Builders, interior designers, and homeowners all gush over granite. It resists scratches and handles heat, and it looks great. Granite is a favorite material for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity tops, and other surfaces throughout the home. But granite has a porous surface that can gunk up with grease, grime, dirt, and bacteria that can dull its appearance and damage the sealant that prevents deterioration and chipping.
Not just any cleaner will restore granite to its original, beautiful appearance. Most household cleaners are too harsh for use on granite. You can try to save cash and chemicals by whipping up your own homemade granite cleaner, but there is always the risk that you will do as much harm as good.
That’s why we have compiled this review of the top ten all-natural, eco-friendly granite cleaners that restore granite’s natural sheen and keep it germ-free. But before we get into the list, let’s take a look at what you need to look for to find the best all-natural, eco-friendly granite cleaner.
Why not just rinse off the granite with soap and water?
What is it you really need in a granite cleaner? Why not just follow one of the dozens of online recipes for stone cleaners that combine dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and some nice-smelling essential oil? Or just rub down the granite with a microfiber cloth?
You may not ruin granite surfaces with homemade cleaners, but you won’t get them really clean safely, either. Here are three characteristics that are essential in every granite cleaner.
Every granite cleaner needs to have a neutral pH.
Granite is easily damaged by even weak acid solutions. Even vinegar and lemon juice need to be wiped off the granite right away. You should always use a cutting board when you are dicing pineapple or cutting up tomatoes on a granite kitchen countertop.
The reason granite is so sensitive to acids is that it contains calcite. Granite does not contain as many calcium compounds as limestone, but it is still easily etched by acid. Repairing acid etching on granite countertops is not a do-it-yourself task, because acids can get into tiny cracks in the surface, so the granite surface has to be both repaired and resealed.
If your granite countertop or vanity top hasn’t been sealed, your cleaner needs to contain a sealer to keep liquid from seeping into the stone.
This is the major shortcoming of homemade granite cleaners that with dish soap and rubbing alcohol. Homemade cleansers get into the stone and become part of the problem.
No granite cleaner should contain any harsh chemicals.
Part of the beauty of granite comes from reflections in tiny natural fissures between the crystals of its surface. Harsh chemical cleansers are not a problem in all-natural cleansers, because they are never added to the product.
What else do you need in a granite cleaner?
The best granite cleansers do more than just clean up grease, grime, stains, and gunk. The best granite cleansers leave granite looking better than it did before. Here are another six features of really great cleansers for granite surfaces throughout the house.
Great granite cleansers also function as polishers.
Some products excel at removing stains, but they don’t leave a professional-looking shine. Look for a granite cleaning product that creates a fabulous polish.
Great granite cleansers contain sealers.
Even among granite cleansing products that include sealers that keep liquids from getting into the stone, keeping you, for example, from marring stone by spilling red wine or vinegar on your countertop, some products work better than others. Look for products that provide 100 percent protection for granite surfaces.
Great granite cleansers don’t leave residue or streaks behind.
If you use too much cleanser, you may get streaks. And if you use a heavy cleanser, you may get streaks and residue. You can clean up excess cleanser with a microfiber cloth, but wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t have to?
Great granite cleansers are safe for kitchen issues.
This is one of the main reasons to look for 100-percent natural granite surface cleansers. Natural granite cleansers are the safest choice for food preparation areas.
Great granite cleansers are used with a spray-and-wipe approach.
You don’t want to have to rinse your cleanser off the surface every time you used it, particularly if you clean your granite surfaces several times a day. Look for products that you spray and wipe and then you’re done.
Great granite cleansers are designed to be used once a day,
but this is really a matter of personal preference. If your kitchen is buzzing with activity for three meals a day, or if you have a big family using the same bathroom, then you may prefer quick wipes throughout the day rather than granite cleansing just once a day.
What makes a granite cleaner eco-friendly?
Many gentle and effective granite cleaners contain a mixture of natural and chemical ingredients. The best granite cleaners get the job done with all-natural ingredients.
