Genius House Hacks · a GopherCentral & PulseTV publication
Kitchen & Cleaning · September 03, 2026 edition

Rub This On Your Counters Tonight

From Anisa's Genius House Hacks newsletter.

Anisa at her kitchen counter, wiping down the granite with a cloth and a small spray bottle of rubbing alcohol.

My countertops are granite, and for years I fought a losing battle with streaky, cloudy residue no matter what spray I grabbed. Even those expensive sprays that are specifically made for granite never did the job.

Then a reader wrote in with the fix I use almost daily now: plain rubbing alcohol. It evaporates fast, cuts grease, and does not leave that dull film behind.

It works just as well on my stainless faucets and chrome fixtures too. Below is how I use it in two spots in my kitchen.

Be Well,
Anisa

A Streak-Free Shine for Sealed Stone

Pour a little rubbing alcohol onto a soft cloth and wipe down sealed granite, quartz, or laminate counters. It disinfects as it cleans, and since it evaporates so fast there's no film or streaking left behind, just a clean, matte-clear shine.

Faucets and Fixtures That Actually Shine

The same trick works on stainless steel faucets and chrome handles — a quick wipe with an alcohol-dampened cloth removes water spots and fingerprints in seconds, without the residue that glass cleaners can leave behind on metal.

Got a handy tip of your own?

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