The first step after you realize that your granite countertop is not as perfect as you want it to be is to identify whether it is a stain or damage to the stone. After realizing that it is indeed a stain, do a critical analysis of what exactly caused the stain. This is important to help you identify the accurate materials that you may need to remove. This article gives guidelines on determining the cause of stains on the granite counters and the best ways to remove them.
Determining Stains on Granite Counter
- Stains
The most likely characteristic of a stain on your granite countertop is discoloration, which can happen when the granite stone absorbs a staining agent. These staining agents include coffee, tea, and even oil just to name a few. To eliminate this problem, your main goal is to remove the staining agent. This is the only way you will be able to get rid of the stubborn stain.
- Damage
The most likely occurrence that would lead to a damaged countertop is the change that happens in the natural chemical makeup within the granite stone. In this category, there are no stains involved from the staining agents but the spots are seen because of damage towards the surface of the granite countertops.
Another likely cause of damage is corrosion. Acids, water spots, and leaving rings may cause these corrosions. These damages in most cases cannot be removed therefore the most efficient way of dealing with them is prevention. A toilet bowl cleaner or even white vinegar that spilled on your countertop are examples of substances that may cause these damages.
It is important to also note that in case you are still unsure of what the spots are, contacting professional help can be key before moving on to the removal step.
How to Remove Stains From the Granite Counter
For you to have an easy time during your stain removal process, you need to use a poultice. This includes the use of absorbent material and a chemical, two important materials that form the poultice. The absorbent material may be paper towels, specifically Bounty or Viva. It can also be talcum powder or diatomaceous earth. The chemical is what will be used to remove the stain.
Different Types of Stains
There are different kinds of stains and each will require its own chemical for effective removal.
The first is organic stains, which can be coffee, soda, and tea just to name a few. This kind of stain will need hydrogen peroxide with a 30% – 40% by volume. Inorganic stains are the second category and may include ink, dyes, and dirt. Alcohol should be used for the ink while hydrogen peroxide is suitable for all others. The third is oil, which requires the application of pure Acetone. Biological stains will need bleach or MB-9 and finally, metal stains require Iron-out.
Cleaning Stains From Your Granite Counter
Mix the poultice, for example, hydrogen peroxide with talc powder to form a thick paste. Application of this paste should be only to the stained area and the layer should be one-fourth of an inch thick overlapping the stain by half an inch. You should then wrap this area with plastic wrap then allow it to set for 24 hours. The edges of the wrap should be tapped down.
Remove the wrap leaving the poultice to completely dry then scrape it away with a plastic scraper. The remaining paste should then be cleaned using a clean cloth. Finally, clean the area using a normal cleaning method. The stain may persist requiring you to repeat the process several times.
Using the above knowledge, there is no cause for alarm when you find out that your granite is stained. After carrying out the above procedure several times and still realize that your stain is not completely gone, it is advisable to seek professional help. Experts will save you a lot of time and still do a much better job. If this is not an option for you, you could opt to lighten or darken the granite to hide the stain.