Backsplashes in the kitchen catch all the spitting grease from your cooking. A natural stone backsplash such as granite can make your kitchen unique. Maintaining a clean backsplash is a wise idea to avoid bugs or unpleasant odors and keep on top of the project before it turns too big.
The purpose of a backsplash is to shield your wall from grease, water, or food that may splash from the pots on your stove. Therefore, that it is greasy shows that it is functioning as intended. Most backsplashes look fashionable and offer a decorative touch to your kitchen, which helps.
Consider smooth stone tile or brick facades that have been treated with a layer of protective sealant to stop grease and water from penetrating the material for further backsplash ideas behind a stove. A granite splashback that coordinates with your granite countertops is one of the best.
However, some materials don’t stand up to harsh kitchen cleaning materials, such as granite or other natural stones, as you could have found when you had your granite counter installed.
In our guide, you can learn the best ways how to get grease stains out of granite. Now, you can ditch the commercial cleaning product and use the best natural methods for dealing with a grease stain on granite. (Learn How Long Should You Not Walk On Grass Seed)
By the end, you’ll know various methods to use for your cleaning process to get rid of stubborn stains and avoid damaging your natural stone tile.
How to Clean Grease Off a Backsplash
Your strategy is the same whether the backsplash behind the stove is made of stone, brick, or tile.
- To remove grease off the wall, you only need dishwashing liquid for removing grease, a sponge, and an optional stiff brush.
- Add liquid detergent soap to the sponge after wetting it with warm water.
- Go over the surface using your soapy sponge and let the suds soak into the grease and oil stains for a while.
- After a while, start to scrub to break up stubborn grease gently. It may be possible you need a stiff brush.
- Wipe the backsplash after you rinse your sponge.
Scrubbing grout on tiled backsplash
One area you can struggle with is a tiled backsplash. An old toothbrush comes in handy to scrub away grease on the grout.
Use grease-fighting dishwashing liquid to start, but you can also use a baking soda paste with a gritty texture that makes it challenging yet soft on surfaces for scrubbing.
Protecting your backsplash
Of course, you have more important things to do than scrape grout. Therefore, if you’re sick of doing it, think about covering your backsplash with transparent plastic to protect it.
This will leave your kitchen backsplash in full view while providing a smooth, oil-resistant surface to wipe off easily.
How To Remove Grease From Granite Backsplashes?
Baking Soda
Granite can be restored to seem brand new by using a poultice made of baking soda and water to remove oil stains.
The steps below can be used to make a poultice and attach it to the backsplash’s vertical wall:
- First, 1/2 cup of baking soda should be added to a bowl or cup.
- Next, your baking soda should have 1-2 teaspoons of warm water added.
- For a thick paste, combine the baking soda and water; if it’s too thick, add extra water.
- Spread the baking soda paste over the grease stain,
- Cover the poultice-covered area by stretching plastic wrap over it.
- Tape the plastic in place using painter’s tape.
- Use a fork to make holes in the plastic wrap.
- Before removing the tape and plastic, give the poultice 6 to 12 hours to dry.
- Warm water, dish soap, and a soft rag should remove the baking soda residue after the poultice has had time to work on oil stains.
Your granite will be cleaned of deep grease stains using this solution.
Cornstarch Poultice
To remove stubborn grease stains from your granite backsplash, use cornstarch similarly to how you would use baking soda. (Read Can You Use Fungicide And Fertilizer At The Same Time)
Cornstarch draws oil out of the granite as it dries and absorbs moisture from the stone.
When preparing a poultice with baking soda, combine cornstarch and water.
- Spread the cornstarch and water mixture over a bandage or gauze pad once it has reached a thick paste consistency.
- To hold the gauze or bandage over the grease stain in place, use painter’s tape.
- The poultice needs 6 to 12 hours to dry.
- Remove the bandage and tape.
- Use dish soap and warm water to scrub the spot clean.
One tip is to mix the cornstarch paste with hydrogen peroxide rather than water.
Acetone
Use acetone as your cleaner to remove any stubborn stain resistant to baking soda and cornstarch. This strong solvent cleaner disintegrates grease on granite without damaging your stone.
- Use pure acetone to dampen a rag or paper towel.
- To cover the discolored area and the surrounding granite, fold the rag or paper towel, so it is large enough to cover the stained area.
- Cover the stain with the acetone-soaked rag and place the plastic wrap on top.
- You can use painter’s tape to secure the plastic, so it is sealed around the edges.
- Acetone needs 6 to 12 hours to work.
- Don’t poke holes in the plastic wrap when using acetone to remove grease stains, unlike a poultice of baking soda.
- The acetone won’t dry out if it is sealed underneath so that the cleaning paste can eat away at the grease stain.
Oil Stain Remover
A few top-notch options are available on the market for removing tough grease stains from your granite backsplash.
- Ensure that the compound you use is specifically made for granite. Commercial degreasers that don’t say they’re appropriate for granite could damage or stain your backsplash.
- Use this specific granite-formulated grease stain remover.
- Big-box store commercial degreasers shouldn’t be used because they could harm granite.
- Verify that the stain remover you chose is safe for granite by reading the product label. Then, to safely remove grease from your backsplash, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Things To Avoid When Removing Grease and Cleaning Granite
Besides using the best methods for removing grease from stone or granite, staying clear of traps that could harm your kitchen surfaces as you clean granite is critical.
Using many household cleaners, you can easily damage granite, and some natural substances can also harm and ruin the granite surface.
Vinegar
On a stone granite countertop or backsplash, avoid using vinegar. This is because the protective sealant applied to your granite countertop is first destroyed by vinegar.
Your granite will discolor once this sealer has been removed or thinned. Even worse, vinegar can lead to “etching,” which is the discoloration of your granite in specific areas.
Citrus-Based Products
Citrus cleansers, like vinegar, harm the granite sealant and the stone itself. Instead, choose a dish soap that doesn’t contain citrus if you want to clean your granite countertops.
Cleaning your granite counters is safe using Dawn and other dish soaps that are not citrus-based.
Abrasive Products
Toilets and bathtubs are the best places to use gritty cleansers. However, an aggressive cleanser will destroy the sealant protecting your granite. (Read Can Chickens Eat Split Peas)
Best Homemade Degreaser for Granite?
With just a few materials, you can create an easy grease-eliminating cleanser for your granite surfaces. Combine the following ingredients in a spray bottle:
- ½ cup rubbing alcohol or acetone.
- 2 teaspoons dish soap
- 2 cups water
Grease-covered granite can be treated with this simple approach by spraying it. It will dissolve any recent grease and simplify cleanup.
You can even mix acetone and baking soda to make a dirt-busting paste for tough grout stains.
