How To Restore Cloudy Granite Countertops Back To New

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There are many reasons why a granite countertop is an excellent investment for your kitchen. Aside from their timeless appearance, they're also known for being exceptionally durable, with excellent heat retention and the ability to withstand daily wear and tear. But while they're a great choice for those looking for a long-term countertop, they're not invincible. One problematic issue granite owners often encounter is the stone going cloudy. Fortunately, a dedicated granite stone cleaner and a non-scratch pad will get it looking good as new.

But why might a granite countertop turn cloudy? Granite is a naturally porous stone, which works both for and against it. While this gives it a natural look and contributes to its durability, it also means it can easily absorb stains and spills. To prevent this, manufacturers apply a sealant. But several factors, such as abrasive cleaning products or acidic food spills, can degrade this protective layer and leave behind a dull, hazy film. Another culprit of a cloudy layer is soap scum and cleaning product residue. Many everyday cleaners, especially if paired with hard tap water, can linger around – particularly if the countertop isn't rinsed thoroughly after cleaning. This might not be noticeable at first, but with repeated application, this build-up can cloud the stone's natural sheen.

To remove this cloudy film, start with a stone-safe cleaning pad. Abrasive materials often do more harm than good, and pads like steel wool can further degrade the sealant and scratch the stone's surface. Pair your cleaning pad with a dedicated granite cleaner, like Granite Gold Daily Cleaner, and give the countertop a good scrub. Once you're happy with the results, it might be worth reapplying a sealant to keep the surface protected and looking fresh. Just be sure you really buff that sealant into the counter rather than letting it sit and soak into the granite.

Durability is often cited as granite's biggest selling point, but it's far from the only long-lasting option on the market. In fact, one of the most common debates in kitchen design, whether granite or quartz countertops are superior, often tips in quartz's favor when durability is the deciding factor. Quartz countertops are engineered by combining crushed natural quartz with polymer resins, resulting in a non-porous surface. This makes these countertops highly resistant to stains and spills, and unlike granite, it doesn't require sealing. Granite, by contrast, is a natural stone extracted through quarrying, which makes it much higher maintenance and requires periodic resealing to maintain its resistance to moisture and stains. That's not to negate its durability, and compared to more delicate materials like marble or laminate, it remains the far superior option.

When it comes to heat resistance, granite easily outperforms quartz. As a natural material, granite can easily withstand temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning you can set a hot pan straight from the stove onto its surface without worry, whereas quartz is vulnerable to melting and warping when exposed to high heat. While a few countertop materials, like concrete, can tolerate even higher temperatures, once you're talking about heat resistance in the thousand-degree range, the differences become less important.

If you're looking to really invest in your kitchen, one of the only other natural materials that could give granite a run for its money is quartzite. Formed when heat and pressure fuse sandstone into a dense crystalline structure, quartzite offers a trifecta of elegance, durability, and heat resistance. On the Mohs hardness scale, which measures scratch resistance, quartzite ranks slightly higher than granite, making it more resistant to everyday wear and tear.