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So, you’ve ponied up that one-of-a-kind granite countertop and are thinking of how to keep it shiny? 

Granite countertops come in a variety of glossy color options and unique slab design to blend with all kinds of interior decors.

They’re stain and heat-resistant, making them the absolute number-one-buy for many homeowners. 

But your favorite granite countertop could do with a bit of polishing too; it quickly adds to the grandeur of the space. 

How to illustrate the point? By taking a dull or etched granite countertop and giving it a new twist with the following fast hacks.

Here’s a look at how to shine granite countertops:

Adding Shine with Homemade Granite Countertop Cleaner

You can mix up ingredients on your own at home to make a granite countertop polish. 

Just make sure to avoid anything acidic such as lime, vinegar, bleach, and ammonia as these eat into the stone.

Baking soda is an excellent ingredient for cleaning your granite countertop to a new shine. 

It helps to dislodge off those stubborn stains too leaving the countertop sparkling clean. 

Here’s a homemade recipe for adding shine with baking soda and water paste:

  1. Take cup of baking soda and add three cups of water in it to make a paste.
  2. Apply this paste on your granite countertop
  3. Using a dry microfiber cloth wipe the surface circular motion to clean and polish.

Your favorite countertop should sparkle instantly using this polish.

Adding Shine by Removing Soap Scum

So, you’ve followed our previous hacks on regular cleaning using mild dish soap and water, and your granite countertop is starting to look dull? 

Well, don’t worry, you can fix it. 

Here’s how to shine granite countertops that are looking dull because of soap scum build-up:

Using a dedicated soap scum remover

While dish soap is mild and good enough for the granite surface, it tends to leave behind soap scum which accumulates over time making the countertop surface look dull. 

And further soap use won’t help you out. But a dedicated soap scum remover should do the trick. 

Get yourself a StoneTech Soap Scum Remover cleaner

  1. Spray the cleaner onto the granite surface
  2. Use a microfiber cloth and rub off the greasy residue in circular movements to get rid of the film that’s keeping your granite from sparkling.

Using acetone to remove soap scum

You can also fix it using either acetone (like the one used to remove nail polish). Soap scum dissolves into the acetone and can get wiped away easily. 

We also recommend that you test this on one small section before

You need to protect your skin with gloves.

  1. Start by cleaning the granite countertop with warm water and a soft rag then wipe it dry.
  2. Put on some latex gloves to cover your skin.
  3. Place your microfiber cloth in the sink then pour the acetone on it to dampen it entirely.
  4. Wipe the granite countertop with the acetone-soaked microfiber cloth. You can apply a little pressure to wipe off stains.
  5. Using warm water and a soft cloth, blot off any acetone residue.

how to shine granite countertops

Fixing Light Etching on Your Granite Countertops

In as much as you may endeavor to keep off acidic substances from your favorite countertop, they eventually find their way there. 

Such elements wear down the sealing and stone surface leading to an etched granite countertop. But polishing should shine the granite countertop

Just get yourself a polishing powder or a ready-made tin oxide solution such as the MB Stone Care’s MB11 and follow these hacks:

  1. Sprinkle the tin oxide solution or just polishing powder over the etched area.
  2. If it’s a powder, mist it with water.
  3. Buff the whole thing in a circular motion.

The polishing should be able to restore the shine to your granite countertop. 

But if the etching is too deep, you should consider contacting professionals from RSK Marble and Granite to refinish the dull granite countertop surface.

Adding Shine with Commercial Granite Polish

Home improvement stores also stock various effective granite polish you can use to add shine. Just make sure that whatever you buy is granite-safe, meaning no acidic components. 

Effective commercial polish includes cleaners such as Rejuvenator, Lustro Italiano, and more. They help to clean away grime that accumulates daily on the granite surface. 

Here are quick facts about granite polishing and cleaning:

  • Depending on the type of granite and volume of use it gets, you should clean it daily and as occasionally as every few weeks.
  • How often you polish depends on the appearance; depending on the volume of use, most granite stones require polishing every 5-15 years.
  • After polishing, seal the granite countertop surface with high quality, penetrating, durable and oleophobic sealants. It makes it moisture-proof, stain-proof, and durable.

Polishing options include cream and powder; each has its pros and cons. Professionals are divided on which technique is better. 

Consult with the manufacturer of the granite stone.

Cream vs. Powder

The debate between which option and technique between wet and dry polishing are best still rages on. 

While dry granite polishing is cheaper and powder can be used dry or wet, it wears off faster. Wet polishing, on the other hand, doesn’t make pads hot, thereby preventing faster wear. 

Wet polishing can also get messy if it creates lots of sprays.

Selecting the Best Powder

Efficient polishing powder includes Dia-Glo, Tenax, and more. Powder provides a quick fix to an otherwise dull countertop surface while fixing etches too. 

You can use it dry or wet. You can choose to use it dry and use a polishing pad to buff the whole thing in steady circular patterns. If you use it wet, get yourself a muslin wheel. 

Don’t shy away from applying slight pressure to get the job done!

The type of powder polishing to choose depends on the color of the stone. For granite stones with pronounced white highlights, you can use Dia-Glo Light. For stones with darker tones, there’s the Dia-Glo stone polishing for Dark Granite.

Selecting polishing cream

Creams are the best for countertops. They contain the light abrasives just like the finished granite stones themselves. 

Creams add to the grandeur of the surface immediately. The best creams for both natural and manufactured granite stone are those from MB-20 Stone Granite Polishing Cream series. 

They’re suitable for all granite countertop stone hues.

Final Thoughts

Lastly, while DIY is all the rage right now when it comes to home decor, a little professionalism could be good for you too. The professionals at RSK Marble & Granite have over 15 years of experience. Located in Wilmington, MA, the pros at RSK can help you with all of your countertop needs.