If you want to learn how to get wine stains out of granite then you’re in the right place, and it really isn’t as complicated as you would think.
If your granite countertop is sealed properly, you should be able to wipe away any wine residue or ‘stain’ with a dishcloth and soap. If it isn’t and the stain can’t be wiped away, then you will need to use either baking soda or bleach to remove it.
In the rest of this article, we will explore these options in-depth depending on if your granite countertop is sealed or not, and how you can easily tell if it is. Let’s get straight into it!
Why Does The Seal Matter For Wine Stains?
A lot of granite countertops don’t actually need to be sealed due to the inherent stain resistance of the material, but in some cases a seal is crucial.
An easy way to tell whether your granite is sealed is to pour a small amount of water onto the surface and see how long it takes to for the water to be absorbed. Anything under 5 minutes and your granite needs to be sealed, and anything between 5 and 30 minutes is a good indication that you should seal it as well.
But why does this matter for wine?
If your granite isn’t sealed properly, or simply susceptible to absorbing moisture, it will quickly absorb wine if you spill some on it. Wine will leave stains if it is absorbed, which is why we highly recommend sealing your granite properly to protect against wine spills.
That’s enough about the seal though – let’s dive into the cleaning methods you can use to easily remove wine stains no matter if your granite is sealed or not.
Getting Wine Stains Out Of Sealed Granite
If your granite is properly sealed then it is highly unlikely that the wine will stain it, and that what you are seeing is simply residue left behind from the wine rather than a stain.
In this case, all you need to do is wipe the wine with a dishcloth that has been rinsed in warm water and dish soap.
If the wine doesn’t get removed easily it is likely that your granite is unsealed. Don’t worry though, you can still get wine out of unsealed granite pretty easily using the steps in the next section.
Getting Wine Stains Out Of Unsealed Granite: 2 Methods
If the wine doesn’t get removed simply by wiping with a dishcloth then you need to try a more heavy-duty method.
There are two options when it comes to this – one requires baking soda and the other bleach. We recommend baking soda as the best option, as bleach can cause damage if you use it too often, but you can use either method as a one-off approach before re-sealing your granite.
Method 1 – Baking Soda Paste
There should be no surprise that baking soda has made its way into one of the methods considering how we recommend it for similar surfaces like marble.
Start by mixing 2 tablespoons of baking soda together with 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide in a clean container. After it is mixed, spread it over the stain evenly and use cling film to cover the area entirely.
Leave this for 24 hours and then remove the baking soda from the granite. Use a dishcloth and warm soapy water to scrub the area and all of the wine should be completely removed.
Method 2 – Bleach
Take a few sheets of paper towels or cotton balls and place them over the wine stain so that it is covered entirely.
Afterwards, soak the area with liquid laundry bleach and leave it for 24 hours. After the time is up, remove the bleach and scrub the area with a nylon brush. It should be noted that this method is not recommended to be done regularly, but it is okay to use as a one-off treatment for wine stains if you have no other option.
Does Wine Damage The Seal?
There are some instances where wine can damage the seal on granite.
To check this, simply apply some water to the area once you have removed all of the wine stains and follow the guidelines set out earlier in this article to see whether the seal has been damaged.
If the water is absorbed quickly and the seal is damaged you should get into touch with the manufacturer for some advice on how to seal it again, as this can vary depending on the type of granite and who manufactured it.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, we hope you have a better understanding of how to get wine stains out of granite after reading it.
If you have any other methods that you have tried with success then please get in touch and let us know.