All-natural doesn’t necessarily mean “only extracted from plants.” For our purposes, alcohol that could have been bottled as vodka but instead is being used as cleaner is naturally. For eco-friendliness, what you really want in your granite cleaner is:
- A biodegradable formula in
- A recycled plastic bottle made from
- FDA and EPA approved nontoxic ingredients (no sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, synthetic fragrances, petroleum-based solvents, dyes, ethers, or paraben)
- That have never been tested on animals (so the product is cruelty-free) and
- That are safe for people, pets, and wildlife
- But formulated so the product is safe to use not only on granite but also on quartz, marble, slate, concrete, travertine, terrazzo, Silestone®, limestone, and soapstone.
That’s a lot to look for, but we have done the looking for you.
Now let’s take a look at 10 great choices you can buy on Amazon.
All of the choices on this list are terrific granite cleansers that will get your granite surfaces clean and shiny while protecting them from chipping, cracking, and dullness. But we are presenting our favorites in reverse order. We’re saving our favorite cleaner for last.
Haus Naturals
=> Click here to order now on Amazon.com
Black Diamond Granite Plus! Cleaner and Sealer
Black Diamond Granite Plus! Cleaner and Sealer is a professionally tested gentle cleaner for high-end granite, limestone, and travertine. The two products in one are a cleaner and a sealer. This means you can clean, polish, and protect at the same time.
This formula is pH-neutral, so it won’t break down the calcite crystals that make your countertops beautiful, but it is also 100-percent biodegradable and hypoallergenic. And it removes stains from grease, oil, cooking, and food without streaks or residue. No rinsing is required.
Weiman Granite Cleaner Wipes (2 pack)
Looking for an easy way to keep not just granite but also marble, quartz, soapstone, limestone, slate, tile, concrete, Corian, and laminate clean and shiny? That works on both countertops and floors? Try Weiman Granite Cleaner Wipes, available in two- and four-packs.
Weiman Granite Cleaner Wipes are a great value. You get 30 wipes in a two-pack. They have a streak-free, pH-balanced formula that enhances veining in natural stone surfaces. The only drawback? You need to be sure to close the container after every use to keep the wipes from drying out.
TriNova 18-Ounce Granite Cleaner and Polish Spray
Premium stone deserves premium care. TriNova 18-Ounce Granite Cleaner and Polish Spray is great for cleaning all kinds of stone, not just granite but also onyx, slate, marble, quartz, laminate, and more.
This product comes with a microfiber cloth for gentle cleaning. Be sure not to overspray. A little Trinova 18-Ounce Granite Cleaner and Polish Spray go a long way.
You don’t need to worry about breathing in any harsh chemical fumes, because this product does not contain any harsh chemicals, and all of its ingredients are both FDA- and EPA-approved and safe for use in the kitchen and bathroom. This Trinova product is an excellent choice for cleaning stone countertops, bathroom tiles, floors, and showers. It leaves a streak-free shine and seals as it cleans.
Method 00065 Daily Granite Cleaner Apple Orchard Scent 28 oz Spray Bottle
We will be the first to admit that Method 00065 Daily Granite Cleaner with Apple Orchard Scent is a little pricey. And it has to be used on granite and other stone surfaces that have been properly sealed. But the tremendous advantage of this produce is that it restores a natural look with a streak-free polish on stone in seconds. Just spray a little of the product on a soft cloth and then buff and polish.
Method 00065 Daily Granite Cleaner with Apple Orchard Scent is cruelty-free. None of its ingredients has been tested on animals. And it leaves a refreshing apple scent.
