Granite worktop

[frillyflower]

Does anyone know how to remove an oil stain from a grey/white granite worktop please? I put a gravy boat down momentarily and it must have had oil on its base. Wiped it immediately but there's now a dark grey ring.
Hate hate hate the granite worktop. Makes cooking an anxiety fest!
Thanks for any advice.

[wowfudge]

Try a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water spread over the mark. Put cling film over it to stop it from quickly drying out and leave overnight. Then wash off with a mild soap solution.

[frillyflower]

Thank you Fudge! The bl**dy granite is the bane of my life. I've been so careful with it and one minutes inattention and ... Boom!

[MrsFlorrick]

You can also try a cornflower poultice. Cornflower with tiny bit of water and spread over mark for 24 hrs.

Your worktop must be sealed.

Get yourself some Dry Treat and seal it. No more stains of anxiety.

[frillyflower]

Thanks MrsFlorrick. It was sealed when installed by the company a year ago. Should I reseal every year or something?

[MrsFlorrick]

Hi
It depends on the sealant used. Some really are not very hardy. Good quality sealants like Dry Treat should hold on for around 15 years (less in a shower area).

Another factor will be how you clean your worktop. Don't every use sprays. Not even those meant for stone/granite. They may be meant for stone but they destroy the sealant.m relatively quickly.

Sealants are essentially a liquid silicone which is suspended in some very heavy duty solvents and other nasty VOC.
After application the solvent evaporates over 24 hours or so and the silicone forms a barrier over the stone which prevents contact between stone and things on top. However this doesn't make it entirely permanently impervious. Even a good sealant will struggle to keep out stuff left on the surface for a long time (ie a day or so).

You should really only ever clean your stone with a microfibres cloth wrung out in hot water with washing up liquid. You can occasionally use a little tiny amount of bleach diluted in water if necessary.