Prep first
Before you start
- Keep chlorine bleach away from the stain. It sets rust and makes it more intense.
- Blot any wet residue with a soft cloth, pressing rather than rubbing.
- Use the poultice below instead of a store rust remover, and wear rubber gloves while you work.
Rust on granite is iron oxide, usually carried in by iron in household water or shed by a rusting metal part. Chlorine bleach makes the stain worse, and granite can't take abrasive scrubbing, so the stain has to be drawn out slowly. Old stains come out with a poultice left on for a day or two, but deep rust may stay as a permanent mark.
On a granite countertop or sink, test a hidden corner before you commit to any product. Scrubbing harder won't help, and abrasive pads can dull the polish on granite steps, paving and headstones. If a rust stain in a granite sink still shows after several rounds, a stone pro can judge what's realistic.
Before you start
What granite can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid1
- Scrubbing and abrasives
7 items
What you'll need
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- Lint-free glycerinKeeps the poultice moist so the stain can be drawn out slowly. (opens Amazon)
- Sodium citrate crystalsPart of the paste, available from a drug store.
- WhitingGives the paste body so it stays thick enough to hold on the stone. (opens Amazon)
- Wooden scraperLifts the hardened paste without scratching the stone.
- Mild dish soap and clear waterFor the first cleaning wash and the final rinse. (opens Amazon)
- Soft clothsFor blotting, drying, and handling the paste. (opens Amazon)
- Rubber gloves (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Blot and wash the spot
Blot up any wet residue with a soft cloth, pressing rather than rubbing so the mark doesn't spread. Wash the area with a few drops of mild dish soap in warm water, then rinse it with clear water and let it dry. Starting on a clean, dry surface means the paste goes straight onto the stain.
Careful. Harsh or improper cleaners break down the sealer, so use mild soap only.
Step 2 of 6
Mix the poultice
Combine 7 parts lint-free glycerin, 1 part sodium citrate crystals (available from a drug store), and 6 parts lukewarm water. Stir in enough Whiting to make a thick paste that holds its shape on a spoon.
Tip. Mix a small batch first so you can see how thick it gets before you spread it.
Careful. Don't add any acid to the poultice, because whiting cancels out acid chemicals in it.
Step 3 of 6
Spread the paste over the stain
Apply the paste over the stain and a little past its edges, pressing it on so it covers the mark fully. Leave it in place until it hardens, and don't disturb it while it sets.
Step 4 of 6
Scrape the hardened paste off
Once the paste has hardened, lift it away with a wooden scraper, working gently across the stain. Look at the spot as the paste comes off so you can judge how much the stain has lifted.
Careful. Scouring powders, creams, and scrub pads can scratch the stone, so use only the wooden scraper.
Step 5 of 6
Repeat the poultice if needed
If the mark is still visible, mix a fresh batch and repeat the spreading and scraping. The paste can stay on the stain for several days if the stain needs it, so there's no need to rush it off.
Tip. Check the stain after each round, and stop once the mark stops lightening.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse and dry the area
When the stain has lifted as far as it will, wash the whole area with clear water and let it dry. Check it in good light, and if a faint mark remains, the set-in section below explains the next step.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for rust on granite
Skip any rust product that lists acid or hydrofluoric acid on its label, since both can damage granite. The poultice ingredients above are the safer product choice for this stone.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on granite, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
After each scrape, the stain should look lighter and the paste should come away clean from the stone. If the spot still looks dark after several rounds, it may be deep rust, which can stay in the stone.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your granite
Granite countertops
Work on one stain at a time and keep the paste on the mark itself, away from the seams and the edges of the counter. Keep the scraper flat and light so the surface around the stain stays untouched.
Once the stain is gone, go back to ordinary cleaning with mild soap and warm water.
Granite steps, paving, and headstones
Outdoor stone takes the same poultice, but rain and foot traffic can disturb the paste, so cover it with a plastic sheet while it sits. Keep the cover in place for the whole time the paste is working.
On headstones, the finish is often polished, so scrape gently and check the shine after rinsing.
Granite sink
A granite sink takes the same poultice, but keep the paste off the rim and any seams where the sink meets the counter, since those areas are easy to overlook. Work with a small batch so the paste stays where you put it.
Check first whether the sink is granite. If it is porcelain or enamel, commercial rust removers can ruin the finish, so use our Sinks guide instead.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
If an old rust mark hasn't lifted after the first round of paste, give it a longer poultice. Spread the same paste thickly over the stain, cover it with plastic, and leave it for 24 to 48 hours. Then scrape it off with the wooden scraper and rinse.
You can repeat this for up to five applications on a difficult stain. Each round should leave the mark a little lighter, so stop when progress stalls.
Be realistic about the result. Deep rust can stay in the stone even after several rounds. If the mark is still there after the last round, a stone professional is the right next step rather than a harsher product.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on rust on granite?
Most household remedies won't lift rust from granite, and several are unsafe on stone. Start with the glycerin poultice, since it's the option that works on this surface.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use acid rust removers on granite
Acid rust and lime removers can strip the sealer and pit the stone. Keep them off granite even when a bottle promises a quick fix, since the poultice is the safer route.
Don't mix acids with chlorine bleach
Bleach combined with rust removers, vinegar, or other acids can release toxic gas. If you have used any of those on the area before, rinse it thoroughly before anything else touches it.
Don't use hydrofluoric acid products
Hydrofluoric-acid rust removers are extremely corrosive to skin, and they will attack granite and quartzite alike. Keep them away from the stone, and wear rubber gloves if you ever have to handle one.
When to call a professional
Call your stone supplier, installer, or a restoration specialist if the stain resists several rounds of poultice or is deep rust. Ignored water buildup and dull areas around sinks call for stone restoration too.
Questions
How do I remove rust from granite without damaging it?
Use the glycerin and Whiting poultice instead of any store product, since it is gentle on the stone. Blot the area, spread the paste, let it harden, scrape it off with a wooden scraper, and rinse with clear water. Stubborn marks may need the longer poultice in the set-in section.
Where does rust on granite come from?
Rust on granite usually comes from iron in household water or from a rusting washer drum sitting on the stone. Fix the source first if you can, since fresh rust keeps marking the stone.
How long can the poultice stay on?
The paste can stay on the stain for several days if it's needed. Old marks may need 24 to 48 hours under plastic, repeated for up to five applications.
Will the rust come out completely?
That depends on how deep the rust has gone. A lighter mark is still a real improvement, and a stone professional can advise on the rest.
Can I use this method on other natural stone?
Check first, because marble and other stones react to acids differently from granite. Before you start on any other natural stone, see our Marble & Natural Stone guide.
Do I need gloves for this?
Wear gloves when you mix and spread the paste, and always when you handle any rust remover with acid in it. Rubber gloves are a sensible choice for both jobs.
Rust on other materials
Other stains on granite
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.