How to remove hard water stains from granite

Granite is prone to stains from hard water. Luckily, water stains are easy to remove using simple ingredients you can find at home, including mild dish soap, mild detergent and even baking soda.

Granite is a natural stone and is used in many modern-day kitchen and bathroom designs on floors and countertops. It looks elegant, but is also very durable and can last way longer than other materials. Despite its durability, you can easily stain granite, especially with hard water stains. Find out how to remove hard water stains on your beautiful granite surfaces.

What is hard water?

Even something as harmless sounding as water can actually stain surfaces, even your granite countertops or floors. This specific type of water is called hard water. Its “hardness” is caused by a high mineral content.

Water flows through many surfaces before reaching your home. When water flows over rocks, the minerals are flushed with it. This process is the reason for the hard water being hard. At this point, you would probably wonder how hard water can stain your granite. Well, it is the mineral in the water that creates the stain.

When you accidentally spill water on your granite, the water itself will eventually evaporate. When the evaporation happens, what’s left are the minerals. The residue is the cause of the staining on granite surfaces. Unlike in fabrics, hard water stains will not put your granite-investment into waste. However, you have to deal with it quickly since the mineral residue might be hard to remove when you leave it for a long time.

Removing hard water stains using mild dish soap

When your granite countertop is stained lightly, you can use a mild dish soap to remove the stain. These light stains are probably the result of spilled drinking water or when the sweat from your glass of water sits on the granite. Usually, these kinds of stains just need simple solutions to get rid of.

Below is the procedure for removing light hard water stains using mild dish soap:

1. In a container, prepare a solution using mild dish soap and warm water.
2. After preparing the solution, pour a minute amount of rubbing alcohol. It’s important to pour a small quantity because if in excess, the solution can harm your granite. Rubbing alcohol won’t damage your granite if used in a small volume.
3. Make a clean cloth damp with the solution and gently scrub the stained surface.
4. Wet another clean cloth with water, and wipe the site to get rid of the solution.
5. Dry it with a paper towel or another clean cloth.

Removing hard water stains using mild detergent

Another alternative method is with the use of mild detergent. The same process applies to this method as the technique mentioned above using mild soap. Only this time, you will be using mild detergent and an old toothbrush. The following are the steps to removing hard water stains using mild detergent.

1. Make a cleanser out of mild detergent and water.
2. Apply the cleanser on the stained area.
3. Using an old toothbrush, rub the area in a circular motion. If an old toothbrush is unavailable, any tools for scrubbing will do. Just make sure it has soft bristles.
4. After cleaning the area, rinse it with water.
5. Dry with a paper towel or a clean, dry cloth.

Removing hard water stains using baking soda

The use of baking soda is effective when dealing with granite stains. This ingredient forms a paste when water is added. Follow these steps and reclaim your once-unstained granite countertop.

1. Create a paste by mixing baking soda and water. Note that water should be added gradually to create the perfect consistency.
2. Once the paste’s consistency is the same as that of yogurt, get a small amount and patch it on the stained surface.
3. Using an old toothbrush or a brush with soft bristles, start scrubbing gently.
4. After the disappearance of the stain, rinse the area with water.
5. Dry it with a towel.

Common questions about hard water stains

Will water stains on granite go away?

Yes, water stains are easy to remove from granite. Some products available at home can be used to remove water stains from granite, like baking soda or mild dish soap. Be careful though, as some raw ingredients are harmful to granite surfaces, such as vinegar and lemon.

How do you remove limescale from Granite?

Limescale can be removed even without the aid of chemicals. Follow these steps to remove limescale caused by hard water from your granite surfaces.

1. Soak a clean cloth and in warm water.
2. Wet the limescale using the damp cloth.
3. Let stained spots soak the water for 10 minutes.
4. After 10 minutes, the limescale will be soft enough to remove it.
5. Get a scraper and remove the limescale.
6. Once you successfully removed the limescale on the granite surface, clean the dry area where the limescale used to be.

How do you remove calcium deposits from granite?

Calcium is one of the minerals present in hard water. When this specific mineral accumulates on your granite, it can leave a white film or white spots. To remove it, follow these steps:

1. Purchase a prepared solution of mineral deposit remover.
2. Using a soft-bristled brush, apply the solution on the stained area.
3. Continue gently brushing the surface.
4. Once the stain is no longer present, rinse the area with water.
5. Use a towel to dry the surface. 

The Bottom Line

Having raw ingredients on hand that you can use for stain removal is a must when your granite surfaces are prone to staining. By doing this, you can respond quickly remove the stains before they completely ruin your granite countertops, floors, and more. Natural stone cleaners are also made available commercially. Even without that much time preparing mixtures and solutions, you can still make an action by yourself.