5 Tips And Tricks To Make Your Granite Countertops Shine (And 2 Mistakes To Avoid)

Granite is a popular kitchen countertop choice for so many reasons. For one, its ability to withstand heat and scratching makes it ideal for busy areas. Apart from its durability, granite looks great in almost any home. A polished shine is one of the most common granite kitchen countertop finishes, coveted for its high-gloss surface that reflects light and makes a kitchen feel luxurious. But, despite granite's general durability, there are steps that need to be taken to ensure its characteristic sheen is maintained over time.

The shine on polished granite is initially created by how the material is processed. But when it comes to retaining the glossy look, regular maintenance is key. When your countertops get dull over time, it can be due to anything from dust buildup to the wearing away of the sealant layer. So how can you keep your granite sparkling? We're here to share tips and tricks that range from cleaning with pH-balanced solutions and maintenance polishing, to re-sealing your granite countertops yourself. We'll also share critical mistakes to avoid that you may not know are dimming your granite's shine.

Giving your granite a gentle clean is the first line of defense against a lackluster countertop. It may sound obvious, but a buildup of grime, dust, and debris on your kitchen countertop can do a number on its shininess. Especially in areas that see very frequent use, like around the stovetop and sink, a good wipe-down may be just the solution. Luckily, you can make granite countertops shine with a kitchen staple you already own — dish soap.

Dish soap is the perfect cleaning agent for granite because it is gentle enough to cut through greasy messes the same way it dissolves grease on dishes (thanks to its surfactant ingredients) without eroding the sealant as other strong cleaning solutions might. Not to mention, it's incredibly cost-effective, especially if you already have it on hand. Pair dish soap with a bit of warm water, and you have the ideal antidote to the dulling effect of dirt on your counters. To keep things shining on a daily basis, use a paper towel or microfiber cleaning cloth, some warm water, and a few drops of dish soap to suds up your granite surfaces. Then, go back in with a damp cloth or towel to remove any soap residue (and avoid disrupting the shine all over again). Finally, use a dry cloth to buff your granite in circular motions, removing streaks and making your countertops glisten in the process.

To disinfect your surfaces and make them shine even more, you can also try cleaning granite countertops with a natural, homemade solution that includes isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol (also known as rubbing alcohol) is a common ingredient in cleaning products, thanks to its ability to literally dissolve and lift grease. Besides being antimicrobial, because it's a solvent, isopropyl alcohol also evaporates quickly and doesn't leave a layer of residue in its wake — ideal for surfaces you want to keep shiny. If you don't already have a bottle of this household staple on hand, you'll be happy to know that it is widely available and inexpensive (and there are plenty of other clever ways you should be using rubbing alcohol around the house). Just stick to an alcohol with a concentration of 91% or less.

There's not one right way to use isopropyl alcohol on your granite countertops, so you can choose whatever method you prefer. One option is to mix isopropyl alcohol in a 50/50 ratio with water and spray directly onto the surface, allow it to sit for a few minutes to disinfect and loosen grease, and then wipe up the excess. However, if you're sensitive to the smell, you may want to try mixing it with some other ingredients. The pros suggest adding ¼ cup of alcohol, three drops of dish soap, and several drops of essential oil in a scent you like to an empty spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle up with water, and you have a household cleaner sure to reveal a reflective shine on your granite countertops.

If you want to make your countertops shine but you're not interested in mixing up your own cleaner at home, there are plenty of cleaners available in stores and online. That said, the market can be a little overwhelming, with a seemingly endless supply to choose from. In order to narrow down your search, look for products that specify they are meant for granite. The best stone cleaners for maintaining your granite countertops and keeping them shiny are the ones that are formulated for the unique properties of the surface. 

On Amazon, you can find a number of well-reviewed granite cleaners that promise to make your counters glisten. A top pick by customers is Weiman Disinfectant Granite Daily Clean & Shine, which costs about $7 for a 24-fluid-ounce bottle. It has a 4.6 star rating with over 18,000 reviews, many of which claim that the cleaner has left their stone countertops more sparkling than ever before. Buying a dedicated countertop cleaning product that also promises to simultaneously shine the surface can reduce the time and effort required to keep your granite counters gleaming. With a single-step product like this, all you have to do is spray on the cleaner, and wipe it off along with any loosened residue (with the exception of heavy soils that may need to be pre-cleaned with dish soap and water). 

