How To Clean and Disinfect Granite Countertops

For something seemingly so simple, there’s a lot of different advice out there when it comes to the best way to clean and disinfect granite countertops. Use Windex! No, never use Windex! Use a special granite-only cleaner! No, you don’t need a special granite-only cleaner!

But after doing our own research, we think we’ve discovered a consensus among stone experts on how to care for granite. Make sure your granite countertop is sealed, avoid using chemicals, and use a gentle cloth for daily wipe-downs. And the best part? You really don’t need any special cleaners to get those countertops shiny and streak-free.

While granite is a very hard surface and less porous than marble, unsealed or weakly sealed granite will soak up oils, spills, and stains. To check whether your granite is sealed, leave a few drops of water on the surface. If it beads up, you have a secure seal. If after a few minutes the water has soaked into the granite, then it’s time to reseal the stone.

Windex; acidic cleaners, like vinegar, lemon, lime; or anything with ammonia or bleach should be avoided. Frequent use of these chemicals will dull and weaken the sealant over time. Basically, the harsher the cleaner, the quicker it will break down the sealant.

Use warm water, a mild or gentle dish soap, and a nubby washcloth or microfiber cloth for daily wipe-downs.

A well-sealed granite countertop is relatively impervious to bacteria. Hot water and dish soap should be adequate for daily sanitizing. However, if a disinfectant is desired, reach for a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol. Spray it onto the granite, allow to sit for three to five minutes, and then rinse with water and dry with a clean microfiber cloth. Avoid bleach or ammonia-based cleaners.

Note: There’s no need or reason to dilute the rubbing alcohol. In fact, the CDC says that alcohol’s effectiveness at killing germs “drops sharply when diluted below 50% concentration,” and the optimal concentration for killing bacteria is between 60 to 90 percent. When you buy rubbing alcohol, it’s already diluted with water in a concentration that’s usually either 70 or 91 percent. So we recommend a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Related: See all of Apartment Therapy’s stories on disinfecting here.

There are usually lots of granite cleaners out there (like this one from Method and this one from Granite Gold). Some all-purpose surface cleaners also specify that they’re safe for granite. Of course, with the current coronavirus pandemic, these cleaners are harder and harder to find. If you have one or happen to find a bottle, you can try one. But you don’t need one of these cleaners in order to tackle your granite. The cleaning tutorial below will work just fine! Ready? Let’s take a look at the steps!

• Warm water
• Mild or gentle dish soap
• Dish cloth
• Clean microfiber cloth or terrycloth towel
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Spray bottle

1. Wet your dish cloth with warm, soapy water: Fill a clean sink with warm water and a mild dish soap, then thoroughly wet a clean dish cloth.
2. Wipe down the granite countertops: You don’t need us to tell you how to do this part. Just use your wet dish cloth to wipe away any spills or crumbs on your countertop!
3. Dry with a microfiber cloth to avoid streaking: Dry and buff your granite countertop thoroughly with a microfiber cloth or soft terry cloth towel to avoid streaking.
4. Disinfect: To periodically disinfect your granite countertops, remove soap residue, and restore shine, spray 70% isopropyl alcohol onto your counters. Allow it to sit for three to five minutes, then rinse with water and dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
5. Enjoy!: Your nice, shiny, clean granite countertops are ready to go.