Rock Doctor Granite Cleaner – Cleans& Renews Surfaces – (18 oz) Surface Cleaner Spray, Granite/Marble Countertop Cleaner, Cleaning Spray for Vanity, Table Top, Kitchen Counters, Stone Surfaces (6Pack)
Rock Doctor knows that you will love their granite cleaner. That’s why they offer it in a money-saving six-pack that saves on shipping charges, too. Rock Doctor Granite Cleaner contains natural carnauba wax and emollients that restore dull and even damaged stone surfaces without leaving any streaks or residue behind. You can use Rock Doctor every day and keep all of your stone surfaces looking great! Just spray and wipe with a microfiber cloth.
Rock Doctor is formulated so it will not discolor grout, so it’s a good choice for cleaning bathroom tiles. It’s also well-suited to vanities, countertops, and kitchen counters.
Better Life Take it for Granite Stone Countertop Cleaner – Pomegranite & Grapefruit – 16 oz
Better Life Take it for granted Stone Countertop Cleaner doesn’t really contain “pomegranite.” Its prominent natural ingredients are pomegranate and grapefruit. But this made-in-the-USA natural granite cleaner features essential oils from fruit and a surfactant soap made from coconut oil.
This product is free of alcohol, dyes, ether, parabens, synthetic fragrances, solvents derived from petroleum products, and parabens. It is hypoallergenic (if you are not allergic to grapefruit or pomegranate). It creates a beautiful, streak-free shine on granite, quartz, terrazzo, travertine, Silestone, limestone, and soapstone, but you shouldn’t use it on Rosetta Stone.
Granite Gold Home Care Collection Granite Cleaner, Polish And All-Surface Cleaner Combo Pack
It’s not for nothing that Granite Gold is known as the stone care experts. Their passion for stone care goes back more than 50 years. You can trust their excellent products to take gentle care of all of your granite surfaces.
Your Home Care Collection includes a Granite Gold All-Surface Cleaner, Granite Gold Polish, and Granite Gold Daily Cleaner, along with a Granite Gold Scrub Sponge that is gentle but effective for removing stains. You can get the Granite Gold All-Surface Cleaner in a 24-ounce bottle and a one-gallon jug, and Granite Gold also sells a granite sealer.
All Granite Gold sprays are non-acidic, pH-balanced, non-toxic, and biodegradable. They don’t contain ammonia or phosphates, so no precautions are needed for using them on food preparation surfaces. They are gentle, so they take a little longer to get rid of stubborn stains. Granite Gold products leave a subtle, citrusy scent that lingers after every use.
Seventh Generation 22858 Natural Granite & Stone Cleaner, Mandarin Orange, 18 oz Spray Bottle (1)
Seventh Generation is well-known for its safe and effective natural products. Their Natural Granite & Stone Cleaner features cleaners based on coconut oil and essential oils of oranges and mandarins for a refreshing citrus scent. It is intended for use on sealed surfaces that it can make as good as the day you bought them in one simple step.
Seventh Generation products are septic safe, biodegradable, and safe for use on food preparation surfaces. Seventh Generation products are kosher, hallal, never tested on animals, and GMO-free. And they come at a fantastic price.
Stone Care International 32-Ounce Granite Cleaner Spray
Stone Care International 32-Ounce Granite Cleaner Spray is a favorite of cleaning professionals. It removes water marks, stains, grease, and grime without streaks or residue. It’s safe for food preparation surfaces. And because it is pH-balanced and free of phosphates and ammonia, it is great for cleaning granite, travertine, slate, marble, quartz, limestone, tile, and other stone surfaces.
Stone Care International Granite Cleaner is a great value for the money. And you can save even more when you buy a one-gallon container.
HOPE’S 22-Ounce Perfect Granite & Marble Cleaner
HOPE’s Perfect Granite & Marble Cleaner is a low-odor formula containing no harsh chemical solvents, no ammonia, and no alcohol. It’s safe and easy to use on all sealed granite, marble, and stone surfaces, and it is child- and pet-friendly. It’s our highest-rated choice because it is so easy to use, and it leaves no residue. And because there is no risk of damage to stone, it’s a product you can use every day. Once you try it, you won’t need to look for any other brand.
