe on granite?
Hydrogen peroxide is not harmful in a one-off use, but with repeated use it could etch and dull the shine of a granite countertop, making it susceptible to stains and scratches.
Q. How do you disinfect granite countertops?
Warm water and dish soap are usually enough to get the job done. If you’re looking for a cleaner that will also disinfect, some granite cleaners include disinfecting features.
Q. Is granite cleaner safe to use on food preparation areas?
Most granite cleaners are safe to use in areas where food preparation is done. However, it’s best to check the cleaner you use to be sure it is among those safe products.
