Just because your granite or marble countertops are made of natural materials doesn’t mean they can handle any type of chemical. Homeowners are faced with a ton of cleaning options and it can be hard to tell the differences. Choosing a bad cleaning product for your countertops, however, will lead to damage in the future and that’s the last thing you want to do.
Are you cleaning your granite countertops correctly? Stay away from these 3 cleaning products! Share on X
Household Cleaners to Avoid
Whatever you’ve been told, all-purpose cleaners cannot be used on natural stone countertops. Between breaking down the sealant and scratching the surface of your countertops, the chemicals in popular household cleaners can do more harm than good. Next time you wipe the counters, be sure to avoid these 3 cleaning products:
- Glass Cleaners
- Bleach
- Disinfecting Wipes
1) Glass Cleaners
You can do permanent damage to your granite counter by using window cleaners. Even sealed natural stone countertops are pretty porous and can only handle mild cleaning products. Wipe down your marble or granite counters with a mixture of soap and water. Dry with a microfiber cloth or soft cloth.
2) Bleach
If you have solid surface countertops, wipe up spills of staining substances with warm water as soon as possible. Avoid using a stronger cleaning solution such as bleach, as this will damage the finish further.
Pro Tip: For stain removal, mix a paste of baking soda and clean water or hydrogen peroxide, rub it on the stain, and tape plastic wrap over the stained area. Let it sit for at least 12 hours before rinsing and repeat as needed.
3) Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes are super convenient for cleaning, but on granite countertops, they can do permanent damage. The citric acid from the wipes is especially bad for the sealant used on granite countertops. In general, all-purpose cleaners made with things like lemon juice, white vinegar, and rubbing alcohol are too harsh for granite countertops.
Protect Your Beautiful Stone Countertops
If you want to extend the life and quality of your stone countertops, don’t use any kind of chemical that hasn’t been proven to work. Instead, products that have been tested to clean and protect safely.
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