Water stains, water spots, limescale, mineral deposits – whatever you want to call them, these pesky marks are common. They plague kitchen and bathroom sinks, leaving a white, chalky residue after the water evaporates on the sink’s surface.
Since composite granite sinks can require delicate care, you might be questioning the best approach to these deposits. What is the best way to remove the stains without damaging the sink? We did the research for you, so continue reading to learn more!
What Is Granite Composite?
Composite stone sinks aren’t solid stone, as the name implies. Instead of solid stone, composite granite sinks consist of crushed stone and acrylic resin. Good quality granite composite sinks are usually made up of 80 percent crushed stone and 20 percent resin.
The crushed stone portion is an engineered blend consisting of crushed quartz and stone dust. The resulting mixture is solid, nonporous, and durable when mixed with acrylic resin. Granite composite sinks share many of the same benefits characteristic of solid stone products, including heat resistance and long-lasting durability.
How To Remove Hard Water Stains From Granite Composite Surfaces
Hard water stains, also known as limescale, mineral deposits, hard water deposits, and mineral buildup, are common in homes with hard water. These stains occur when water is left to evaporate, leaving a chalky white residue behind.
Here’s how to get rid of unwanted deposits.
How Do You Remove Limescale From A Composite Sink?
Homes with hard water generally experience issues with mineral buildup and limescale. Minerals in the water are left behind when the liquid evaporates, leaving unappealing marks and streaks on surfaces in your home.
They commonly occur in the bottom of sinks, around the base of faucets, and in other areas where water may pool and evaporate. Luckily, limescale is easy to remove.
Use Mild Dish Soap
Before you try using vinegar, try to remove the mineral deposits with mild dish soap. Here’s what you need:
- Hot water
- Mild dish soap
- Soft, dry cloth
- Non-abrasive sponge
- Mineral oil
Dampen your non-abrasive sponge with hot water. Add a few drops of mild dish detergent to the sponge, then scrub the offending mineral deposits. Once the deposits lift, rinse the area to remove the residue.
Dry the sink with a soft, dry cloth. Once the stains are gone, and the sink is clean, coat the surface in a small amount of mineral oil. Put a small amount of oil onto a clean, soft cloth (like a microfiber cloth), then apply it to the sink’s surface.
Wait one minute after applying the oil, then wipe away the excess oil with the cloth.
Use Vinegar
Since limescale consists primarily of calcium carbonate, vinegar will quickly and easily remove the deposits. Here’s what you’ll need:
- White vinegar
- Soft, non-abrasive sponge
- Warm water
- Soft towel
Vinegar will dissolve limescale, but it is mildly abrasive. So, while you can use it to clean the limescale off your sink, don’t leave it to soak. Apply a small amount of vinegar to the deposits, then wait a minute or two.
Wipe away the residue with a damp, soft sponge. Rinse the area with warm water, then dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth. If you don’t dry it off, you’ll be back to square one once the leftover water evaporates.
Bar Keeper’s Friend For Stubborn Stains
Some stains don’t lift, even after multiple attempts. If the dish soap and vinegar methods aren’t working, try using Bar Keeper’s Friend. Follow the directions on the bottle, ensuring you don’t leave the solution on the surface of the sink for too long.
Remember not to use abrasive scrubbers to scour the sink. Rinse the residue away when you’re done, then dry the sink entirely with a soft towel to avoid new mineral deposits.
How To Clean A Granite Composite Sink
Cleaning is an essential part of maintaining your granite composite sink. To preserve the sink’s luster, we recommend cleaning the sink after each use or once daily if that isn’t possible. Cleaning your sink after every use might not be feasible, especially if you have a busy kitchen.
For daily cleaning, simply use a mild liquid dish detergent and water. Saturate a soft sponge in warm water, then apply a few drops of dish soap to the sponge. Gently scrub the sink, then rinse the sudsy residue with warm water.
Once the sink is clean, dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth. If you’d like, you can apply a coating of mineral oil, although it isn’t necessary every day. However, if you like the sink’s shine, you can apply mineral oil more frequently (just don’t go overboard).
What Not To Use On Composite Granite
Composite granite sinks can be easily damaged with the use of certain cleaners. You might notice a cloudy white film coating on your composite sink. In many cases, this is the result of using the wrong cleaners on the sink.
So, to avoid marring the surface of your composite granite sink, don’t use harsh chemical cleaners. Commercial alkali cleaners, including ammonia and other caustic solutions, can damage the surface of the sink, often leaving a filmy residue behind.
Additionally, avoid using straight bleach on your granite sink. While you can use diluted bleach to tackle extremely stubborn stains, using it regularly can do more harm than good.
Don’t use abrasive cleaning agents and scrubbers, like steel wool or abrasive scrubbers. These can scratch the surface of the sink, leaving unappealing marks all over the areas you scrubbed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Use Magic Eraser On A Granite Composite Sink?
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable scrubber is 4X Stronger* with DURAFOAM. *Cleaning performance…
- This cleaning scrubber is tough on dirt, all around the house! Surface cleaner, wall cleaner,…
- The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser provides a powerful clean with water alone
- No Harsh chemicals added
While you could use Magic Eraser on your granite composite sink, we don’t recommend it. In some cases, it might not damage the surface. On a light-colored sink, it might do just fine. However, you may risk damaging your sink, so we recommend sticking to the methods mentioned above.
