First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the spill with a paper towel.
- Don't wipe it, and don't scrub.
- Flush with warm water and a little mild soap.
- Dry with a soft cloth and check the mark.
A spill on granite can soak in if it sits, so how fast you act decides how much you're fighting. Fresh food, drink and oil marks often lift with the gentle steps, while an old stain may need a poultice that sits under plastic for a day or two (24 to 48 hours), repeated for up to five rounds. Rust is the hardest case, and deep rust may be permanent, so whether the mark is metal matters as much as its age.
With a hot pan stain on granite, check whether the slab is white or light-colored first, since that changes how the mark lifts. Skip acidic cleaners like lemon on granite countertops, since they can dull the polish. A pH-neutral stone cleaner is the product to reach for when stains keep coming back.
Before you start
What this material 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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- Paper towelsto blot the spill without spreading it (opens Amazon)
- Mild soap and warm waterfor the first flush (opens Amazon)
- Neutral stone cleanerfor routine cleaning, in place of dish soap (opens Amazon)
- 3% hydrogen peroxidefor food and drink stains (opens Amazon)
- Household ammonia (opens Amazon)
- Soft liquid cleanser and household detergentfor oil-based stains
- Soft clothsfor wiping and drying without scratching (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Blot the spill right away
Lay a paper towel over the spill and press until it soaks up the liquid. Replace the towel as it fills, and keep blotting until the surface looks dry.
Tip. Work from the edges toward the middle so the spill doesn't grow.
Careful. Don't wipe the spill, since wiping spreads it across more of the stone.
Step 2 of 5
Flush the area with water and soap
Run warm water over the spot and add a small amount of mild soap. Rinse several times until no soap is left, then dry the area with a soft cloth.
Step 3 of 5
Clean with a neutral stone cleaner
Spray a neutral stone cleaner over the area and wipe it with a soft cloth. Rinse the surface afterward so no film is left behind.
Careful. Use only the small amount of mild soap named above. Dish soap can leave a dulling film on granite, so keep it away from the stone.
Step 4 of 5
Treat food and drink stains with peroxide
For a food or drink stain, mix 3% hydrogen peroxide with a few drops of ammonia and work it into the mark with a soft cloth. Do this indoors, then rinse the area with water and dry it.
Step 5 of 5
Treat oil stains with a gentle cleanser
For grease, cooking oil or cosmetics, clean gently with a soft liquid cleanser and a little household detergent. Rinse well and dry the stone so no residue is left.
Careful. Don't use scouring powders, creams or scrub pads, which can scratch the stone.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best stain removers for granite
Look for a white absorbent poultice powder and a neutral stone cleaner labeled for stone, and skip any product that lists acid or bleach as a main ingredient.
Granite Gold® Daily Cleaner
Aqua Mix® Poultice Stain Remover
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.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Know the stain? Use its own guide
Every stain on granite
Water, rust & minerals4
Discoloration & marks2
Paint, glue & adhesives1
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
A stain is lifting when each pass takes a little more of it off and the stone looks the same as the rest. If it stays the same after a couple of tries, stop scrubbing and move on to the poultice described below.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your granite
Granite countertops
Countertops take most of the everyday spills, so the five steps above are your main plan. Blot first, then clean with the neutral stone cleaner, and match the food or oil step to the mark.
After the stain lifts, look at the spot once it's dry. If it still looks dull or dark, the seal may be worn, and a stone professional can check it.
White and light-colored granite
Light granite shows a stain more clearly, so blot quickly and check the area after it dries. Food and drink marks can be treated with the peroxide step, but test a small hidden spot first.
On pale stone, a leftover oil film stands out, so rinse and dry the area well after the oil step. Dull patches that won't polish out need a professional, not more scrubbing.
Hot pans, chemicals, lemon, vinegar and hard water
A pan straight from the oven won't damage granite, but if it leaves a cloudy ring, clean it with the neutral stone cleaner before anything else. For a chemical spill, blot it at once and rinse with water rather than mixing a cleaner to fight it.
Lemon and vinegar are acids, so rinse any spill right away. Hard water leaves a dull film that a neutral stone cleaner often lifts, but etching that won't polish out needs a stone professional.
Granite sinks and composite sinks
Granite sinks follow the same steps, but water sits in the basin, so rinse and dry it after each use. Ignored water buildup and dull areas around the sink call for stone restoration, so act on them early.
For a composite sink, check the care label first. If there is no label, use only the blot-and-clean steps and skip anything you aren't sure of.
