Cleaning SILGRANIT granite sinks: what to look out for

Silgranit sinks are extremely hard and resistant. This means that looking after them is really very simple. Nevertheless, when cleaning a granite sink made of Silgranit you should be aware of a few things in order to keep enjoying the fantastic look and feel for as long as possible. This care guide provides advice on how best to clean Silgranit, from daily care to deep cleaning and removing stains.

How To Clean Silgranit sinks
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The advantages of a Silgranit sink

Silgranit sinks from BLANCO represent the advancement of the classic granite sink. The special composite material is 80 % made from the hardest component of granite, making our sinks particularly resistant. This makes it almost impossible for dirt to adhere to the surface.
The fantastic feel is another asset. Thanks to granite’s high density, Silgranit sinks feel particularly smooth and soft. Silgranit sinks are extremely easy to look after, while the surface reduces bacterial growth by an average of 98% thanks to the hygiene protection formula. What’s more, the sinks are available in lots of different colours, with the material dyed right the way through. This means that slight kinks or staining foods will not cause any changes to the colour of your Silgranit sink. Only limescale deposits many lead to discolouration, but these can be removed in next to no time.

BLANCO Silgranit sinks are the perfect combination of design and colour, durability and easy care.

Colourful Silgranit sinks

Sink BLANCO METRA 6S Silgranit in black
Sink BLANCO NAYA 8 Silgranit tartufo
Sink BLANCO SUBLINE 500 Silgranit in black
CARENA S Vario in white Silgranit

Do not use special cleaning agents

Although Silgranit is a very durable material, there are cleaning products that you should not use to clean your granite sink. These include:

  • Drain cleaners
  • Cleaners containing chlorine
  • Lyes or other solvents
  • Abrasive cleaners

These agents are very aggressive and can cause lasting damage to your sink. Rely on BLANCO cleaning and care products. These are adapted to the material properties of Silgranit.

Cleaning a white silgranite sink

Daily care for your granite sink

To clean marks and everyday traces of use from your sink on a day-to-day basis, all you need is a sponge, some detergent and water. Slightly moisten the sponge under running water. Squeeze a small amount of detergent onto the soft side of the sponge. Clean your granite sink by rubbing it with the sponge in small, circular movements, using only the soft side of the sponge. Once you’re finished, rinse your sink thoroughly with clean water. Finally, rub your sink dry with a microfibre cloth in order to prevent limescale.

Metal abrasion on a white silgranit sink

Removing metal abrasion

Silgranit sinks are extremely hard. Sometimes pots might leave a metal abrasion on bright surfaces. Removing these dark lines is easy. ​Apply some cooking oil to the wet sponge on the soft side. Clean the sink with the soft side of the sponge, with circular movements. ​The mixture of oil and water releases the metal abrasion from the sink. Rinse your sink with dish soap and warm water for oil removal. Then dry it with a microfiber cloth.

A dark silgranite sink with limescale

Removing discolouration

If you go for a long time without cleaning your Silgranit sink, limescale particles will gather on the surface. These deposits typically gather around the mixer tap and on the drainer, as dishes dry here and water droplets evaporate. While the deposited limescale is easy to spot against dark sinks, it can easily go unnoticed at first on light-coloured sinks. Only when the limescale becomes discoloured, for instance if the once-white limescale becomes the colour of a tea bag, does it become apparent. Silgranit itself is completely colour-fast – it is the limescale deposits that become discoloured. The use of BLANCO DailyClean+ or acid-based cleaning agents, such as vinegar cleaner or citric acid, helps here. They dissolve the lime and dirt layer and give the sink back its original color. Simply spray the sink with BLANCO DailyClean+ or an acid-based cleaner and let it work for a short time. Then wipe with a damp cloth and dry with a microfiber cloth.

Cleaning a white silgranite sink

Monthly deep-cleaning

It is best to clean your Silgranit sink every day, as described above, in order to prevent limescale from forming. This will help prevent discolouration, which is harder to remove. In addition, you should also give your BLANCO sink a basic deep clean every couple of months in case limescale has formed despite these efforts.

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Questions about the cleaning and care of SILGRANIT sinks

How do I clean the surface of Silgranit?

The material Silgranit is very easy to clean. This can be divided into quick daily cleaning and deep cleaning at longer intervals. In general, the following applies: With regular care, you need to clean less. For quick daily cleaning, all you need is a sponge with some dishwashing liquid. Wipe your sink clean with circular motions. Use the soft side of the sponge for this to avoid scratches. Then rinse with water and rub dry with a microfiber towel.

If limescale has built up, use our BLANCO DailyClean+ cleaner. Spray the affected sink area or faucet and let it sit for a moment. Then wipe with a damp cloth and dry with a microfiber cloth.

How do I remove metal abrasion (e.g. from pots) on the Silgranit sink?

Robust and colorfast: these properties define your Silgranit sink. This makes any small dark streak that appears on your surfaces all the more noticeable. The streaks were most likely caused by metal abrasion. However, there is no need to panic: You can remove such abrasion marks in one step. After all, your sink is not only durable, but also extremely easy to clean. All you need is a non-scratch sponge (we recommend Spontex Polish, but if you don't have it, a soft sponge will do), water, cooking oil (such as sunflower or canola), and a microfiber cloth.

Steps:

  • - Wet the sponge completely with water.
  • - Apply oil to the soft side of the damp sponge
  • - Remove the dark metal traces by making circular movements with the sponge.
  • - Remove the water-oil mixture thoroughly with warm water and dry with a microfiber cloth.

How do I remove limescale?

