Granite is the go-to choice for many homeowners when it comes to countertops. It has an elegant shine and a wide range of colors to customize with your decorating style in mind, making it an excellent countertop for aesthetics and quality.
You can make granite shine by cleaning and buffing its surface. Follow the steps below to learn how.
Why Does A Granite Shine?
Natural granite is an igneous rock formed from cooled lava. When you buy granite countertops, what’s in them will depend on where they were formed and how long it took to cool. There are also a lot of other factors that can affect color or size as well. These factors are what make granites colorful and unique from one another.
When granite is initially polished at a fabrication facility, it can shine naturally due to its high quartz content. Plus, the fact that most polishing processes reveal natural grain visible makes for an incredible sheen on your new countertop.
Cleaning Steps To Make Your Granite Shine
To keep your granite looking amazing, you have to remember two things. Keep your granite away from staining or highly acidic substances. Also, don’t forget to clean, maintain and repolish. Here are a few steps you can follow to make your granite shine again.
What You’ll Need
- Baking soda
- Clean cloth or towel
- Dish soap
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Plastic wrap (optional)
- Razorblade and gloves (optional)
- Sponge
- Spray bottle
- Water
Steps To Follow
Before you can make your granite shine again, make sure that you have your materials and work area set. Then head on following these steps:
1. Clear Your Granite Countertop
When you are ready to start cleaning, begin by removing anything off the counter. Take all appliances and crockery with it while moving them over onto another surface like your kitchen table or stovetop.
They can remain in one spot for this phase- if there is no option. Just do without these items until later when you’re done. Once everything has been removed from counters, use a dry sponge to remove dust or other surface dirt.
2. Scrub Your Surfaces
Cleaning your countertops with care will keep them looking beautiful and sparkling for longer. Don’t use acidic substances like vinegar or bleach to avoid dulling or weakening the sealer. Instead, use dish soap with warm water to lather the granite surface. Scrub your counter following an “S” pattern and focus on scrubbing off stubborn stains.
3. Scrape Off Stains
If scrubbing fails, a quick and easy way to get rid of stubborn spots is to use a razor blade. As a safety precaution, work with gloves on when doing this step. Make sure you don’t scratch their surface by entirely lying on the razor’s edge of the surface.
Once done removing the buildup, wash thoroughly with hot water before wiping down everything again. This will ensure that there isn’t anything left behind which could cause another spot later down the line.
Another way to get rid of tough stains on your granite is to make a paste from baking soda and water. Place the paste on the spot, and cover it with a taped-down plastic wrap to keep it intact. You may have to wait for a few days till the paste dries. Afterward, remove it using a cloth and rinse with warm water.
4. Use A Disinfecting Solution
To keep your granite countertops clean and smelling good, you need a reliable method for removing bacteria. If food has been left on these surfaces for too long, unpleasant smells will linger on it.
For this issue, you can use a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl with water and put them in a spray bottle. Spray on the surface to disinfect and wipe off the moisture using a cloth in a similar “S” fashion. Now then, your counter is both clean and infection-free.
5. Polish
Finally, to give your granite countertops that shiny finish you crave, all it takes is some cooking oil on a soft cloth and wipe it away. Gently buff the surfaces with a circular motion. This surface treatment also makes your granite shiny with a bit of stain resistance.
Why You’ll Want Granite Surfaces At Home
Granite is the popular go-to when choosing surface finishes, especially as countertops, due to the following reasons:
- It increases your home value as granites are valuable materials themselves
- Aesthetics and grains are one of a kind
- Resistant to stain, heat, and scratch
- A good long-term investment
What To Be Aware Of When Using Granite Surfaces
Another way to keep your granite surfaces shiny is to avoid damaging their sealer or using acidic compounds. When preparing food, you should also always use cutting boards as granite can dull your blade, and the blade can chip off the sealer.
Keep Your Granite Shiny
Your granite countertops are now shiny again, but they’ll only last for some time. Later on, you have to clean again or possibly reseal your granite to keep it in top shape. The best way to keep your granite surfaces shiny is to combine regular maintenance and resealing.
If you find it difficult to keep your granite shining, you can always hire professionals to do it for you, allowing you to focus on other important things.
