We love our kitchen counter and we love blueberries, but when we lifted up our blueberry carton and saw this, we weren’t too pleased with either of them at the moment.
Yes, one of the only reasons granite can be tricky is because it’s a porous stone, so it can absorb stains. And since our counters are not exactly the cheapest thing in our kitchen, the idea of a permanent pink square freaked us out in a major way. Especially when we realized that the blueberry carton had sat in that very spot for four whole days (!!!) before we picked it up and noticed the stain. We were 100% certain that we’d be stuck with that pink badge of honor for good.
But just for kicks we dug out the granite care card that came with our Stonemark slab back in January. Besides recommending that you wipe up any spills immediately (and we’re guessing that doesn’t mean four days later) it also mentioned that regular old household bleach can’t harm granite, and can actually be used to suck a stain right out of the stone.
Needless to say, we were intrigued. So we ran next door to borrow some bleach from our neighbor (since we make an effort to keep chemicals of that caliber out of our home). You see, major chemical concoctions can be granted temporary admittance on the grounds that they might save our stone (although I actually wore two layers of rubber gloves and opened all the windows to air things out). The care card suggested pouring bleach right over the stain and letting it sit overnight with some plastic wrap over it to keep the granite moist. We didn’t have any plastic wrap but we did have those big plastic freezer bags, which seemed to work just as well.
And we didn’t even have to wait til the next morning. Within about an hour the stain was nothing more than a dark shadow and in another two hours it was completely invisible. And today I couldn’t tell you where that pink square used to be if you pointed a gun at my head.
Of course, to thank the bleach for saving our counter we immediately exiled it from our home (read: returned it to the neighbor). But in this case it worked so effectively (and saved us at least one to three ulcers) so we definitely thought it was worth passing along as a possible granite saving solution for anyone else in a pinch.
And honestly, the experience has made me love our counter even more (there’s no love lost for blueberries either, which we now keep in a glass bowl on the counter instead of the hole-riddled plastic carton). The fact that a big hideous berry stain could sit there for days and completely dissappear in mere hours makes me a lot less nervous about the occasion oil or wine spill that used to make me break out in hives. The moral of the story: if you’re considering granite but are nervous about the stain-factor, it’s safe to say that it’s a lot more durable than ya think.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing!
What a great tip – thanks for sharing!
That is great to know!
Very good to know! By the way, I really do enjoy your blog… It’s nice to see that young people like myself are not afraid of home rennovations! (And you do a lovely job of rennovating!) I can’t wait to put some of your tips to use – when we buy our own home!
We had a similar situation and I found that the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser flexed it’s muscles really hard and got the stain out. I’m not entrely sure what that sponge has in it (chemically speaking) but I know it has saved us from many a berry stain.
Thank you for idea.
We had the same thing happen with hazelnut coffee. Not a pretty sight! Thank goodness it came out, as our house is on the market.
…I don’t know if this would work with granite countertops, but I’ve had a lot of luck with mixing cream of tartar with a little white vinegar (so it’s like a paste) and putting it on dried stains for a few minutes before wiping it off…
I would have had a heart. attack. Good on ya for your cool heads and quick thinking!
WOW Great tip! I have a stain on my travertine floor and I think I’m going to try it.
What an amazing blog you have!! I just moved into a recently remodeled row house in Columbus, OH. We have a stain on our granite and I’m going to attempt to remove it today! Thank you so much for your insight and bravery!
I had a similar stain in my bathroom granite countertop left from self tanner and freaked because I live in an apartment. Luckily, I found that soaking a cotton ball with warm water and leaving it on the spot over night removed the stain! Just something to try since you don’t keep bleach in the house for obvious reasons.
Great tip Susan! Thanks so much for sharing. We’ll have to try that idea next time (if we’re unlucky enough to have a next time…)
xo,
Sherry
What’s wrong with bleach? I use it to disinfect my kitchen sinks and clean wood cutting boards and water bottles among other things. Just fill the sink or bottle with water, add a little bleach, and let sit for thirty minutes or so. Then rinse out three times and your sink or bottle is as good as new. I couldn’t live without bleach.
