How to Professionally Remove Stains from Granite Countertops

Professional Methods for Removing Stains from Granite Countertops Granite, commonly used in kitchen countertops, is a very dense, hard and brittle natural stone and not usually easily stained. Granite, an igneous rock formed from magnum, is very dense, hard and brittle. Granite stands up well against heavy foot traffic, making it preferable for commercial lobbies and walkways. True granite is the hardest of the polished stones commercially available and is used in high stress situations. Resistant to most chemicals, except for oils, which can permeate the stone, granite is also ideal for counter tops and bar tops. While granite counter-tops are a favorite choice due to their beauty and durability, they are not impervious to damage and are more expensive than marble. Regular care includes proper cleaning and the use of sealers to prevent staining. Do granite counter-tops need to be sealed? Perform the paper towel test to determine whether your granite needs to be sealed. Some types of granite never need sealing and adding sealer to these types will just make a mess. Soak a paper towel (without printing) or a white cotton towel. Place the water-soaked towel on the counter and wait about 5 minutes. Is the area under the paper towel dark from the water soaking into the granite? If it is discolored, your granite needs to be sealed to resist water-based spills and stains. Perform the solvent test to see if an oil stain will enter the granite. Simply dab some paint thinner on the counter-top and leave for 5-l0 minutes. If, after you remove it, it doesn’t darken the stone, neither will an oily staining agent such as cooking oil. If it does go dark, you should use a solvent-based sealer such as Impregnator Pro™ Solvent-Based Fluorochemical Sealer or Sta-Clene® Solvent-Based Fluorochemical Sealer to protect against oil-based stains. In short, if the granite goes dark with either water or paint thinner, then seal. lf there is no color change alter testing with these two liquids, you do not really need a sealer on your granite counter-top. What is the best granite sealer for granite countertops? If the tests show the granite needs to be sealed, you can seal with a water-based penetrating sealer such as StoneTech™ Professional Bullet Proof™ or a solvent based penetrating sealer such as Impregnator Pro or Sta-Clene to prevent staining and reduce soiling. Solvent-based impregnating sealers are the better sealer for granite because they more easily penetrate the granite to fill the pores and fissures. Be sure to wipe off the excess after it has soaked in after a few minutes. What is the best granite cleaner for granite counter-tops? If there are any oily stains already on the counter-top, use Oil Stain Remover to remove those before sealing. For heavy duty cleaning, use Klenz-All™ heavy duty alkaline cleaner and degreaser prior to sealing. Do not use after sealing because it is powerful enough to possibly remove some of the sealer. For daily cleaning and to keep the sealer refreshed, use Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector. How to Care For and Maintain Granite Countertops: All natural stones are porous to various dgrees. The best way to prevent stains is to treat the surface with a protective sealer. The sealer fills in the pores and repels spills on the surface, allowing you time to completely wipe it away. We recommend that you use care and maintenance products from StoneTech Professional that are specially formulated to protect and enhance the beauty of your granite. Once the stone is sealed, clean up is usually easy. We recommend that you use StoneTech Professional Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector. Revitalizer cleans with a gentle, pH-neutral formula that removes soils while reinforcing the original protective seal to help prevent future staining. Learn more about our care products. Fluorochemical technology, incorporated into Bane-Clene Sta-Clene and StoneTech Professional Revitalizer, BulletProof and Impregnator Pro, is the most advanced technology available, providing the ultimate shield against both water and oil-base stains. The micro-molecular formula actually bonds with the stone surface to deliver unsurpassed wear resistance and durability. And because the sealer reacts with the stone, you no longer have to worry about its porosity. DO's and DON'Ts of Caring for Granite DO clean up spills immediately to minimize damage to your stone. DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes and cookware. DO use place mats under china, ceramics, silver and other objects that can scratch your stone's surface. DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices. DO clean surfaces regularly with StoneTech Professional Revitalizer Cleaner & Protector. DO use StoneTech Professional Bullet Proof Sealer to protect your stone. DON’T wait to clean up spills on stone. DON’T use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub cleaners. DON’T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners. DON’T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers. DON’T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for stone. DON’T use scouring powders and abrasives because they will scratch the surface. How to Remove Organic Stains from Granite Stone Countertops: Stains from coffee, tea, wine, foods and other organic substances are pink to brown in color and relatively easy to remove. Mix a few drops of ammonia with 12% hydrogen peroxide to spot clean the stained area. However, be careful when using this method on darker stones as the hydrogen peroxide can lighten the color of the marble. NOTE: The ammonia neutralizes the acid normally put in peroxide to stabilize it. Without the ammonia, the peroxide will etch the marble. You can also use the Stain Magic® 2-Part System Magic, just as with carpet, to remove organic stains from marble and other stone surfaces. How to Remove Soap Scum from Granite Stone Surfaces Soap scum builds up within the granite’s voids and pores, quickly staining the surfaces. So shower walls, bathroom floors and vanities, and other granite pieces that come in contact with soapy water need periodical cleaning. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to remove soap scum stains from granite with acid-based Restore™ and high-pH Heavy-Duty Klenz-All™ degreaser. NOT FOR USE ON MARBLE! How to Remove Rust Stains from Granite Stone Surfaces Metal furniture, flower pots, cans, screws, nails, etc. can stain granite surfaces and allow for rust buildup. Bronze, copper or brass items embedded in the granite can also result in greenish or muddy-brown metal stains that are very difficult to remove. If you notice a rust stain early enough, you can remove it with the help of a soft wire brush that will reach into crevices without damaging the polished surface. To draw out set-in metal stains, however, you will need a poultice and chemical treatment with a rust remover or Restore. Professional help may also be required to fully restore the smoothness and luster of the stone. How to Remove Ink Stains and Paint Stains from Granite Stone Surfaces You can use Saf-T-Solv™ Dry Volatile Spotter, Pro-Solve Liquid Solvent Spotter, acetone, isopropyl alcohol or mineral spirits to get ink stains and small amounts of paint out of granite countertops. More persistent ink stains and larger paint stains can be removed with the help of a marble poultice such as StoneTech™ Oil Stain Remover that will soak up the pigments from the stain within a couple of days (see below under oil-based stains). Oil-Based Stains Oil stains tend to darken the stone’s surface and be very hard to remove, since oils don’t evaporate easily. An oil-based stain might be caused by grease, cooking oil, milk, peanut butter, creams, cosmetics and so on. These stains tend to darken the stone’s surface and be very hard to remove, since oils don’t evaporate easily. And the only way to remove it is by drawing out the oil from the stone with a poultice. StoneTech Oil Stain Remover is a superior, citrus solvent-based poultice especially formulated for safely removing stubborn oil-based stains from grout and natural stone such as marble, granite, concrete and limestone discoloring the surface or leaving any residue behind. Features and Benefits of of Oil Stain Remover for Stone: Easy to use. Acts as a poultice to draw oil out of stone, terrazzo and concrete. Leaves no residue. Will not discolor natural stone. Is VOC Compliant. Is safe on food contact surfaces. Has a natural Citrus Solvent - not the pungent odor of most oil stain removers. Removes deep, stubborn grease and oil stains from stone surfaces and grout. Properties & Specifications: Use Concentration: Undiluted. Storage: Protect product from freezing. Keep container closed when not in use. Coverage: Approximately 2 square feet of surface at 1/4-inch thickness per pint. How to Use Oil Stain Remover to Remove Oil Stains from Stone Surfaces and Grout: Test in a small area to determine that the desired results will be achieved. Make sure surface is clean, dry and free of waxes and coatings. Clean up dust and loose dirt and debris. Using a plastic or wood spatula, stir thoroughly to mix the paste. Apply a 1/8-1/4 inch thick layer of paste to the stain. Ensure that the putty extends 1 inch beyond the edge of the stain. Do not cover with plastic. Allow 48 to 72 hours for paste to completely dry to a powder. Sweep up remaining powder and discard. Allow solvent to completely dry from the stone. If, after complete drying, the stain is not completely gone, repeat the process. After the stain has been removed and the area is completely dry, reseal the area using StoneTech Impregnator Pro™, Bullet Proof™, Heavy Duty Exterior Heavy-Duty Stone & Masonry Sealer or Bane-Clene Sta-Clene® Clean up residue and tools with mineral spirits. Related Stone Care Articles and Information: Concrete Kitchen Countertop - Maintenance and Sealing Granite Hands-on Stone Class Quartz and Quartzite StoneTech™ Related Stone Care Videos: How to Clean and Protect Natural Stone with Revitalizer How to Clean Natural Stone, Marble, Granite, etc. How to Polish Marble & Granite Countertops with Stone Polish How to Protect and Seal Granite, Marble, Other Natural Stone with ImpregnatorPro™ How to Protect and Seal Marble and Granite with BulletProof™ Sealer How to Protect and Seal Natural Stone like Marble, Limestone, Granite, Travertine Stone, Ceramic and Porcelain Tile & Grout Care Products (Links Open to the Bane-Clene Store in Separate Tabs or Windows): All Purpose Stone & Tile Cleaner BulletProof™ Water-Based Fluorochemical Sealer Impregnator Pro™ Solvent-Based Fluorochemical Sealer Klenz-All™ Marble & Granite Polish Spray Oil Stain Remover Pro-Solve Liquid Solvent Spotter Revitalizer™ Stone Cleaner and Seal Refresher Saf-T-Solv™ Dry Volatile Spotter Sta-Clene® Solvent-Based Fluorochemical Sealer Stain Magic® 2-Part System for Organic Carpet Stains Stone Care Guide Mailer and Stone Care Guide Large Brochure Stone Sealer Lower-Cost Water-Based Fluorochemical Sealer Stone, Tile & Grout - Cleaning, Restoration & Protection Set of Two Training “How-To” DVD’s Free Bane-Clene Information Package Free packet of information about Bane-Clene can be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-428-9512 (U.S. ONLY!). Your information packet will include a full color catalog and price addendum. Packets will arrive in approximately 2 weeks through standard United States Mail. You can also order the packet at the Catalog Request Form. “A to Z” Alphabetical Index to the Bane-Clene Web Site Bane-Clene Home Page Copyright: Bane-Clene® Corp. Author: Donald W. Terry, Sr. - Bane-Clene’s Chemist Date Modified: October 7, 2020 Date Originally Published: October 7, 2020 VIDEO: How to Clean Natural Stone, Marble, Granite, etc. How to use the StoneTech™ Professional products to safely and effectively clean all natural stone surfaces including marble, granite, limestone, travertine, slate, etc.