Depending on where you live and the water pipes, limescale can be quite stubborn. The unsightly water spots thus quickly become a minor blemish on your shining piece. How good that it is no trick to clean your Silgranit kitchen sink. Use citric acid, vinegar essence or our professional BLANCO DailyClean+. Apply the solution to the stains in the sink and let it soak for 5 minutes. Then rinse the sink generously, clean with a sponge and finally wipe dry.

How do I clean my strainer basket?

From time to time, the strainer basket that keeps your sink drain clear also needs to be cleaned. This is easily done with a powdered dishwasher detergent and hot water. Close the strainer basket, prepare a mixture of dishwasher detergent and water, let it soak in and scrub. On our service page, we show you in detail how to clean your strainer basket in the FAQ section.

How do I remove stains from dark sinks?

Whether dark discoloration or light lime stains, stains and deposits are also noticeable on dark sinks. Lime stains also often trap other liquids such as coffee, causing discoloration. However, these can be easily removed.

Important: Be sure to avoid aggressive cleaners when cleaning a silgranite sink. Strongly caustic cleaning agents or solvent-based cleaners can attack and permanently damage the surface of your sink.

Use vinegar cleaner, citric acid or rely on our BLANCO DailyClean+ cleaner to remove limescale deposits. Apply the cleaner to the affected surfaces and let it soak in. Then clean your sink with a soft sponge and finally rinse with clear water. Rub dry with a microfiber cloth and your sink is clean again.

How do I remove discoloration and stains from Silgranit sinks?

Stains and discolorations on Silgranit sinks are usually superficial limescale deposits that have trapped dirt. For light stains, a damp dishcloth with a little dishwashing detergent is sufficient. Rub over the stains in a circular motion. You will see: With each movement, the stain gets smaller. Rinse with a little water and rub the sink and draining board dry. Your sink is clean again. To prevent limescale from forming in the first place, which can collect dirt, rub your sink with a microfiber cloth after each use. This way, limescale can't form in the first place.

How to quickly clean your sink every day?

To remove stains and everyday wear and tear from your sink, all you need is a sponge, some dishwashing liquid and water. Wet the sponge under running water and take a small amount of detergent on the soft side of the sponge. Clean your sink by rubbing it with the sponge (soft side) in small, circular motions. Rinse your sink with clean water and dry it with a microfiber towel.

How do I perform the simple regular cleaning?

Use BLANCO DailyClean+ or a non-aggressive acid-based cleaner (e.g. liquid cleaner with lemon or vinegar) regularly to clean your sink and remove limescale. Depending on how much lime the water in your area contains, you may need to do this cleaning weekly or less frequently if necessary. BLANCO DailyClean+ can also be used to clean your kitchen faucet. Spray BLANCO DailyClean+ or the acid-based cleaner on the sink area you want to clean and let it sit for a moment. Then wipe with a damp cloth and dry with a microfiber cloth.

How do I use detergents for deep cleaning?

Once a year, or when you feel it necessary, you may want to thoroughly clean your sink. First of all, you should pay attention to remove the deposited lime. This is followed by the basic cleaning. You can use any soft detergent. To do this, close the drain of your sink. Distribute the washing powder or gel evenly in the sink and fill the sink with water that has been heated to at least 60°C. Leave it to soak for at least two hours or, ideally, overnight. Finally, drain the solution, rinse your sink with clean water and rub it dry with a microfiber towel.

What is special about the BLANCO DailyClean+?

The BLANCO DailyClean+ was specially developed for cleaning sinks and kitchen faucets. It offers the simplest solution for regular cleaning of granite sinks. BLANCO DailyClean+ is a maintenance program for sink and the faucet, which is usually carried out every week or month to remove lime deposits and keep the surfaces looking good.

Tip: To prevent unsightly stains from catching your eye too often, dry your sink with a microfiber cloth after each use. That way, the limescale can't build up in the first place.

Does the sink color have an effect on cleaning?

No, it has not. The frequency of cleaning required does not depend on the color. However, metal stains are easier to spot on light colored sinks. On the other hand, white lime is easier to spot on dark sink colors. In any case, a quick daily cleaning routine and simple regular cleaning are all you need to keep your granite sink looking fantastic.

Do I need to take special care of a Silgranit sink if I use a hot mixer tap with boiling water?

Silgranit is ready to work with a hot mixer tap. Silgranit isn’t fazed by high temperatures, so boiling water won’t be a problem. A hot mixer tap like our TAMPERA delivers water at 100°C directly out of the spout, ready to make tea or cook food. Using it correctly is important to avoid injuries or putting an excessive burden on the sink.

Here our experienced tips:

• Always place a pot or cup below the tap before activating the boiling water and turn it off in good time to avoid spills.

• Be sure to keep your hands away from the running boiling water.

• Remember that the spout might be very hot after running boiling water, so avoid touching it or run some cold water before touching it. This might be very important if you have kids at home.

• Move the spout of the tap to different positions to ensure that the boiling water doesn’t hit always the same spot on the sink or place a cloth on the bottom to avoid subjecting one point of the sink surface to too much boiling water.

Is Silgranit hygienic?

Yes, Silgranit comes with the built-in patented protective formula Hygiene+Plus with antibacterial properties.

What is Hygiene+Plus?

SILGRANIT is made with a patented protective formula that makes its surface non-porous and thus water-repellent, dirt-repellent and easy to clean. As a result, Silgranit surface has a shield effect against bacterial growth. This is the Hygiene+Plus protection. The hygienic test* of the material Silgranit has shown that the material inhibits the formation of microbial biofilms and the growth of microorganisms on the material over time.

*Tests carried out by DHZ (German Hygiene Certificate GmbH) on behalf of and financed by BLANCO GmbH + Co KG with Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in April 2022. More details on the tests are available here ( PDF in english / PDF in german ).

Further advice on cleaning and care