When we built our house, the guy who installed the granite countertops told me not to waste my money on expensive granite cleaners–which are like $7.00 a bottle, so it wasn’t a hard sell to get me not to buy them. He told me I could make my own with rubbing alcohol, dish soap, and water. Check. Check. And check. I had all of those things already, so all I had to do was buy a plastic spray bottle.
I seriously love this stuff–it works awesome!
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 3-4 drops dawn dish soap {any dish soap would work}
- Water
Directions;
Add rubbing alcohol and dish soap to a spray bottle. Top with water {add the water slowly to avoid the dish soap sudsing over}. Put the lid on and shake it up. {If you don’t like the smell of rubbing alcohol, you could add some essential oil, but I have always liked the sterile smell of the rubbing alcohol and never bothered with adding the oil.} To use, you just spray down your counters and wipe them off. Easy pleasy.
The whole bottle costs pennies and works great. Take that over-priced granite cleaner!
~Mavis
Linda says
I know you know this ….hee hee it’s homemade but not natural….I mean crunchy natural. I used to think Blue Dawn was ‘ok’ because they use it on marine critters when there’s an oil spill…..but it’s not without it’s chemicals ….
Mavis Butterfield says
I don’t think I said it was “natural.” Homemade yes, natural no.
Mary Ann says
We have granite counter tops too. And use the same homemade recipe for cleaner! I found it online last year and am so happy with it. It works really well! I often add a few drops of either peppermint or lemon essential oil just because it smells pretty but it’s not bad without either!
Erin says
I’ve been using the same recipe without the alcohol for over 10 years and I have LOVED it. Now I tried the alcohol in my spray bottle and I’m hooked already! In fact just the other day I tried adding just a bit of bleach to help disinfect some raw meat that landed on the counter, but I like the alcohol better. Try when you make a fresh mix in your bottle using HOT water, your first spray and wipe will be even better. For me it’s only the first time I mix up my small 8oz bottle but it’s worth it when the counters have gotten really gritty and sticky. I use bar mop towels and wash them ever so often. Thank you for this helpful hint. I’ve already shared on FB!!! I also use the same sort of recipe (hot water and dish soap) to wash my hard wood floors. I wonder if a bit of alcohol would be ok for the wood?? Hmmm? Any thoughts? Thanks Mavis!
Mavis Butterfield says
On wood floors? I don’t know. If you try it let me know how it works.
Joyce Derhousoff Tucker says
I have new quartz countertops. I suppose this would work on quartz as well.
What side spray bottle are you using for your mix? Approx how much water do you add? Also how much Dawn —- 1/4tsp??
Rhoda says
Is this safe to use on unsealed granite countertops?
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Rhoda, my granite countertops are sealed, so I’m not sure.
Rhonni Hernton says
Hello Mavis, I was wondering if your homemade mixture would be OK for quartz countertop.
Beth says
Thanks this was really helpful. The “natural” recipe would just replace dawn with Castile soap. I’m glad to know dawn works just as well. That will be easier for me for now! And I’ve been looking for a recipe for a friend that didn’t include rubbing alcohol so seeing in the comments that someone has been using it for years without the alcohol and it worked well enough is great to know. Thank you!
Sharon says
I am looking for a cleaner to clean calcium stains from my granite shower floor! Any ideas?