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You generally cannot change the color of the natural stone, such as making granite countertops darker or lighter. Some people claim that certain chemicals will lighten or darken granite, but those will damage the stone and not provide uniform, expected results, so it’s better not to try. Similarly, some people ask whether they can stain over granite. Granite is beloved for its stain-resistant finish, so you probably won’t get the best outcome if you try to stain over granite to make it darker.

Instead, consider honing, painting, or applying another material over the top of the granite to make it appear darker.

Unfortunately, the product Bar Keepers Friend won’t remove etching from stone countertops. In fact, it can make it worse. Bar Keepers Friend contains oxalic acid, which can cause further damage to natural stones like marble or limestone.

You can’t change the color of the stone, but you can update granite countertops without replacing them by painting them. Because granite is a porous material, you’ll want to seal them first before painting them so that the paint doesn’t hurt the surface. This is important because you don’t want to devalue your counters by damaging the original surface; even if you don’t like the color now, you or a new homeowner may want to remove the paint someday and return them to their original color. You can also cover them with 

The best cleaning method to use for your project will depend on the specifics of that project. However, sandblasting does come with the risk of damaging the surface you’re trying to clean. One safer alternative to sandblasting is laser cleaning, which can remove many of the same contaminants with a lower risk of damage and a lower overall cost.