How To Remove Granite Stains



If you have spent a small fortune installing granite into your home, you should know ahead of time how to take good care of it.



Yet, even if you follow your manufacture's care instructions to the T, you can still find problems with stains down the road. Each stain has its own mind and getting that stain out is likely to take a bit more work then it did with a standard Formica countertop.



Granite stain removal is a process that requires a bit more of a unique method of cleaning then a standard countertop would. But, there is help for you.



The Problem With Granite Stains



Why does your granite stone stain so easily?



The fact is that unlike other types of countertops, yours are porous, allowing liquid and chemicals of all sorts to easily get into the top layers of the stone. These stones are much like a sponge, allowing liquid to be absorbed into them.



In most cases, you will have a protective layer used to cover the granite, especially if it is used as a countertop. But, this is not necessarily the case when it comes to granite used in walkways and other more rough conditions.



Removing Stains From Granite



The best way to remove any stain from granite is to use a poultice.



A poultice is a material that is made of special products that will actually work in the opposite manner as the granite did. It will work to absorb the stain back out of the granite and into the poultice. Just as the stain entered, in many cases, it can come right back out in the same manner.



Your first step is to learn what a poultice is. It is made of powdered whiting and hydrogen peroxide. You can find whiting in any of your paint stores or home improvement stores. Now, to make it, follow these steps.



Wet the area in which the stain is at. Doing this will allow it to better allow the stain to be removed.

Mix the poultice as directed by the manufacturer. You want to create a thick paste.

Apply to the stained area. Do not put any onto the non stained area though. 1/4 of an inch in thickness is perfect.

Overlap the stained area by about an inch.

Cover with plastic wrap. Seal the edges with tape. Poke a couple of holes into the top of the plastic so that the poultice will dry faster.

Allow to dry. Do not move it until it is fully dried. Wait about two days before removing.

Remove from the stain. Rinse with distilled water.

Dry with a clean, dry terry cloth.

You may need to repeat this process several times before all of the stain will be removed. You can do this up to five times and still see results in the removal of stains from your granite. This method of using a poultice will work for many of your common stains such as grease, coffee, iron and rust stains, mildew, algae, cooking oil, food caused spills, and even markers and pen stains.



What Type Of Whiting Should You Use To Remove Granite Stains?



If you enter your paint or hardware store and find yourself unsure of which type of whiting to purchase, consider these.



Talc

Diatomaceous Earth

Clays like Kaolin and Fullers Earth

Sepiolite or hydrous magnesium silicate

Methyl cellulose



Be very careful with these products. If you will need to add a chemical to the poultice to make it work more effectively, as we will mention in a minute, do not use Fullers Earth or other iron type clays with chemicals as they will react together and you would be just wasting your time using them at that point.



Using Cleaning Chemicals For Stain Removal



You may find that the poultice just does not allow for the stain to come out of the granite. This can happen and you should realize that some stains will not fully be removed from your granite.



But, you do have the option of using another product with the poultice. You can actually use these additional chemicals in the poultice as they are sometimes sold together. They work by getting deep into the granite where the stain is lurking. There, they will react to the stain chemically. When this happens, the stain is neutralized and both the chemical as well as the stain can then be worked out better with the help of the poultice method listed above.



If you still find that you are having problems removing the stains from the granite that you have, you can call on a professional to help you. Call on the same individuals that installed the granite for you or the manufacturer. If there is a protective covering over your granite, make sure that you keep it updated to prevent additional stains from getting into it.