Granite Sink Cleaning and Care Tips

Posted by RG Sayson on 13 May 2020

Contemporary kitchen granite sinks have become a favourite for many designers and homeowners in Australia. Granite kitchen sinks are getting noticed for having variety, consistency, and cost (Better Homes & Gardens). Granite sinks are also described as an “exciting new option” in target="_blank" rel="noopener">Homes to Love, while Reno Guide says black granite sinks have a “sleek and innovative design”.

One granite sink owner commented on Houzz that kitchen granite sinks are “more interesting”, while another cited how a granite sink “cleans up nicely” - and that’s probably why you’re here: How do you clean a granite sink?

Before You Proceed

Make sure you’ve read your sink’s product manual, including the warranty information and the maintenance guide. Always follow what those documents advise so you don’t risk invalidating the product warranty. When in doubt, contact your granite sink supplier or manufacturer.

(Left image by macrovector middle image by gstudioimagen, right image by macrovector; all images hosted on and licensed from www.freepik.com)

What You’ll Need to Clean a Granite Sink

For general sink cleaning, you’ll only need the following:

Clean spongy cloth
Warm soapy water

(Image at left by makyzz, hosted on and licensed from www.freepik.com)

On the other hand, according to Australian granite sink manufacturer Cino, you don’t need the following and should avoid them when cleaning your granite kitchen sink :

Abrasive detergents, scouring liquid, or scouring powder
Steel wool pad or wire brush
Ammonia, caustic soda, or other highly alkaline substances
Citrus cleaners, drain unblocking chemicals, or other strong acids
Bleach that has hypochlorite
Silver dip cleaner
Scouring
Steel or faucet fitting cleaners

(Image above by makyzz, hosted on and licensed from www.freepik.com)

Routine Cleaning of Granite Kitchen Sink

After each use of your granite sink, you can easily clean it just like any other sink.

Empty the sink and quickly rinse it.
Use a soft sponge or cloth with warm soapy water to gently clean the sink surface.
Rinse the granite sink again.
Wipe the kitchen sink with a clean spongy cloth.

Wiping the sink dry helps prevent limescale, calcium deposits, salt, or other minerals from leaving marks, especially on dark colour granite sinks.

(Oh, and don’t forget to wash your own hands when done.)

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Removing Stubborn Stains from a Kitchen Granite Sink

From time to time you’ll find stubborn stains or dirt on your granite sink. Cino recommends using a cloth soaked with diluted bleach or alcohol to remove traces of stubborn dirt. In extreme cases, you can use acetone. In both cases, make sure you thoroughly rinse the sink surface with water.

For residual calcium, you can use vinegar or acetanilide.

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Scratches, Cracks, or Chipping on a Granite Sink

Good quality kitchen granite sinks are very strong and made of a hardened composite material, making them resistant to scratches, dents, stains, heat, and cracks. However, a granite sink can get scratched when used improperly, like dropping a heavy pan or cutting food directly on the sink. Some would recommend an epoxy fix, but we’ll leave that to you to decide.

Hazy Granite Kitchen Sink Solutions

A granite sink can get cloudy or develop haze (or streaks) over many years of use, sometimes from a buildup of hard water or detergents.

First, try a thorough cleaning:

Use mild dish soap with warm water to clean the granite sink.
Mix equal parts of baking soda and water.
Apply the resulting paste on the sink surface and leave it overnight.
Rinse it clean and buff it dry.

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If the haze remains, Kitchen Remodel Guides recommends using a sponge or cloth soaked with a calcium, lime and rust (CLR) remover or similar products. (Refer to your product manual to make sure you can do this.)

Streaking may be caused by frequent rubbing of metal pots and pans, which releases small particles of metal. You can try to remove streaks with a soft brush and non-abrasive detergent.

Other Kitchen Granite Sink Care Tips

Here are some more tips on how to keep your granite sink in good condition.

Avoid placing pans or pots straight from a hotplate or oven onto the sink.
Avoid leaving certain foods for long periods on your sink. Citrus fruit juice, salt, vinegar, mustard, pickles, and mayonnaise can cause pitting or corrosion.
Always clean the sink immediately after use, especially as coffee or fruit juices can cause stains.
Do not cut food on the surface of the sink. Use a chopping board instead.
Do not pour boiling oil into the sink - this can deform the drain pipes.
Before installing a garbage disposal unit, make sure the drilling or installation vibrations will not cause cracks on the sink.

The Cino Round Bowl Granite Sink

Granite composite kitchen sinks can remain beautiful with proper care. Just follow these product care tips and you can proudly show off your modern granite kitchen sink for a longer time.

Renovator Store has an array of granite sinks from Carysil and Cino. For assistance with choosing a granite kitchen sink, email now at service@renovatorstore.com.au or call our friendly Customer Service team on (03) 9544 3003 or 1800 RENOSTORE.