Homemade Granite Cleaner for Beautiful Countertops

Granite countertops are a beautiful and popular addition to any kitchen, but they can be challenging to keep clean. Because granite is a porous surface, it can quickly become stained and dull-looking.  Not only do dirty countertops look bad, but they can also be a breeding ground for bacteria. The bacteria can also wear away at the protective sealant that’s been applied to the granite, making it more susceptible to damage.

Store-bought cleaners can be expensive, and some contain harsh chemicals that can damage your countertops. With this easy-to-follow homemade granite cleaner recipe, you’ll be able to keep your counters looking shiny and new with little effort and without any expensive cleaning products.

We’ll use common household ingredients to make this simple, inexpensive, and effective recipe. This cleaner is made with natural ingredients that will help lift the dirt and grime from the surface of your granite without damaging it.

You can use this DIY granite cleaner on countertops, backsplashes, floors, fireplace surrounds, and other granite. You can also use it on other natural stone surfaces.

What to Avoid When Cleaning Granite Countertops

Before we get into the recipe for our DIY granite cleaner, it’s important to understand what you should avoid when cleaning granite and other types of natural stone surfaces.

Acidic Cleaners

One of the most important things is to avoid using any acidic cleaners. This includes vinegar, citrus juices, and anything else that has a high acid content.

While vinegar and citrus juice can be effective cleaners for other surfaces, they will damage granite. The acid in these cleaners will etch or scratch the stone’s surface, causing visible damage.

You might not be able to see the etching immediately, but it will become more visible over time. Once the etching has happened, it can be very difficult or impossible to fix.

Be sure to use only pH-neutral cleaners on granite and other natural stone surfaces.

Harsh Chemicals

Harsh chemicals, like bleach, should also be avoided when cleaning granite. These chemicals can strip away the sealant that’s been applied to the granite, leaving it unprotected and susceptible to staining.

They can also damage the finish of the granite, making it look dull and worn. On top of the damage they can cause to the stone, harsh chemical-based cleaners are also not safe for people, pets, or the environment.

If you must use a chemical cleaner on granite, choose one specifically designed for use on natural stone surfaces.

General Household Cleaners

While Windex is a typical go-to cleaner for glass and other surfaces, avoid using it on granite. Windex and other general household cleaners can damage the surface of your granite.

Hard Brushes, Scrubbers, or Anything Abrasive

You should also avoid using anything abrasive on granite. This includes scrub pads, stiff brushes, steel wool, and anything else that might scratch the stone’s surface.

Only use soft cloths or sponges. We recommend a quality microfiber cloth like the general purpose cloth from E-Cloth.

Why Make Homemade Granite Cleaner?

You may wonder why you should make your own granite cleaner with store-bought products available. Here are the most significant reasons to use this DIY recipe and other DIY Recipes for All-Natural Cleaning Products.

It Uses All-Natural Ingredients

All of the ingredients in this granite cleaner recipe are natural. This means they won’t damage your granite as some store-bought cleaners can. The ingredients are also non-toxic and safe for people, pets, and the environment.

It’s Inexpensive

This homemade granite cleaner is very inexpensive to make. The cost will be less than what you would pay for a high-quality store-bought cleaner. You probably already have most, if not all, of the ingredients on hand. If not, they’re readily available and inexpensive.

It Works

This cleaner works excellently at lifting dirt, grime, and fingerprints from the surface of your granite. It will leave your countertops sparkling clean and looking like new.

It’s Easy to Make

This granite cleaner is straightforward to make. It only takes a few minutes to mix up a batch. You can store it in a spray bottle and keep it on hand for when you need to clean your countertops.

Natural Homemade Granite Cleaner Recipe

Here is a list of the simple ingredients and the steps you can follow to make this effective cleaning solution.

What You Need:

• A spray bottle (16 ounces is ideal)
• Water
• Natural dish soap (we recommend Better Life Dish Soap)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Essential oil (optional)
• Microfiber cloth

Steps to create the DIY cleaning solution:

Step 1: Mix Ingredients in the Spray Bottle

Add 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol, 2-5 drops of natural dish soap, and about 1 1/2 cups of water to the spray bottle.

Step 2: Add Essential Oils (Optional)

You can make this recipe without essential oils, but if you want to add them, you can use about 5-10 drops. Adding essential oils will help deodorize and add some natural fragrance.

You could use many different essential oils for this purpose, so be sure to choose one that produces a scent you enjoy. Cinnamon, lavender, and peppermint work well.

While it’s crucial to avoid acidic cleaners, including lemon juice and other citrus juices, essential oils are pH-neutral and will not damage the granite. So you could use lemon oil, orange oil, grapefruit oil, or other citrus essential oils.

If you’re hesitant, test the essential oil in an inconspicuous area first (this is always a good idea with new cleaning products).

Step 3: Mix the Ingredients

Put the lid on the spray bottle and shake it well to mix the ingredients. It’s also a good idea to put a label on the bottle, so you don’t forget what’s in it or what it’s for.

That’s all there is to it! Your homemade granite cleaner is now ready for use.

DIY Granite Cleaner with Castile Soap

Castile soap is a versatile cleaning product that can be used for various cleaning tasks. You can use it to clean your granite countertops and other surfaces in your home like floors, windows, and bathrooms.

If you’ve already got castile soap, you can replace the dish soap in the recipe above with castile soap. We recommend Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap.

Dr. Bronner’s – Pure-Castile Liquid Soap

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Why This DIY Granite Cleaner Works

The isopropyl alcohol in the recipe helps disinfect the granite’s surface and remove any bacteria that may be present.

The dish soap helps to lift the dirt and grime from the surface and provides most of the cleaning power, even though we’re using only a few drops.

The essential oil provides a fresh scent and helps deodorize the granite. Many essential oils have antibacterial properties as well.

How to Use This Homemade Granite Cleaner

Spray a small amount of the cleaner onto your countertop (or whatever surface you’re cleaning) and wipe it with a clean microfiber cloth. You should only need to rub gently unless some stubborn stains or messes have been sitting on the surface for a while.

For those stains and messes, you may find that cleaning with simple soap and water is most effective first, to get up the bulk of the mess, then use your DIY granite cleaner.

Don’t want to make your own granite cleaner? Be sure to use a product that is made specifically for natural stone. We recommend Better Life’s Granite and Stone Cleaner.

Better Life Natural Granite and Stone Cleaner

Related: The Best Natural Granite Cleaner for Countertops

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Final Thoughts on Homemade Granite Cleaner

A granite cleaner is an essential cleaning product for anyone with granite countertops. This natural, homemade version is just as effective as any store-bought cleaner, but it’s much cheaper and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals.

It’s quick and easy to mix up a batch of this homemade granite cleaner, and you can store it in a spray bottle, so it’s always on hand when you need it.