Clean a Granite Sink
Sinks made from granite are often covered with a sealant that protects the natural stone and materials from scratches and erosion. When cleaning a granite sink, you must use a gentle cleaning solution that will not affect the sealant or cause discoloration. To remove tough stains outside regular cleaning, you must treat the stain using a powdered whiting product and hydrogen peroxide, which will absorb the stain directly from the granite. Continue reading this article to learn about the exact methods for cleaning and treating tough stains on your granite sink.
Contents
Steps
General Cleaning Method
- Rinse and dry your granite sink completely after each use. Rinsing your sink can prevent food and other debris from drying and hardening onto the granite surface, and can protect your sink from any minerals that exist in your tap water.
- Create a homemade cleaning mixture of liquid dishwashing soap and water. Liquid dishwashing soap will remove dirt and streaks from your sink without scratching or damaging the surface of the granite.
- Add a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap to a bucket, then fill the bucket with water to create a sudsy cleaning mixture.
- Soak a soft sponge or soft, microfiber towel with the soap and water mixture. Abrasive cleaning supplies such as wire or wool scouring pads may permanently scratch or damage the surface of the granite; whereas microfiber towels will gently lift dirt from the surface of the granite.
- Use the soft sponge or microfiber towel to scrub your granite sink gently.
- Rinse your sink after cleaning to clear away any remaining soap residue. If your granite sink has a dull finish after cleaning, there is most likely soap residue remaining on the sink's surface.
- Dry your granite sink using a dry, soft microfiber towel or rag.
Removing Tough Stains
- Mix a paste solution of whiting powder and hydrogen peroxide. A paste mixture containing these ingredients will absorb the stain and lift it from the granite.
- Purchase a powdered whiting product from a retail store that specializes in home improvement, then follow the directions on the packaging to mix it with the proper amount of hydrogen peroxide.
- Apply the paste directly to the stained area of your granite sink. The layer of paste you apply to the stain should be approximately one-fourth of an inch (6.35 mm) thick.
- Cover the pasted area with plastic wrap and secure with tape. This will allow the paste to fully absorb and lift the stain.
- Allow the paste to dry completely. Occasionally, this may take up to 2 days; however, this period can fluctuate depending on the directions outlined on the whiting powder product.
- Wipe away the dried paste using a soft sponge or towel.
- Rinse the area completely with water to remove any remaining paste residue. The stain will then be gone from the surface of your granite.
- Continue to repeat the paste treatment if the stain has not been removed from your granite sink after the first try.
Tips
- If you are unsure about whether certain cleaning methods or solutions will be safe to use on your granite sink, contact the manufacturer of your sink. Usually, the manufacturer can provide you with recommendations on safe treatments for the granite.
- To restore shine to your granite sink when it no longer gleams, purchase a commercial granite cleaning solution, or solution intended for natural stone, then use the product as directed on the packaging.
Warnings
- Never allow commercial cleaning products such as bleach, chlorinated solvents, or solutions that contain formic acid to be exposed to your granite sink. These products can strip away its sealant, or permanently discolor your granite.
Things You'll Need
- Soft sponge or microfiber towel
- Liquid dishwashing soap
- Bucket
- Powdered whiting product
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Plastic wrap
- Tape
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