How To Remove Stains From Granite Countertops

You paid a pretty penny for your gorgeous granite countertops, and you love their color, shine, and durability. Then, a greasy box of Moo Shu Pork leaks, and by the time you notice and wipe it up, a big, ugly stain has been born.

Mostly, annual sealing prevents spilled food and liquids from staining granite countertops. But granite is a porous material – not as porous as marble – and stains happen, especially on varying granite colors.

Don’t worry. Generations of homeowners have faced the same problem and have developed poultices that suck up stains on granite countertops. Tipnut supplies some homemade stain removal tips.

Make your own poultice

Luna Pearl Granite

Making your own poultice is fairly simple. A poultice is a soft, moist material, like flour or baking soda, applied to a surface and held in place with a cloth. In the early 1900s, mothers would apply a poultice to their feverish children. Today, we can apply a poultice to granite that sucks out stains. Here’s how you do it.

Baking soda poultice

Pitaya White Granite

Materials needed:

• Baking soda
• Water
• Plastic wrap

Application

1. Blot up as much of the offending substance as possible.
2. Spray the stain with water.
3. Mix a paste of baking soda and water that has the consistency of sour cream.
4. Slather the paste on the stain.
5. Cover the paste with plastic wrap.
6. Let set for 24 hours, then remove the poultice, and clean the area.
7. If the stain persists, repeat the process until your granite counters are stain-free.

Corn starch grease sucker-upper

 Delicatus White Granite 

Corn starch is like a vacuum for greasy granite stains.

Materials needed:

• Corn starch
• Distilled water
• Plastic wrap

Application: 

1. Wipe area.
2. If you’ve got a wine or some other acid-based stain, mist the spot with distilled water, and sprinkle on the corn starch until it forms a thick layer.
3. Cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit for 24 hours.
4. Clean the area. If the stain persists, repeat.
5. If the stain is a grease stain, just sprinkle on the corn starch, let sit for 15 minutes, then clean it with soapy water.

An ounce of prevention

Of course, it’s better to prevent stains from happening in the first place. Granite is easy to maintain; but maintain it you must. Here are some basic rules to follow: 

• Seal your gorgeous granite slabs annually. Stick a reminder on your smart phone calendar, so you won’t forget. 
• Don’t let spills sit on your countertop. Wipe spills as soon as you spot them.
• Don’t use any homemade granite cleaning remedy until you test it in an inconspicuous spot. That way, you’ll know which remedy is right for your particular counters.
• Don’t continue to use a treatment if it’s not working. That may seem obvious, but the “rinse and repeat” part of these treatments can be misleading. Each time you wipe off the remedy, check to make sure the spot is getting lighter. If it is, repeat. If the spot remains the same, try another remedy.

Now that we've covered the bases on how to properly take care of a granite countertop and remove stains, take a look at MSI's wide variety of granite countertop colors for your next home improvement project! And remember to chat with us online, visit one of our showrooms, or contact an MSI authorized dealer for personalized assistance.

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