More and more individuals and businesses are turning away from bleach and chlorine and turning to hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide has been shown effective in killing germs and cleaning surfaces without any offensive odors.
Hydrogen peroxide is an affordable product that is often used to clean wounds; however, it can also be used to clean countertops, floors, and many surfaces. In fact, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and other commercial properties use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect and clean a variety of surfaces.
Many people wonder is hydrogen peroxide safe to use on granite countertops. You can use hydrogen peroxide on granite countertops; however, it should only be used for stain removal or occasional disinfection. Hydrogen is great for occasional use; however, repeated applications can damage the surface of the countertop.
Hydrogen peroxide is acidic and has a pH level of 6.2, which means it is a weak acid. You can use weak acids to disinfect granite countertops; however, repeated use can degrade the granite sealer and even dull or etch your granite countertop. Therefore, you should limit using hydrogen peroxide to stain removal and the occasional disinfection when your granite countertops seriously needed it.
There are other methods, which we will discuss below, that are better for routine cleaning and disinfecting. These methods clean and sanitize your granite countertops without the risk of damaging the finish.
Granite is considered to be highly cleanable and resistant to microbial growth. Studies have shown that kitchen and bathroom countertops do not need to be frequently disinfected or aggressively cleaned. Hospitals and other commercial spaces are teeming with bacteria and require constant disinfecting. This is not the case in homes.
You will need to disinfect your countertops occasionally; however, you do not need to disinfect your countertops daily. When you do disinfect your granite countertops, you can use hydrogen peroxide or any other food safe disinfectant.
Deep cleaning granite countertops is designed to remove germs, bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. This can be done by washing and rinsing your granite countertops. When you wash your countertop with hot water and a mild dish soap and then rinse well using clean, fresh hot water, the majority of bacteria and germs will be removed.
Many people are confused about how soap works. Regular soap will not kill germs; however, it removes them from the surface. Removal is the most recommended cleaning method to remove germs from the surface; however, soap can build up over time. If soap is used as your regular cleaner, it can end up causing a film that attracts dirt and causes the countertop surface to look dull.
You can counteract this by rinsing well. When we say rinsing well, it means rinsing multiple times with a large amount of water. Unfortunately, this can be difficult on granite countertops. Flooding the countertop can result in wet cabinetry and flooring.
A better option is using only hot water. Hot water can effectively clean up common spills and crumbs. Dunk a sponge in hot water and scrub your granite countertop to remove all traces of stickiness and debris. At the end of the day, use a stone cleaner. Stone cleaners remove bacteria, germs, and other microbes without creating a filmy buildup. Once dry, your countertop will have a streak-free finish.
When disinfecting countertops, you want a disinfectant that is safe for granite countertops. Hydrogen peroxide is a great disinfectant for granite countertops. In order to disinfect the countertop, it must remain wet for several minutes.
Spray the entire surface with hydrogen peroxide and allow it to remain wet for at least five minutes. If your countertop begins to dry, spray the countertop with more hydrogen peroxide. Once the countertop has been disinfected, you must rinse the entire countertop and buff it dry with a clean, dry cloth.
Because hydrogen peroxide is slightly acidic, you should only use it to disinfect your countertops two or three times per year or whenever they have been exposed to a large amount of meat, fish, or poultry. If this disinfectant is used repeatedly, it can dull the shine of your granite countertops.
As you can see, granite is safe to use on granite countertops when used properly. Soap and water will remove surface bacteria. When you need to deep clean and disinfect your countertops, hydrogen peroxide can be used. Limiting the number of times hydrogen peroxide is used to no more than once every three to four months, protects the surface from damage while deep cleaning your granite countertops.
