We all love the beauty, grace, and durability of granite countertops. They are each unique, natural stone slabs that can bring a captivating homeliness to any kitchen. Granite is hailed as a durable natural stone countertop that is easy to take care of. While that’s true, it can still be susceptible to the occasional hard water stain. Luckily, the process of how to remove water rings and stains is relatively simple.
What Causes Water Stains on Granite?
Different types of stains may occur on granite countertops. Many can easily be cleaned off with a granite cleaner. Some, however, are more difficult to clean.
Hard water stains are more entrenched than other stains. Hard water is water that contains minerals within it. When it dries, it leaves tiny minerals behind, such as calcium, magnesium, and other elements that react with soap and mar your countertop. Sometimes these hard water stains are referred to as “soap scum”.
These hard water stains often build up around your faucets, sprayer, fixtures, or soap dispensers. They turn into a scaly-looking, hard (often white) powder that dulls the look of your granite countertops.
How to Remove Hard Water Stains and Soap Scum from Granite Countertops
Removing soap scum and mineral deposits from granite countertops is easy with Rock Doctor’s Spot & Ring Remover.
Follow these steps to remove hard water stains:
- Shake Spot & Ring Remover to mix up its contents.
- Squeeze it directly onto the surface, a damp sponge, or a microfiber cloth.
- Rub the area gently with the sponge or cloth in a circular motion.
- Repeat the process for tough stains.
- Wipe the area down with a clean, lightly damp sponge or cloth.
For really stubborn stains, you can let Spot & Ring Remover sit on the stain for several minutes and scrub softly with a Brillo pad.
What Not to Use to Remove Water Stains
It’s important to know what not to use to clean granite, including harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners, or vinegar. Acidic cleaners and vinegar are the enemies of natural stone countertops and will dull your granite and seep into the stone.
Harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia are also dangerous to stone countertops. These products will eat through your sealant and attack the stone countertops.
How Do I Prevent Future Hard Water Rings on Granite?
Now that you have an easy solution for cleaning water stains, preventing future stains may seem unimportant. Still, a little prevention now saves time later. Whenever you see excess water on your counter, wipe it up or into the sink. The less water you have drying on your counters, the better.
One of the reasons hard minerals are latching onto your countertops is that they are grabbing onto porous surfaces and hardening. A proper application of Rock Doctor’s Granite Sealer will seal your granite and make it a smoother surface that is much harder for minerals to latch onto and much easier to wipe away with a damp sponge.
Seal Your Granite Countertops
How do you know when it’s time to reseal your granite countertop? You can perform a simple test to check if your granite needs to be resealed.
Pour a penny-sized drop of water into various sections of your granite countertop and let it sit for 30 minutes. Observe what happens to the drops. If the granite darkens before the time is up, it is time to reseal your granite.
To seal the granite, first clean your countertops with Rock Doctor’s Granite Cleaner to ensure your counters are clean and ready to be sealed.
After cleaning, follow these steps to apply the Granite Sealer:
- Shake the can well.
- Test on an inconspicuous part of your countertop.
- Double-check that your counter is clean and ready to be sealed, as you don’t want to seal in a stain.
- Hold the can six to eight inches from the surface and spray the Sealer on the desired area.
- Let it stand for two to three minutes, and then wipe away using a clean, dry cotton cloth or paper towel.
- Allow 30 minutes for the sealer to dry completely before placing items back on your countertops.
Polish Your Granite Countertops
Once the hard water stains are removed, and your countertops are resealed, you can bring back their lustrous shine with Rock Doctor’s Granite Polish. Polish will bring a glow to your countertops and add an additional layer of protection on top of your granite sealer.
To apply the polish, lightly spray your countertops with the aerosol polish and wipe down with a clean cloth. Wait two to three minutes and wipe them down again in a circular motion with a clean cloth.
Rock Doctor’s Dedication to Beautiful Countertops
Rock Doctor has over 25 years of working with stone care and kitchen cleaning products. Each is produced to solve problems our customers are experiencing.
We want to help you make your kitchen and bath look clean and shiny, like it is brand new. Each of our products is thoroughly tested on an array of different stones and materials to ensure we get the formula just right.
When you buy Rock Doctor, you know that you’re buying the best possible, safest product for your countertops. Use our Store Locator to find Rock Doctor products near you.
