How to Clean, Polish and Restore Granite Floors
Granite floor care depends on surface condition and traffic wear. Clean heavily soiled floors with HD-13; if hard water deposits are present, clean first with B-Scrub. For routine shine, deep clean then polish with Novagranit Gel. For light wear with scratches not felt with a fingernail, Light Restoration starts at 800 grit. For medium wear where the floor lost its polish and is in a matte or satin finish, start at 300 grit Munich. For heavily worn matte granite with scratches you can feel, Full Restoration starts at 80 grit. Results may vary depending on granite type and condition. Every polishing step is worked wet.
This guide covers granite floors, lobbies, hallways, and high-traffic areas. Diagnose first with your hand and fingernail, then follow the matching option in order. Do not skip steps.
Choose the right process
Run your hand across the granite, then your fingernail. What you feel decides where you start.
Deep clean
Result: removes heavily soiled floors, hard water deposits, buildup, and traffic residue. No polishing, no change in gloss level.
- Remove dry debris and soil with a dry microfiber mop.
- Scrape as much as possible with a knife scraper.
- Apply B-Scrub and scrub with a Novagranit White Pad using your floor machine.
- Remove residue with a shop vac or autoscrubber.
- Apply HD-13 at an 8:1 dilution with a Novagranit White Pad.
- Scrub with your floor machine or autoscrubber, 4 to 6 slow passes.
- Remove residue with a squeegee, rinse with water, and dry with a clean microfiber mop.
Deep clean and polish
Result: cleans and restores shine without correcting damage. Use when granite is clean but duller than new — granite that has lost some of its shine, looks duller, or no longer reflects light the way it used to.
- Follow all steps of Option A first.
- Mask adjacent surfaces and baseboards that could be affected by splatter.
- Attach a Novagranit White Pad to a 175 rpm floor machine.
- Apply about a teaspoon of Novagranit Gel and work a 4–6 sq ft area at a time.
- Spread the gel in a small area and go over it until it starts to dry and disappear. You may need to move or swing the machine faster as it dries.
- Some granite types may need multiple applications.
- If swirl or splatter marks remain, mist lightly with water and buff with the same pad — no additional compound.
Light restoration
Result: corrects light wear and restores gloss on granite that looks worn, has dull spots, or has a satin finish with no visible scratch depth. Scratches are not felt with a fingernail.
- Remove debris and clean the surface following Option A.
- Mask adjacent surfaces and baseboards.
- Use a 175 rpm floor machine or autoscrubber (minimum 140 lbs pressure).
- Add water and run 6–10 slow passes with about 25% overlap.
- Remove residue, rinse and dry. Inspect for an even finish with no scratch pattern before moving to the next grit.
- If any scratch pattern remains, repeat 6–10 passes on the same grit before moving forward.
- Polish with Novagranit Gel following the same method as Option B, step 3.
Full restoration
Result: fully restores a matte, heavily worn granite floor with no shine and light texture. For scratches clearly felt with a fingernail or heavy traffic damage.
- Remove debris and clean the surface following Option A.
- Mask adjacent surfaces and baseboards.
- Use a 175 rpm floor machine or autoscrubber (minimum 140 lbs pressure).
- Add water and run 6–10 slow passes with about 25% overlap.
- Remove residue, rinse and dry. Inspect for an even finish with no scratch pattern before moving to the next grit.
- Repeat passes on the same grit until uniform before moving to the next.
- Polish with Novagranit Gel following the same method as Option B, step 3.
Frequently asked questions
Will polishing granite floors remove scratches?
Light scratches not felt with a fingernail are corrected in Option C. Deeper scratches felt clearly with a fingernail need the full Munich sequence starting at 80 grit in Option D.
Can I use an autoscrubber for granite floor restoration?
Yes, for polishing and light restoration. The autoscrubber must have a minimum pressure of approximately 140 lbs. For heavy restoration (Option D), a 175 rpm floor machine gives more control.
How do I know if my granite floor needs cleaning or restoration?
If the surface is still glossy and only has buildup or soil, Option A or B is enough. If the gloss has faded or the surface feels rough or worn, you need Option C or D.
Does polishing granite floors protect them from stains?
No. Polishing restores the finish — it does not seal the stone. Apply a penetrating sealer once the surface is clean and dry.
How often should granite floors be polished?
Polish with Novagranit Gel when cleaning no longer restores the shine. Low-traffic areas can go several years between restoration cycles.
Send us a photo and our technical team will tell you exactly where to start.