If you have granite, marble, or quartz countertops, vanities, or floors that have lost their original shine, don’t worry. With a little bit of effort, you can restore them to look as good as new. Polishing stone is a straightforward process that you can do yourself at home. As a home improvement expert who has remodeled dozens of kitchens and bathrooms,
I’ll walk you through how to get gleaming and glossy stone surfaces. With the right supplies and techniques, even high traffic floors and heavily used countertops can be renewed.
Deep Clean First
Before polishing, it’s important to deep clean the stone to remove all the built-up grime that makes it look dull. Here are the steps to follow:
- Make a gentle soap solution by mixing 2-3 drops of dish soap with warm water. Use a soft sponge or cloth to wash the entire surface.
- Rinse very thoroughly to get rid of all soap residue. Let the stone dry completely.
- Apply a stone-specific cleaner like Method Daily Granite and spray generously over the surface. Let it sit for 7-10 minutes.
- Use a soft bristle brush to scrub the wet stone in circles. This gets rid of stubborn dirt and stains.
- Rinse again thoroughly and pat dry with a lint-free cloth. Never let stone air dry.
- Reseal with a stone sealant like Miracle 511 Impregnator. This protects against future stains.
Choosing the Right Polishing Compound
The type of polishing compound you use depends on the specific stone:
- For marble, choose a calcium carbonate formula like Stonetech Marble Polish. Avoid acidic cleaners that can damage marble.
- For granite, pick a polish made for silicate stones. Use a 3-step kit starting with a coarse grit and moving to finer grits.
- A general all stone polish works well for quartz like Caesarstone or Silestone. Do a test spot first.
- Read labels and steer clear of compounds with harsh acids that etch stone.
Technique for Polishing
Here are some tips I’ve learned from experience for getting the best shine:
- Work in small sections so the polish doesn’t dry before buffing. Drape towels over nearby areas to avoid splatter.
- Put a dime-sized amount of polish on the stone and use a hand orbital polisher fitted with a soft pad to rub in circular motions.
- As you buff, you’ll see the shine return. Keep polishing until the desired reflective shine is achieved.
- For a glass-like finish, use a fine grit pad and really burnish the surface using lots of pressure and friction.
- Rinse residue after each section and wipe any remaining polish off with a dry cloth.
- Finish with a protective wax like Black Diamond Granite Wax.
Maintaining the Shine
To keep your stone looking newly polished long-term:
- Immediately wipe up any spills with a dry cloth to prevent etching. Use coasters religiously.
- Clean with a gentle pH balanced stone cleaner weekly. Harsh chemicals can ruin the finish.
- Reapply stone sealant every 1-2 years for stain protection.
- For floors, use maintenance polish pads weekly to retain the glossy shine.
With the proper polishing process, you can restore the beautiful luster to your natural stone surfaces.