How to Clean Granite

You can use tough n tender...not only does is work fantastic, but it's safe. No toxins, chemicals or fumes!! You can also add solumel for tougher areas...also safe! In fact, all products that I use at home (personal, cleaning, laundry, etc) are chemical, toxin and fume free! We have a very safe home environment :o)

Good luck!!
T.

You can buy special cleaners at home depot or lowes for granite.

Method Granite CLeaner available at Target.

Pledge has a new product call "Clean and Shine" that cleans wood, granite, glass, and marble. I spray my counter tops with the Clorox surface cleaner and then polish with the pledge. Target also has in their "Method" line a spray called the "Daily Granite" and it smells wonderful and puts a pretty shine to it. I have been told not to use anything with ammonia in it b/c it breaks down the sealer. If it does get dull, you can get the sealer at a home store and buff it to a shine with a towel. Really no big deal. The main thing is, don't stress about it. Granite is rock for heaven's sake, you aren't going to hurt it. One of the reasons it is so desired is it's durable and low maintenance.

I agree...pledge jsut seems oily...not really a cleaner type. I knwo alcohol based products are very drying of course. So it may be good to use the two together. Like you i use pinesol on everything. Try the pinesol to 'clean' then the pledge wipe to add the moisture back. Also, they are advertising a new product from frebreeze i believe that is good for wood, leather, granite.... I have new leather living room furniture and i want to try it. If you do, let me know what you think.

We use Simple Green Stone Cleaner and Simple Green polish. Both are non-toxic and can be found at Home Depot etc. We love them. They work great on our kitchen granite tops.

All the things you mention have toxins and really aren't healthy. I use a spray bottle with 50/50 white vinegar and distilled water and use that to clean just about every solid surface in my house (except wood). Vinegar is a good disinfectant. And, a one gallon jug of vinegar costs around $2.50, so it is extremely economical.

There are some towels that are usually found at places like Walmart that are microfiber terry cloth. These are exceptional at removing any streaks/spots - i.e., just spray the table and dry with one of these towels and it will sparkle.

I use the vinegar water to clean mirrors, as well. You don't need the windex, which has ammonia, which like chlorine, the fumes are not healthy to breath (if you can smell it, you're breathing it ;)

The other primary cleaning product I use is baking soda. I sprinkle that in my s/s sink, spray on vinegar, wipe with a cloth, rinse and dry with one of those towels and it looks perfect.

I don't want to be a downer but my mom has had a granite table for approximately 3-4 years and everything that's spilled on it has caused etching in the granite. Good luck on your search for the perfect cleaner!