Removing Stains and Scratches

• Stains and discoloring of granite most commonly occur when you place a hot object such as a pot or pan directly on the counter. Food spilled on granite countertops can be washed off with a sponge without resulting in stains. Avoid putting anything directly from your stove or oven onto the countertop to prevent stains. Scratches normally come from cutting food directly on the counter. Use a cutting board to avoid scratches.
  
  If you caused a stain or scratch on your granite countertop, the way to restore it is to polish the granite. Polishing granite means using a coarse material to scrape away the damaged top layer of granite, exposing the undamaged granite underneath.
  
  You can use fine steel wool for the polishing. Rub the steel wool back and forth across the scratch or stain until it disappears. If the steel wool does not scrape away any of the granite, try a slightly coarser steel wool. After the stain or scratch has been removed, use a rag to wipe away the granite dust. If the granite does not feel smooth, use a finer piece of steel wool to polish it further.
  
  

Fixing Cracks

• Cracks are more difficult to fix than scratches and stains. If you crack your granite countertop, including chipping its edges, try to fix it as soon as you can. Cracks can grow wider and deeper if not fixed right away.
  
  To repair a crack, use a stone adhesive, available at most hardware stores. Much of the difficulty involved with fixing cracks in granite countertops comes from getting the color of the adhesive to match the color of the granite closely. For very small cracks, this may not be necessary. For larger cracks, though, look for an adhesive designed to match the color of your granite countertop. Some hardware stores sell mineral flecks that can be added to the adhesive to make it look more like granite.
  
  Completely fill the crack in the countertop with the adhesive. Use a squeegee to wipe away excess adhesive. After the adhesive dries, use steel wool to smooth the filled crack until it can no longer be felt when you run your fingers across the area.