Saturday, July 20, 2013

No Vinegar! How to Clean Granite Naturally

Hi all!

I've been a bit absent lately because I've been throwing myself into massive amounts of product and food research.  The amount of time it takes to get a straight answer about products or companies baffles me sometimes which is why I love putting my hard earned answers to good use with EcoConsulting...
...but i digress. I was chatting with another mom over the mommy water cooler about Eco Made Easy and she told me that she was struggling with finding a natural cleaner for her new granite counter tops.
Image from https://www.facebook.com/kitchendesignideas



Granite uses a sealant that is particularly susceptible to acidic cleaners.  While I love cleaning just about anything with vinegar, do not use vinegar on your granite; it will eat the sealant.  Special granite cleaners are usually what are recommended by manufacturers.  There are a few out there that are ok; however, they are usually not the most non-toxic options. 

 Here are some Easy Eco Solutions.

BIY (Buy It Yourself)

For those that would prefer to purchase a cleaner, check out the EWG's ratings on granite cleaners: 

The highest safety rated cleaner is the only B of the products tested:


It is listed on Amazon for 9.99. Description:
 "Finally, you can table harsh cleaners, keep counters clean and streak-free, and make granite grand with naturally powerful Zum Clean Granite & Countertop Cleaner. The best part? Well, its own parts. No VOCs. Zero ammonia. Nada bleach. Zilch strong acids. Just the natural stuff. Now you don't have to clean your counters after you clean your counters or wear nose plugs to dinner. Zum Clean 101Zero, nada, zilch ammonia and bleachNo dyes or synthetic fragranceNo harsh fumes, just the smell of pure essential oilsAll-natural ingredients, no tox(icky) stuffNo glycol ethers, aka solvents (they don't solve anything)Buh-bye streaks and chemicalsBiodegradable, so it's flushableShake before using as essential oils may separate"
Everything else on the list has an EWG rating of C or lower, which I usually recommend steering clear of.   You can use this rating system to find your own level of comfort; the EWG guide breaks down each ingredient and lists its risk levels.  This is a great site to check before purchasing any cleaning products.


Easy DIY

Image from http://www.cleanntidyindy.com/

If you want to just disinfect your granite after any food nasties: 
  • Disinfect: 1 part cheap vodka to 4 parts water in a spray bottle (always save your spray bottles that you get!)
  • Clean: 1 tbsp Dr. Bronners Sal Suds to 1 quart water in a spray bottle Sal Suds is $10-$12 per bottle, is an alkaline all purpose cleaner and can be used at different strengths for different uses.  This would be an economical choice to just buying a bottle of granite cleaner.
  • Remove Stains: hydrogen peroxide & baking soda poultices can remove stains when applied and left to sit

Scrub a Dub

No matter what cleaner you use, invest in some good microfiber cloths.  While microfiber usually contains polyester and/or nylon (which I don't love), it is washable and durable and cleans very well.  Microfiber because of its micro-fibers, cleans better than regular cloth and therefore diminishes the need for any chemicals.  It traps more bacteria and leaves a streak free shine.  There are even some that are woven with silver nitrate to naturally disinfect so that you could clean your countertop with only water and kill bacteria.  They range from the very expensive, Norwex, to the middle of the road, E Cloths, to store brands. Pick one that fits your budget to clean your granite counter tops.

At Eco Made Easy, we are on a mission to bring a non toxic solution for any cleaning issue that fits any lifestyle and budget.  Let us know how we can simplify your cleaning or home routine!

Love to All,
Val!


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