I agree, Derek; there is nothing wrong with bleach if used carefully, properly & treated with all due respect! But then I grew up when baby cribs all had lead paint & most everything else did too, and we drank straight from a garden hose, etc. . . . and here I am today still going strong and a grandmother of four. I purposely keep several extra bottles of bleach on hand and rarely use rubber gloves and have never opened a window just because I was pouring some bleach on something. In case of disaster, unscented regular bleach can help disinfect water and save lives ( http://water.epa.gov/drink/emerprep/emergencydisinfection.cfm ) – it is a powerful disinfectant and germicide; it’s great for cleansing cutting boards, sink drains, toilet bowls and killing mold or mildew on shower curtains, grout & caulking, in showers and elsewhere – like lawn & patio furniture or thermoses & ice chests. I even removed the rock pebbles from our fish tank, put them in a bucket of water with a strong bleach solution to soak, rinsed them really well, and returned them to the fish tank with no ill-effects on our fish. See more at http://themanyusesof.blogspot.com/2011/12/bleach.html
very good tip !
Thanks. Boy am I glad I found this link. My 5 yo mixed cheeto dust and water to leave two bright orange rings on our cashmere white granite counter tops. The bleach worked like a charm. Great blog!
great tip to help people recover when they stain their granite counters!
Do you think this would work on marble countertops? When upgrading to new faucets, an ugly yellow stain was on the white marble underneath the old faucets.
Hmm, maybe try googling around for marble stain lifting ideas? I’m not sure and I don’t want you to damage it!
xo,
s
I hosted a baby shower at my house and made a blueberry french toast and a party goer left the serving spoon on my very similar counter. I found a huge purple stain after everyone had left and started having a panic attack (we’ve lived in our new house for 3 months!) Thanks to your website tips and a cap-full of bleach the purple stain was gone in 30 minutes! I can’t thank you enough for this tip!
So glad! Whew. What a scare!!
xo,
s
Trying this tip as we speak! Hope it works. My husband spilled coffee on the counter at 7 a.m. and I’m just now seeing it. I’m pretty sure after 10 minutes the bleach started working! Thanks <3
So glad! Good luck!
xo,
s
I had a blueberry stain on my new granite counters so i used the bleach and it was out within the hour. Now I have a bleach stain.
Oh man, I wonder why that happened. Anyone have a tip for Kim?
xo,
s
Hey guys, I feel like I’m stepping back in time commenting on such an old post! In your years living with granite, did you ever experience grease stains? And did you try this same method to remove them? We had a dinner party last night and are now left with multiple grease rings from where the olive oil jar sat and various things … gahh. I knew granite can stain but had no idea it was that easy.
Oh no, I would give this a try for sure! It supposedly sucks things out of the granite. Good luck!
xo
s
Just had a similar incident with raspberries and I was freaking out! We have had the new counter tops for 2 months now. I googled and this popped up! Thank you for sharing! It is already working and the stains are almost gone! PHEW!
So glad!
xo
s
You saved my sanity! We just did a total remodel and put granite in the bathrooms and kitchen. My husband had some oral surgery and the instructions for care were on a bright pink piece of paper. So he put the paper by the sink to remind him of his care and when he was done with it several days later apparently it had gotten wet and left the dye stain on the granite! I wanted to throw up! I tried alcohol like one site suggested but no luck. I just used the bleach and in less than 30 minutes it is almost gone! Thank you so much! BTW we just used the same granite in our kitchen as yours…I love it!
Thank God for the Internet….just moved into an apartment that was remodeled with black and white granite counter tops. Came home from work and realize that a plastic container of Strawberries leaked all day on the counter top. I started hyperventilating, not knowing what to do. I heard a small voice that said, “grab the iPad” and I am glad I did. Thanks so much for this blog. Everything is working out fine. That big ugly red spot is slowly disappearing. Thanks so much for sharing.
So glad Jackie!
xo
s
I was just looking for a backup plan when I came across your post, but am happy to report that a paste of hydrogen peroxide & baking soda has the same results. (Which I’m grateful for because there was no bleach in my cabinet to implement the backup plan.) Yay non toxic solution!
