How to Clean Granite Countertops?

What you need

• Warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap (or a stone-safe cleaner)
• A soft cloth or sponge
• A microfiber cloth for drying

Daily cleaning

1. Wipe up spills quickly, especially acidic ones like wine, coffee, citrus, and tomato, which can etch or stain.
2. Clean with warm soapy water. Dampen a soft cloth with warm water and a little dish soap and wipe the surface.
3. Rinse with a clean damp cloth to remove soap residue (built-up soap film dulls granite).
4. Dry and buff with a microfiber cloth to prevent streaks and water spots.

For stains: Make a paste of baking soda and water, apply it to the stain, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit for a day before gently wiping away (a "poultice").

Resealing: Granite is sealed, but the seal wears down. Test it by dripping a little water on the surface — if it soaks in and darkens the stone within a few minutes, it's time to reseal (typically every 1–2 years).

Avoid: Vinegar, lemon, ammonia, bleach, abrasive scrubbers, and generic all-purpose sprays — these strip the sealer and can etch the stone.

You may also want How to Clean Gutters Safely? or How to Clean a MacBook Screen?.

Neighbouring how-tos sit on the Cleaning & Stain Removal topic. From more researched answers you can ask a follow-up of your own — no account needed.