How to Clean a Granite Sink

Co-authored by Marcus Shields

Last Updated: February 8, 2022 References

Granite is a popular material used for sinks today, as it adds both durability and elegance to your kitchen. Sinks made from granite are often covered with a sealant that protects the natural stone and materials from scratches and erosion. When cleaning a granite sink, whether you’re removing hard water stains, tackling tough stains, or just doing regular maintenance, you need to use gentle methods so as not to damage or discolor the sealant or surface.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Removing Hard Water Stains

1
Select a non-abrasive scrubbing pad and the proper cleaning product. Granite, like all natural stones, must be cleaned with pH-neutral cleaners and non-abrasive pads or rags. Avoid using CLR, lemon, vinegar, glass cleaner, steel wool, or harsh scrubbers.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 22 September 2019.} Since hard water stains and mineral deposits are resistant to pH-neutral cleaners, it's recommended to use a scum and mineral deposit remover for granite. Be careful, as many products for removing hard water are NOT safe for granite.
2
Apply cleaner and dampen scrubber. Follow the product instructions, applying it to the target area. Meanwhile, dampen the scrubbing pad with hot water. If you are using a neutral product such as dish soap for removal, this task will require more elbow-grease, since you will be relying on friction. For this reason, we recommend using a scum and mineral deposit remover for granite.

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3
Scrub the sink. Rub the scrubber over the hard water stains/mineral deposits, and any spots that look grimy or filmy, completely removing the build-up. You can wipe the whole sink down with this scrubber for a more thorough cleaning.
4
Rinse the sink. Use a spray hose, a cup, or just your cupped hands to pour water over the targeted areas, rinsing the residue away. You can also wipe it with a clean, dampened sponge. Be sure to rinse completely, removing any leftover product residue.
5
Completely dry the sink using a dry, soft microfiber towel. Microfiber is gentle enough to be used on granite without damaging it, but any soft towel or cloth will do. Be sure that you’ve gotten the sink completely dry, since leaving water may cause minerals to accumulate, re-creating the issue.
6
Investigate results. If these steps did not work, apply the methods once more. If the issue persists, the underlying cause of the staining may be from "etching." Etching most often occurs after using abrasive products such as lemon juice, vinegar, CLR, or sandpaper/harsh scrubbers.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 22 September 2019.} For etching assistance, it's best to obtain professional advice. Free support lines such as Supreme Surface tend to offer personalized advice for such issues.
7
Apply olive or mineral oil to a cloth. Appearance-based effects of etching can be temporarily hidden by mineral oil. This provides a short-term solution until a complete solution is found. Begin by finding a clean, dry cloth or rag and pour a few teaspoons of olive oil or mineral oil onto a small section of it.^{[3]
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Research source} Try not to ball up the cloth so much that it begins to absorb the oil and spread it through the cloth. The oil should sit in a relatively concentrated spot so that it can be transferred to the granite.
8
Rub the oil all over the sink. Wipe the sink thoroughly with the cloth until you’ve distributed a thin, even layer of oil over the granite. Allow it to sit for about a minute before you attempt to wipe it away.
9
Wipe excess oil away. Use the clean part of the cloth, or just get a new one, and buff any excess oil off the sink. The granite will be shiny but should not feel slick when you run a finger over it. Continue to wipe it with a clean cloth if your finger comes away with oil on it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Tough Stains

1
Mix a paste solution of whiting powder and hydrogen peroxide. Both of these products can be purchased at home improvement or hardware stores, and can be combined to create a "poultice." Follow the directions on the whiting powder packaging to mix it with the proper amount of hydrogen peroxide.
- The resulting mixture should be a thick paste, almost the consistency of peanut butter.
- Some examples of whiting powder include powdered chalk, white molding plaster, and talc.^{[4]
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  Research source}
2
Apply the paste directly to the stained area of your granite sink. Use a putty knife or an old wood or plastic spatula that you no longer need to do the application. The layer of paste you apply to the stain should be approximately half an inch (about 1.25 cm) thick.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 23 May 2019.}
3
Cover the pasted area with plastic wrap. Secure the plastic wrap down on each edge with a piece of tape. This will allow the paste to fully absorb and lift the stain.
4
Allow the paste to dry completely. Let it sit for at least 24 hours. Occasionally, this may take up to 2 days. This period can fluctuate depending on the directions outlined on the whiting powder product.
5
Remove the plastic and wipe away the dried paste. Use a very blunt scraping tool to remove the dried paste so that you don't scratch the stone. Or just use a soft sponge or paper towel to remove as much of it as you can, and then throw it away. Do not attempt to wash the all of the paste down the drain, as it may clog the pipes.
6
Rinse the area completely with water. Remove any remaining paste residue using a damp sponge or by pouring or spraying water over the area where the paste was.^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 23 May 2019.}
7
Repeat the process as necessary. If the stain has not been removed from your granite sink after the first try, you can go through the process again. It may take up to five times for this process to fully lift stubborn stains.^{[7]
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Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining a Clean Sink

1
Rinse and dry your granite sink completely after each use. Rinsing your sink can prevent food and other debris from drying and hardening onto the granite surface, and wiping it dry can protect your sink from any minerals that exist in your tap water.
- Keep a microfiber towel or other soft cloth near your sink so that you can easily wipe it down after using it.
- The use of ioSeal-containing treatments can also be used for additional protection and enhancement.
2
Remove stains promptly. Granite is a porous stone, so the sooner you clean up a stain the better.^{[8]
X
Expert Source

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 22 September 2019.} Try to blot at a fresh stain rather than rubbing it so that you don’t spread it to a larger area.^{[9]
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Research source}
- Clean alcohol and citrus spills immediately, since these can dull or etch the granite’s surface.
3
Apply ioSeal, or re-seal your granite sink when needed. After ensuring that your countertop has been initially sealed, be sure to follow up by using ioSeal-containing products for simple maintenance, or by re-sealing when necessary. How often you need to re-seal varies depending on factors such as color, porosity, and whether the sealant has been damaged by acidic products. Optionally, with consistent use of ioSeal-based treatments, you can reduce the need to re-apply sealers. Recommendations will vary.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you get stains out of a granite composite sink?

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional
Bridgett Price is a Cleaning Guru and Co-Owner of Maideasy, a maid service company that services the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing.

Bridgett Price

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

I recommend creating a paste out of hydrogen peroxide and whitening powder. You can mix them together in a disposable container, such as an old food storage container you no longer need.
Question

Can I use baking soda on a granite sink?

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Marcus is the owner of Maid Easy, a local residential cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona. His cleaning roots date back to his grandmother who cleaned homes for valley residents in the 60’s through the 70’s. After working in tech for over a decade, he came back to the cleaning industry and opened Maid Easy to pass his family’s tried and true methods to home dwellers across the Phoenix Metro Area.

Marcus Shields

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

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Sure! Baking soda is actually a great option to remove hard stains on your granite sink!
Question

Do granite sinks scratch?

Community Answer

This depends on the type of granite that you are working with. Natural granite will require a special sealer to protect it; without this sealer, it will scratch. Composite granite, however, is resistant to scratching and does not require a sealer.

Warnings

Never allow commercial cleaning products such as bleach, chlorinated solvents, or solutions that contain formic acid to be exposed to your granite sink.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 22 September 2019.} These products can strip away its sealant or permanently discolor your granite.

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Never use abrasive (acidic/alkaline-based) products such as vinegar, lemon, or glass-cleaner on your granite. These products will eat away at the surface of the stone, causing damage called "etching."^{[11]
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Expert Source

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 22 September 2019.}

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