7 Things You Should Never Do on Granite Countertops

Steer clear of these common mistakes if you want your countertops to last.

Granite is one of the most popular countertop materials , loved for its strength and durability, and its wide range of colors and styles to choose from. In fact, granite is so durable that you may mistakenly think countertops made from this material are indestructible. However, if you aren't careful, granite countertops can indeed be scratched, stained, damaged, and even ruined. Here are six things experts say you should never do on your granite countertops if you want them to last.

Meet the Expert

• Tim Wood , founder and CEO at home services platform Fix It Today
• Michael Coates , managing partner at Coates Design Architects + Interiors
• Brandon Walker , construction manager at ASAP Restoration, a fire and water damage cleanup company

Letting Acidic Spills Linger

When you spill something on a granite countertop, you should wipe it up immediately. “If you let a liquid sit too long above the granite surface, it will eventually seep through and create unsightly stains,” warns Tim Wood, founder and CEO at Fix It Today.

This is especially true if the liquid happens to be acidic, like coffee, wine, orange juice, or tomato sauce. This is because acidic liquids can stain an etching into the top surface of granite countertops, explains Brandon Walker, construction manager at ASAP Restoration.

“Even with a sealant, granite can be porous, so if something sits there long enough, it can seep in and stain,” says Michael Coates, managing partner at Coates Design Architects + Interiors. So, be sure to clean up spills as soon as they happen to avoid any long-term damage.

Letting Oil Spills Sit

In addition to acidic spills, oil spills shouldn't be left to sit on granite countertops for a long time either. And according to Walker, this includes oils of any kind. “Granite countertops all look like a completely flat and totally impermeable surface, but in reality, they are actually quite porous,” he explains, adding that over time, those oil stains can seep into the top layer of stone and become permanent stains that can’t be removed with normal household solvents and methods. “So, if you spill some avocado oil on the granite countertops while making some hummus, make sure to wipe it up, soap it down and clean the counter before digging in—or you may come back to an oil stain that won’t go away,” Walker says.

Using Abrasive Cleaners

When cleaning up spills, your removal method matters. Wood warns against using abrasive cleaners and sponges when cleaning your granite countertop. “Granite is durable, but it's not immune to scratching,” he says. Wood also warns against using harsh cleaning substances like vinegar, hydrochloric acid, or bleach, warning that they can also break down the sealant over time.

Coates adds lemon juice to the list, as well, explaining what happens if the sealant is worn away. “The sealant protects the stone, making it more prone to staining and damage over time—and if that happens, the softer parts of the stone will be eaten away (at the microscopic level),” Coates says. The result is a stain that is physically and permanently etched in the countertop—and Coates says the only way to remove this type of blemish is to refinish or hone the entire surface, which is costly and labor-intensive.

To clean your countertops safely, Coates recommends gentle pH-balanced cleaners. A simple mixture of just warm water and mild dish soap will do the trick.

Related: How to Clean Granite Countertops

Repeatedly Exposing Countertops to Extreme Heat

While sealed granite doesn’t stain as easily, Wood says it is sensitive to repeated exposure to extreme heat. “For example, if you have a habit of placing hot cookware directly on the countertop, this will gradually weaken the sealant and make the granite more prone to staining,” he says. To avoid this, Wood advises always using racks or coasters when placing any hot vessel on the countertop.

“Granite is heat resistant to a point, but extreme heat can cause thermal shock, which could lead to cracks in the stone, particularly along any veining that may exist naturally,” Coates says. In fact, he says he’s seen this happen up close and personal—and tells me it’s not a pretty sight. “Even though your granite countertop feels solid, it’s always a good idea to use trivets or hot pads under any cookware,” Coates says.

Using Sharp Objects

Your granite countertop is not a chopping block. “People sometimes forget that granite, while super durable, can still be scratched if you use it as a cutting board,” Coates says. He adds that this practice is also really bad for your knives, and will quickly dull them, so you should always use a cutting board, instead of cutting things directly on the countertop.

Knives, as well as abrasive materials like steel wool, can cause micro-scratches on your granite countertops, Walker says. “Not only do these micro-scratches ruin the textural continuity of the surface, they also open up the floodgates for other elements to further damage the countertops,” he explains.

For example, Walker says small abrasions will allow acids and cleaning chemicals to penetrate the sealed surface. “And then, they’ll get deeper into the more porous layer of the granite where they can ruin the whole slab,” he warns.

Standing on the Countertops

If you've ever stood on the countertops to change a light bulb or reach something on a higher shelf—next time, use a ladder instead. “Granite is a rock, yes, but that doesn’t mean it can support the weight of a mountain on top of it without some issues,” Walker says.

If the countertops are properly supported, he says you can probably get away with standing on them. However, if they’re not properly supported—or if the supports have degraded over time—he warns that you might crash right through the granite slab. “To avoid this, you can simply not stand on the counters, or if it’s a necessity for some reason, try to spread your weight around a bit and diffuse the pressure you put in one spot so that you don’t break the slab,” Walker advises.

Not Resealing Your Countertops

To keep your granite countertops in good condition, Coates recommends resealing them regularly with a commercially-available food-safe sealer. “If you don’t, there may not be immediate damage, but over time, if the seal wears off and you don’t reseal it, it’ll become way more susceptible to scratches, stains, and dullness,” he says.

The sealant is the main thing keeping granite from absorbing liquids and stains, Coates explains, so it's worth your time to make sure your countertops are properly sealed.

And there's an easy way to test if it's time to get your countertops resealed. “I usually test them by dripping a bit of water on the surface—if it beads up, you’re good," Coates says. "But if it starts absorbing the water, it’s time for a fresh coat."

Related: 6 Easy Ways to Refresh Old Kitchen Countertops Without Tearing Them Out

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