If you still notice a subdued shine on your granite counters after keeping up a consistent cleaning routine, they may need to be resealed. If this is the case, the look of your countertops isn't the only problem. That lack of shine can actually indicate that your counters are prone to being damaged. Resealing will not only reinvigorate your granite's glossy finish but will also prevent staining and other unsightly damage. 

A good way to tell if your countertops truly need to be resealed is with a simple test. Pour a small amount of water on your granite's surface and observe. If the water beads up on top of the counter surface, you likely don't need to reseal. In that case, opt for another method, like polishing, to make your counters shine again. However, if you notice that the water begins to seep into the stone and leaves a dark spot, resealing is the way to go.

There are plenty of well-rated sealant options that you can find in-store and online, but the application instructions will vary depending on the product you purchase. In general, the process requires saturating your granite countertops in the product, allowing it to sit, and then buffing it in, sometimes in multiple layers. To make sure your finished result is as lustrous as possible, wipe away any excess sealant residue to avoid shine-inhibiting haze. You can reseal your countertops as often as necessary, but once a year tends to be an average suggestion from stone professionals. When the shine on your counters starts to dull, you can always perform another water test to be sure.

General cleaning and regular resealing can go a long way in the upkeep of glistening countertops. But when you've taken care of your granite with those fundamental techniques and want to level up the shine even more, polishing your countertops is essential. You can almost think of polishing as somewhere in between cleaning and sealing. It's an additional step that will specifically help impart luster to your countertops. As an added bonus, it will provide protection from fingerprints and liquid spills.

Granite polish can be purchased from various online retailers and in stores. But if you're looking for a reputable recommendation, Granite Gold's Polish Spray is one of the top-rated options on Amazon, based on customer reviews. The product has a 4.5-star average rating from over 5,000 customers, with a majority of reviews noting how the polish made granite glisten. For homemade solutions, there are some granite manufacturers and professional cleaners who suggest using a small amount of cooking oil and a rag to polish granite counters. However, oil can stain granite and hold onto dust, so proceed with caution with this home remedy. And, before using polish of any kind, your granite should be properly sealed and cleaned. 

To ensure you keep your granite countertops as lustrous as possible, you will want to avoid contact with any substances that are too acidic or alkaline. When strong acids or alkalis come into contact with granite, they cause what is known as etching. This is chemical damage that dulls the appearance of stone surfaces, diminishing their shine and even creating the appearance of stains.

Because many commercially available surface cleaners have highly acidic or basic ingredients, it is important to only purchase products formulated for use on stone. Ammonia, bleach, and citrus cleaners should all be avoided. But even natural cleaning ingredient staples and everyday food items in your home, like lemon, coffee, and vinegar, are too strong to sit in direct contact with granite. And the longer these substances dwell on the surface, the worse the etching will get. So to make sure your countertops retain their mirror-like reflectiveness, try to avoid spilling these substances. And if an accidental spill happens, be sure to clean it up immediately.

Much like strong acids can chemically compromise the glossy sheen of polished granite, so can physical abrasives. When you have caked-on or set-in messes on your granite, you may be tempted to take strong scrubbing tools like scouring pads, steel wool, or even melamine sponges, to the surface. But before you do, remember that these can damage the granite sealant, dulling the sheen of the surface. When it comes to cleaning, stick to microfiber cloths, dish towels, paper towels, soft dish sponges, and some extra patience to get the job done.

The best way to avoid these messes is to prevent them in the first place. If spills or food splatters occur, address them immediately while they are still easy to clean. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you encounter a stubborn spot on your countertop, you may need more than just a microfiber towel. For gentle force that won't scratch away the shine on your granite, you can carefully use a plastic putty knife or rubber spatula to scrape away messes. You could even try this genius scraper tool TikTok is loving, which also has plenty of other uses around the home.