So good to know!
xo
s
How do you clean marble stains under the surface. It looks like a round spot like the bottom of a glass or shaving cream can or maybe the round part of a blowdryer. There are also some sort of dripping or spots. Please help me. I’am a housekeeper and have tried everything. Aloha
So sorry, this method is all that we know. Have you tried it? It might suck the stain out! Good luck!
xo
s
I left a pink post it on my granite counter. It got wet and dried before I saw it. the bleach took it right off although I was afraid to try it.
So glad!
xo
s
We had a strawberry stain that left our light granite in ruins. We are trying your solution and after 45 minutes most our stain is gone. Thank you!!!
Oh man. So glad!
xo,
s
This worked amazing well. We were about to call our builder and accuse him of putting in a bad stone, but this took care of the problem. THANK YOU!
I’m so glad!
xo
s
I tried bleaching a stain out of my granite and now I have a big bleach stain! It’s probably my mistake for letting it sit too long. Unfortunately I’m in a rental and will probably lose all my deposit. I think my landlady might have missed the original stain but she’ll definitely see this. Drat. I’ve never done property damage to any apt and she thought of me as a great tenant. Maybe I’d just better not move!
Oh no! So sorry Jo! Anyone have an idea how to get a bleach stain out? Perhaps there’s some sort of “stain” you can apply to blend the lighter part in? I’d call a granite vendor or stone yard and even bring in a photo if you can go there in person and see if they have any ideas. Good luck!
xo
s
What color is your granite and how long did you leave it on? Was it just plain bleach or did it have added scent or something else?
Depending on how long you plan to stay in your rental, the bleach stain may fade after time as the granite absorbs other things through countertop use. If it doesn’t fade, you could consider mildly bleaching ( easy does it ) the surrounding granite to blend in more with the stain; so it wouldn’t look so obvious.
I started looking this morning how to get stains out of granite. My husband left a printer ink cartridge(magenta) on our granite counter little did we know it was leaking the whole time. Left a very dark pink stain, now I have heard about eggshells getting oil stains out of fabric, so I crushed some up and added vinegar and kept it most, not sure if it will work at all… but its been two days and its almost completely gone! Yes it is a longer process, but no chemicals required! I really wish I had taken a before photo of the stain so I could show the difference.
That’s awesome Jamie!
xo
s
Thanks!
We had a similar strawberry experience (went away for a weekend and a box of strawberries got left on counter and leaked).
It looked terrible but the bleach cleared in in minutes: I’d never have used bleach without seeing this post even though I do use bleach in bathrooms, sinks and to sterilize water bottles etc
Thanks so much!
So glad it worked!
xo
s
You are a LIFESAVER! Earlier this week I was horrified when I picked a container of strawberries off my granite countertop (in my rented apartment!) and found a huge pink juice stain underneath. I would have never have thought to use bleach on granite, but it worked like a charm! Thanks for helping me save my deposit, and my sanity :)
So glad!
xo
s
Thanks! You just saved our new granite slab. It had a huge strawberry stain. I looked up fixes and yours seemed easiest. Only bleach I had was a laundry gel pen. It worked like a charm! After an hour that nasty hot pink stain was only a memory!
THANKS!!!
I’m so glad!
xo
s
Use a product designed for cleaning granite countertops. Let it sit for 30 to 40 seconds and then wipe it off with a soft clean cloth. Do not use bleach or any solution containing bleach to clean your granite countertops. Also refrain from using harsh chemicals, acidic cleaners such as vinegar and abrasive cleaners. The wrong cleaner can remove any sealant present on the granite, strip the granite of its shine and damage the granite countertop. After cleaning your granite countertop, make sure you dry it with cotton flannel or a chamois cloth.
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/way_6174401_can-clean-granite-countertops-bleach_.html#ixzz2jdSJM0V6
So…….
@Jay, That link is for ‘cleaning’ granite, not removing stains. I also hope Jo explains how long she left the bleach on and what color her granite is.
A stain has developed at the grout line of our granite and wicked up on the granite backsplash. It has been there for at least two days and is obviously not a water stain, although it looks like one, or it would have disappeared by now. It is about 4 inches long and 1 or 2 inches up the backsplash. YIKES! Can you help?
