How To Remove A Water Stain On Granite

Inside: Granite countertops are a beautiful addition to any kitchen but can be susceptible to hard water stains. Learn how to safely and effectively remove water stains from your granite surface with these tips and tricks.

I love my granite countertops. They are generally easy to maintain and look great!

Years ago I started making my own homemade granite cleaner that I absolutely love!! It's easy to make and it makes the countertops shine.

It gets off just about anything, except for water stains. The hard water stains on the granite were driving me nuts.

I first noticed the hard water-stained granite by our soap dispenser and faucet. When we would wash our hands or go to do dishes we were leaving behind small drips of water.

Over time it led to a big water stain on granite. Normally I have a great go-to trick for dealing with hard water, however, using vinegar on granite is a big no-no.

So I looked around and finally found an easy solution for a water stain on granite. If you are tired of dealing with a water stain on granite check out this easy tip. Find out how to remove dark water stains from granite below.

How To Clean Water Stained Granite

To start, I HIGHLY recommend you test your granite in a small inconspicuous spot first before doing this on your hard water stain. I have been using this trick for the last 3-4 years without any problems but all granite is different.

Items Needed:

You will need a few things to get started.

• Bar Keepers Friend (you can buy it online here)
• Microfiber Clothes ( I love these from Amazon)
• q-tip or soft-bristled brush

Note: If you are concerned about using bar keepers friend you could also try using baking soda. It is also slightly abrasive to help remove the water spots.

Yes, you will be using Bar Keepers friend on your countertop to remove the water spots. So, you might be wondering.

Is Bar Keepers Friend Safe on Granite?

I originally got the idea to use Bar Keepers Friend from William-Sonoma.  Their website mentioned it was good at removing hard water stains so I ordered a can to see how it worked.

Recently my newer cans have not mentioned that they are safe on granite, however, I still continue to use them since I have for such a long time. Just test first before you dump a bunch on your granite.

I recommend testing in a small area that you don't see all the time. Around a faucet is a great place to try.

You can see below my hard water stains. The granite wasn't even shiny because of the stains coating it. I always seem to get water stains on granite around my faucet.

Step By Step Instructions For Removing Water Stains

Step 1: Test in a small area like mentioned above.

Step 2: Dampen a small microfiber cloth.

Step 3: Apply a small amount of bar keepers friend to the damp microfiber cloth.

Step 4: Start rubbing at the hard water stain with the bar keepers friend.

Step 5: Rinse the microfiber cloth and clean the area.

Step 6: Make sure you remove all of the powder residues from the granite. I sometimes like to use a little dish soap to remove all of the bar keepers' friend from the granite.

Step 7: Once you have removed all of the powder from the granite use a dry microfiber cloth to dry off the water.

Repeat If Granite Still Has Hard Water Stains

If your water stain on granite is particularly bad you may need to scrub it one more time. Just add a little more bar keepers friend and rub lightly for another 20 seconds or so.

Then, clean off the microfiber cloth and wash down the countertop. When you clean it off it should be bright and shiny again! Make sure you thoroughly wash off all of the cleaner and then dry the granite with a dry microfiber cloth.

Making the Granite Shine

Those dark water stains will easily be removed with the tip above. Now you can make your countertops shine!

Once you have removed the water stain from the granite you can spray down your countertops with some granite spray.

You can either use store-bought or make your own. You can check out all of my granite care articles here. The articles can help you clean and care for your granite without spending a lot of money.

I am amazed at what a difference this makes on water stains on granite. It really quickly cleans them off and leaves the granite shiny again!

If this doesn't work there are a few last resort things you can try to remove these hard deposits.

• Razor Blades
• Brillo Pad
• Lemon Juice

Causes Of Water Stains On Granite

What causes these hard water stains on your granite and solid surface countertops?

Calcium, limescale and magnesium in your water can build-up on your countertops.

These mineral deposits often occur when the sealant isn't kept up with.

Because a granite countertop is porous the minerals and water can soak into the granite and cause the stains.

Maintaining And Sealing Granite To Prevent Future Stains

Now that you have your granite clean you may want to seal the granite again to prevent any future stains from happening.

Most granite you will want to seal every 2-3 months. It is easy to do yourself and doesn't cost a lot of money.

You can see my step by step directions for sealing granite here.

Hard water build up can make your counters look dirty and gross but with this simple tip, you can get them clean and shining like new again.

With these easy tips, you now know how to remove hard water stains from granite without using vinegar.

Check out my amazing before and after! Removing water stains from granite is easy with this simple tip!

Dealing with hard water stains on glass? Check out this easy tip on how to remove hard water stains from glass.