Whether you’re looking for a gentle, daily option, or a tough cleaning kit to bust out occasionally, the best granite cleaners help protect your granite countertops from regular wear while also keeping them clean and shiny. I’ve rounded up the best granite cleaners for a variety of needs below.
A Closer Look Into The Product Categories
Your granite-cleaning arsenal should include three distinct components: a cleaner, conditioner, and sealer. However, a good all-in-one product will work if you’re time-crunched.
- Daily cleaner: Avoid generic cleaners or products with Windex, since Windex can permanently damage your countertops. Also, avoid acidic cleaners, like vinegar, lemon, lime, or anything with ammonia or bleach that can break down the protective sealant of your countertop. Instead, look for gentle, pH-neutral cleaners.
- Polish: A temporary polish can be used weekly or monthly. You’ll need one that’s specifically formulated for granite, since many household polishing products can strip the sealant. Long-term granite polishes remove a small layer of granite from your countertops and require heavy-duty equipment, so they aren't included in this round-up.
- Sealer: Unsealed or weakly sealed granite will soak up oils, spills, and stains, which will end up permanently ruining the look of your countertops. Be sure to look for sealers that are designed for natural stone, ideally those made specifically for treating granite. Before you apply a sealer, you'll want to do a "seal test." Leave a one-fourth cup of water on your countertop. If it beads up, you have a secure seal. If after several minutes the water has soaked into the granite, then it’s time to reseal the stone.
- All-in-one products: All-in-one options clean, condition, and seal the granite with one formula. They’re not as effective as a whole system, and some can leave your finish looking cloudy, but they’ll get the job done if you're crunched for time.