Alaska White Granite Countertops: What You Need to Know

Thinking of installing Alaska White Granite Countertops in the kitchen? See the pros and cons, how to clean counters, what cleaners to use, and what color schemes work best with this beautiful stone.

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When we built our home in 2017, I knew from the beginning that I wanted granite kitchen countertops. At the time, marble was allll the rage - but I didn't want any part of it.

I knew this was going to be a home we lived in - not a showpiece. Marble stains incredibly easily. We aren't perfect by any means...we spill, we cook in our kitchen, we forget about stains. That marble would have been ruined so quickly! So granite it was.

I stumbled upon a picture of Alaska White granite one day when planning our kitchen, and fell in love. It's the perfect combination of onyx hues, with blacks, whites, some warm neutrals, and a teeny tiny bit of sparkle throughout. I am still so happy with our decision - it was absolutely made for our kitchen!

Pros and Cons of Alaska White Granite

Like any other counter material, this stone has advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

• Camouflages stains incredibly well - so well that I often have to look at the granite from an angle to even see if it's dirty.
• Matches a ton of different color schemes. Whether you're going with neutral hues (what we have) or a black-and-white scheme, there's something in Alaska White that will coordinate.
• More durable than marble or quartz.

Cons

• Because of the variation of each granite slab, it might be hard to find your preferred pattern or color scheme. There's lots of variability in the patterns and colors...some are more black and white, and some have lots more warm hues.
• You'll find that Alaska white has a higher price than most other granites.
• It's still a natural stone and prone to damage if not cared for properly. It's less durable than quartzite options.
• Not the stone to go with if you want a clean look. Lots is going on in these granite slabs!

Best Cabinet Color Choices with Alaskan White Granite

I personally think that warm, neutral hues work best with Alaska White granite countertops. They really help to bring out the contrast in the unique colors in the granite stone, from frosty whites to darker mineral patterns. This is our cabinetry color scheme:

• Cabinets: Popular Gray (Sherwin Williams)
• Walls: Amazing Gray (SW)
• Accent Cabinet (Island): Manor House (SW)
• Trim: Snowbound (SW)

We've had this color scheme for close to 7 years and I still love it! Of course, different homeowners are going to want to bring out different colors in this stone. It would also look great with white or dark black cabinets.

How to Clean & Seal Granite

How to Test Your Granite Seal Before Cleaning

Before you take on the daily maintenance of your countertops, do one simple thing to make sure your granite is "healthy."

Put a few drops of water on the surface of the granite and wait a few minutes. If the water soaks in, the granite counter isn't appropriately sealed - skip to the monthly maintenance step later on in the post. If it stays beaded on the surface, your granite is good and healthy! You can follow my simple daily maintenance routine below.

We've had a few homes with granite, so I've kind of learned over the years how to take care of it. It's not the easiest countertop by any stretch (trust me, we've had laminate and you can do annyyything to it 😂), but I think for the beauty of granite, the maintenance is totally worth it. Getting over the small learning curve of what to use for cleaning and how to maintain your countertops is a cinch.

Let's make your granite countertops the best they can be!

Daily Cleaning Routine

My daily granite cleaning process is super simple.

I make a practice of wiping down my kitchen counters every single night (something I consider an essential element of my cleaning system, Journey to Clean). After I do dishes, pretty much no matter what, I wipe down the counters with my microfiber cloths and Mrs. Meyer's cleaner, gently scrubbing the counters as needed with my soft cloth.

I love shutting an orderly and clean kitchen down each night - it's the best feeling!

Monthly Cleaning & Sealing

In Journey to Clean, my kitchen week cleaning tasks include cleaning the countertops thoroughly. This is a little more in-depth than the cleaning I do to shut down the kitchen each night. This includes...

• Cleaning underneath things like appliances and canisters
• Thoroughly wiping down backsplashes, grout lines, and undersides of cabinets
• Make sure your granite is sealed

For this, I use a special sealing granite cleaner that I discuss below.

Cleaners & Supplies to Use

Commercial Cleaners & Supplies

I use Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Cleaner as my everyday cleaner in so many places (counters, walls, cabinets, baseboards - you name it). Combine that cleaner with these inexpensive microfiber cleaning cloths - that's really all you need!

I've also started keeping a dozen or so microfiber cloths under my kitchen sink (in my Grove Collaborative cleaning caddy that you can get for free by clicking here) to grab as needed. I really wanted to start reducing our paper towel usage (for many reasons - more eco-friendly and less costly being the main two).

Having these cloths readily available and easy to grab as needed has made that so much easier. I can see a big reduction in our paper towel usage, and I think these are much more effective in the kitchen. They're great at scrubbing out dirt and grime on kitchen surfaces.

Find more cleaning inspiration with my post on what to use to mop floors or my post on cleaning a porcelain sink with baking soda!

Monthly Sealing Cleaner

I use this awesome cleaner, Black Diamond Cleaner + Sealer, a few times a month to ensure a good seal on my granite. You simply spray on, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe it off - no rinsing required!

It's a little pricier than your standard cleaners, but it lasts forever if you only use it a few times a month. I've been using my current bottle for almost 3 years.

Simply spray down your counters really well, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe with your soft cloth to blend in. Added bonus - it smells really great.

DIY Granite Countertop Cleaner Recipe

If you want to avoid harsh chemicals and go with a more DIY granite countertop cleaner, you're in luck! There's a simple mixture you can make that shines counters, knocks out grime, and eliminates most bacteria.

In a spray bottle, combine...

• ½ cup rubbing alcohol
• ¼ cup mild dish soap
• about 2 cups water

Shake it up and spray on granite countertops to clean as needed (again, recommend for use with those microfiber cloths I mentioned above).

What Cleaners to Not Use on Granite

If you're using another granite cleaner, just make sure it doesn't include the following elements...

• acidic liquids, like lemon juice or citrus-based cleaners
• ammonia (that includes Windex)
• vinegar
• bleach (that includes many varieties of Clorox clean-up)
• acidic cleaners
• scrubbing agents (like Soft Scrub) or abrasive scrubbers/sponges

How to Remove Stains from Granite Countertops

Even though Alaska White granite is insanely stain-resistant, you're going to get an occasional noticeable stain. For example: a couple of years ago, my daughter left an open pink marker on the granite that got wet and leaked ink.

However, it's pretty simple to remove those stains! Just mix a paste of baking soda and water and gently rub it over the stain (without scrubbing). Let this sit for at least a few hours, until the paste series, and remove.

Water Stains

After using Alaska white granite for a while, you'll probably notice that water will temporarily stain the surface of the stone. This is temporary; it will go back to its original coloring when it's dry. Remember: granite is a porous stone and will absorb water, especially if the seal is weak.

To avoid this, make sure your granite surface stays free of any water pools or spills.

Practices to Avoid

To keep your granite looking new, avoid the following:

• Placing hot objects (like hot pots and pans) directly on the granite.
• Letting grease sit on granite for too long. Try to wipe any grease off of the granite ASAP and clean it with a mild dish detergent.
• Leaving any acidic liquids, like lemon juice, on the granite. This will eat right through a sealant.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy! (But don't actually squeeze lemon on your countertops - that'll ruin them. 😉) I'd love to hear what you think of Alaskan White countertops in the comments.