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What’s the best way to clean a granite worktop?

Most people don’t actually know how to look after this type of surface. It’s easy when you know how!

When first installed, granite and quartz worktops look beautifully shiny and reflective, adding real glamour to any kitchen. However, after a few days of use, some owners find that their worktop has become dull and smeary in such a short space of time.

We know how annoying this problem can be. Therefore, in this blog post, we will discuss the best ways to clean a granite worktop. Keep on reading to find out the best solutions.

Highly polished granite surfaces are only slightly porous and therefore most spilt substances will not soak in.  There are however few exceptions: quartz worktops are generally nonporous due to the polymers used in their manufacture.

Before discussing a regular and effective cleaning regime for granite worktops, we would like to check the following:

Was your new granite worktop sealed when it was installed?

Please read this blog to find out all about the reasons why a granite worktop needs sealing, and why we recommend using Rob Parker’s Best Quartz and Granite Sealer for your worktops.

The usual way of wiping down kitchen surfaces regularly in a kitchen needs a little rethinking when you own a granite worktop, because if you are using one cloth for both washing up and wiping your surfaces, this is the problem.

What is the correct way to clean a granite worktop?

The correct way to clean a granite or quartz work top is to use a PH neutral cleaner and a clean, grease free cloth.  This method will remove all grease and alien materials, leaving the work top surface very clean, shiny and smear free.

Good PH neutral cleaners are worth buying to make every day cleaning your worktop easy. 

At Stoneworld we recommend using Rob Parker’s Best Quartz and Granite Cleaner daily to keep all polished kitchen worktops sparkling. We also supply Rob Parker’s Best Quartz and Granite Sealer, to help keep your worktops easy to maintain.

Buy Rob Parker’s Best products

Rob Parker’s Best Quartz and Granite Cleaner
From £5.45/Each
Rob Parker’s Best Quartz and Granite Sealer
From £19.50/Each
Rob Parker’s Best Twin Pack Quartz & Granite Sealer and Quartz & Granite Cleaner
From £27.54/Each

Why is my granite worktop smeared even straight after wiping?

A cloth used for washing up will have detergent (and unfortunately some food/grease deposits) in it.

Furthermore, washing up detergent contains surfactants, required to break down food and grease, which are made from petrochemicals and oleo-chemicals (often palm oil).  This means that when a washing up cloth is used to wipe over a surface it cleans away the crumbs and surface spills, but at the same time, spreads a thin layer of fat all over the work surface.  This will make the work surface appear dull, and if you run your hand over it, smears will appear.

How do I remove limescale deposits from granite and marble surfaces?

If you live in a hard water area you will have the added problem of having to deal with limescale deposits that will form around the tap and sink area of your worktop if standing water splashes are not wiped away quickly.

Limescale is a chalk deposit (calcium carbonate) in the water that will cling to the area around your sink. The deposits can be extremely difficult to remove. However we strongly advise against using limescale removing products available in supermarkets for limescale removal. These products are not suitable for use on polished granite worktops, and should not be used. They are effectively acid, and will be corrosive on granite or marble worktops. They will ruin the polished surface.

We advise removing limescale deposits from granite and marble surfaces by rubbing with very fine grade wire wool

We hope this advice is helpful to you in the everyday care of your granite or quartz worktop. If you do have any questions, please reach out to us on 01844 279274 or email us at sales@stoneworld.co.uk and we will be happy to help you.

FAQs and further advice

Q How do I protect my marble worktops from damage?
Read on
Q How often do granite worktops need sealing?
Read on
Q Do you need to seal stone surfaces to protect them?
Read on
Q What’s the best way to clean a natural stone floor?
Read on