Granite floors, tiles, steps and tabletops
Floors, tiles, steps and tabletops get the same blot, flush and clean routine as countertops. Work on one tile or section at a time so the cleaner doesn't dry on the surface before you rinse it.
For routine care on a floor, use a neutral stone cleaner on a damp mop and rinse the mop often. Stairs and tabletops are the same, so keep the cleaner light and dry the stone well.
Black granite
Black granite follows the same steps as any other granite. Residue from a cleaner shows up as a haze on dark stone, so rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.
Oil marks and food stains are treated the same way, with the soft cleanser or the peroxide step. Check the spot in good light after it dries before deciding it's gone.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old stain has had time to soak into the stone, so the quick steps may not reach it. Start with a poultice, which draws the stain out over time. Mix a white absorbent powder with the cleaner you've been using until it forms a paste about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
Spread it over the stain, cover it with plastic, and leave it for 24 to 48 hours. Rinse it off with distilled water when you remove it, and repeat if the stain is still there. Difficult stains may take up to five applications.
For an oil-based mark, mineral spirits or acetone applied with a soft cloth is the stronger option, so test a hidden spot first. Some stains, especially deep rust, may never come out completely, so if the poultice doesn't work, call a stone professional.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on granite?
Plenty of home remedies are shared for granite, but most were written for fabric or other surfaces. Some are safe on granite and the rest belong in the cupboard, so you know which to use.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Ammonia + Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
The ammonia maker's safety sheet says not to mix ammonia with other household chemicals, and Poison Control warns that mixing ammonia products is dangerous.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't mix bleach and ammonia
Combining the two creates a toxic, lethal gas, so never use bleach near an ammonia step. None of the steps above call for bleach.
Don't clean with vinegar or lemon juice
Granite may contain acid-sensitive trace minerals, so acidic cleaners are off the list. The neutral stone cleaner from the cleaning step does the job without that risk.
Don't use cleaners made for other surfaces
Cleaners that aren't made for stone can break down the sealer. Once the seal is gone, the stone is less protected from the next spill.
Don't use rust removers with hydrofluoric acid
Rust removers containing hydrofluoric acid attack all stone, including granite and quartzite. For rust, use the poultice in the old-stain section, and call a professional for deep rust.
Don't add whiting or fuller's earth to an acid poultice
Whiting and fuller's earth cancel out the effect when they're mixed with acid chemicals. Stick with a white absorbent powder and a neutral cleaner.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The stain came back after the poultice dried
Apply another poultice and leave it covered for the full 24 to 48 hours. Some stains need several rounds.
The stone looks dull where you cleaned
Rinse thoroughly to remove soap film, then use a neutral stone cleaner. Dull areas that remain may need stone restoration.
A dark patch appears after water spills
The seal is likely worn. Let the stone dry fully, then test it and reseal with a penetrating sealer.
When to call a professional
Call a stone supplier, installer or restoration specialist if a stain resists poulticing. Deep rust or copper stains, deeper scratches and nicks, and etching you can't polish out also need a pro. Ignored water buildup and dull areas around the sink call for stone restoration.
Questions
Does granite stain?
Yes, granite can stain, especially when it's unsealed or the seal has worn thin. Oil, food and drink can all leave marks if they sit on the stone. Blotting spills quickly and keeping the seal in good shape are the best protection.
Does quartz stain more than granite?
The steps here are for granite only, so they don't show how quartz compares. Check the care instructions for your quartz before using any cleaner from these steps.
Can I use baking soda on granite?
Baking soda is a gentle cleanser for everyday wipe-downs, but skip it for stains. For one that won't lift, use the poultice from the old-stain section instead. For a stain that won't lift, use the poultice from the old-stain section instead.
Is hydrogen peroxide safe on granite?
Yes, for food and drink stains, when you use the drugstore 3% strength indoors. Skip the stronger bleaching solution; stick with the 3% drugstore strength.
How long does a poultice stay on?
A poultice stays under plastic for 24 to 48 hours. Rinse with distilled water when you remove it, and repeat if the stain remains, up to five applications for difficult marks.
Will an old stain come out completely?
Not always. Old stains can come out partly, and some may never be removed completely, especially deep rust. Start with the poultice and repeat it before deciding how much is left.
Will hard water spots come off granite?
Often yes, with a neutral stone cleaner, a rinse and a soft cloth to dry. If the dull patch won't polish out, a stone professional can restore it.
Related
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.