Wine Lovers Might Want To Think Twice Before Installing Granite Countertops

There's nothing more relaxing than pouring a glass of wine. But, it's not so calming when an inevitable spill happens and gets all over your granite countertop, causing an unpleasant stain. Of course, there are some advantages to choosing granite. However, even if you choose the best colors, wine can still stain and even ruin these expensive countertops, making them more stressful than pleasant in your kitchen if you drink wine.

On TikTok, @royalgranitewoodstock posted a video demonstrating how red wine spills can leave visible damage on granite countertops even after you wipe the wine off, captioning the post, "Moral of the story [don't] leave wine on your granite countertops." In the comments, the video's creator noted that the granite was sealed, proving that even sealed granite countertops can get ruined by wine spills. Thus, investing in granite countertops may not be worth the stress and paranoia if you're a wine lover. However, there are other beautiful and more practical countertop options to explore. 

Anyone who worries about staining granite should consider opting for soapstone instead. "I am crazy about the texture and feel of soapstone," Jennifer Vaquero, an interior designer, told MyDomaine. "It's extremely durable and holds up well to stains and heat." Just be aware that soapstone is typically more expensive than granite. Granite runs between $30 and $100 per square foot, and soapstone tends to have prices between $70 and $120 for each square foot.

Another excellent granite alternative is quartz, not to be confused with quartzite, which is porous like granite and will need sealing to prevent stains. In the TikTok video by @royalgranitewoodstock, there is another piece next to the granite example, and that other square did not stain at all when the person poured the same amount of wine on it as the granite and wiped it off the same way. When a viewer asked about the stain-free piece, @royalgranitewoodstock replied that it was quartz, showing that quartz is a safer option for wine lovers. 

Furthermore, TikTok user @rachelm.moore shared a video showing how red wine doesn't stain her white-as-snow quartz countertop, noting that it doesn't even need sealing. You may have to pay a bit more for quartz than granite, as quartz typically costs between $70 and $90 per square foot. But again, spending the extra money on the investment should be worth not having a constant fear of ruining your countertop with your favorite wines. 

Although you should think twice before willingly installing granite countertops, you shouldn't panic or jump to removing them if you already have a granite countertop or plan on moving into a home with that feature. Some hacks can prevent wine spills from causing too much damage, such as watering down bleach and applying it to the stained area. "When used as directed, the active ingredient in regular household bleach, sodium hypochlorite, is safe for use on sealed granite as well as a wide variety of hard, non-porous surfaces in the kitchen," Mary Gagliardi, nicknamed "Dr. Laundry," the in-house scientist/cleaning expert for Clorox, told Martha Stewart. She also cautioned, "Bleach should never be used full strength on any surface or fabric, it should always be diluted with water first." 

If you don't want to use bleach, Sears Home Services has another hack: make a paste consisting of two tablespoons of baking soda and a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide. After applying the paste, put plastic wrap on it and leave it for a full day. Then, once you take off the plastic wrap, use warm water with soap on a gentle cloth to get the paste off. So, even though it's not the best idea to choose to install granite countertops if you frequently drink wine, there are ways to remove the stains from the granite if needed.