Hmm, we’ve never encountered that, but since the method outlined in this post worked for us, maybe try that and see what happens?
xo
s
I had red stain on my granite countertop, So I tried using bleach and it worked great! Thanks!
Oh man, so glad it worked!
xo
s
I am totally amazed that people spend thousands of dollars on granite tops due to granite being durable and place the granite in the MOST used area of the home and then expect the granite to remain pristine. Two thoughts. 1. NEVER use your kitchen after you install granite so it will remain in perfect pristine condition. 2. Accept the fact it’s gonna have things happen to it and do the best you can to clean it and move on with your life.
I had this same freak out moment. I had dropped the pile of mail on the counter one day, and it included a pink door hanger that had said the city assessor had come by. I washed some dishes and I guess some water had gotten on the mail, the pink piece was of course on the bottom. I lifted it up and had HUGE neon pink square on our gray granite. AHH! I did a paste of baking soda and vinegar and it worked really well. Oxyclean had also worked in paste form for me in the past too. I try to keep bleach out of our house too!
So good to hear that those alternatives worked too! Thanks for sharing Mollie!
xo
s
Hi, I have a stain in my black granite sink from someone pouring paintbrush cleaner liquid. I have been told to sand it lightly. its like a white film on it
I’ve never tried any method other than the one outlined here, but I’d worry that sanding it would scratch it. Good luck!
xo
s
Here’s a great website for removing a variety of stains from granite:
http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-stains-from-granite-countertops/
Grease stains require a poultice application and time to draw it out of the stone. Bleach doesn’t draw out a stain, merely bleaches it.
But bleach should be in every household. It’s the world’s cheapest disinfectant. Ten percent bleach solution, 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, will kill just about everything nasty. Your drinking water contains bleach and up to 4 ppm (parts per million) is considered safe.
As bleach degrades, it turns into salt water, so it doesn’t pose an environmental risk. But it’s also why your ten% solution has to be made freshlly when you need it.
And if you really need convincing on the value of bleach in the laundry, google how much fecal matter is still on a washed load of underwear as your putting it into the dryer! Yuck. Always wash your hands after handling wet clothes.
One last tip: kitty litter works great at removing those ugly grease stains on garage floors (and driveways). Just sprinlke liberally and leave it for several days. Outside you will need to cover with paper and weight down to keep it from blowing. Just get the cheapest brand.
I hope this info helps.
Bleach works on just about any stain on any surface. I have been doing that for years. I just let the moist rag lay on the stain, not plastic.
Your tip saved my cream granite countertop from spilled red kids medicine!!! We didn’t notice the stain until we returned from a 10 day trip, so it had been sitting there for more than a week. I tried every cleaning agent I had until I saw your post. I treated the stain as suggested and it was gone within an hour. So thankful for the tip….THANK YOU!! Phew….
SO glad!
xo
s
The bleach didn’t need to be full-strength, it’s not dangerous used as directed, and why on earth weren’t the blueberries in the fridge?
Worked like a charm! My stain consisted of strawberry juice, from a handful of strawberries that were trimmed and left to sit overnight. Good as new, now.
I have a black granet counter top in my bathroom it has a lighter spot on it either from water or C L R cleaner how can I get this out
Thank you! We left a wet pink post it note on the counter for an hour Nd it left a stain that wouldn’t come up. We panicked! Your tip worked in less than 10 minutes. We could monitor the stain release through the sandwich bag too.
Well I had my granite vanity one day and My soap depenser had a black felt on the bottom leaving an ugly black stain. I was so upset. I read the article about using bleach and plastic wrap. Well I applied it three times and also made a paste of baking soda and water. Well stain is gone and we are now sealing the granite… Thanks so much.
dont do it, it eats the finish off, use a mild soap and a scrub brush
You saved our countertop! I was so afraid to put bleach on it. We rarely use it for the same reasons you stated but glad I had it on hand tonight. The stain was months old and it is almost gone now after only 30 minutes. Thanks so much!
Wahoo!
xo
s
Hi Sherry! Thank you for the granite stain removing tip! We had a huge pink strawberry stain and after following your awesome advice, it completely disappeared. You are awesome! Thank for your gracious tips!!!