Both behind our bathroom sink tap and also around the kitchen tap (granite top) there are scratches (not sure how) that because of the scratched surface make it look dirty no matter how much I clean.
Is there anyway I can fix this cheaply? Or is there something I can cover it with, like a silicon ring around the base of the tap or something? Thanks
That looks like calcium. Have you tried vinegar?
Is it scratched of might it be splashed/dried limescale? A quick rub with a descaling product might get rid of it, if so.
If vinegar does not work then try wet and dry (carbide) sandpaper 800 Grit or higher; used with vinegar is a great combination.
I’ve tried CIF on the bathroom with no luck. Not dared try anything harsh on the kitchen granite.
Will sandpaper not scratch?
CIF should fix it, maybe leave it on longer to work?
Put a poltice of Cif on it. It must be kept damp for around 24 hours before you could see improvement. Wet terrycloth with Antikal and leave it on there. We used to live in Alsace, where the water was super-hard.
Vinegar is not harsh. Just pour some on the ‘scratches’, wait a while and clean it off. If it starts to bubble, that is a very good thing.
800 grit or higher is polishing grade sandpaper - used for instance for car panels prior to or post painting. It does roughen a totally flat surface but but is used to smooth out visibly “scratched” surfaces. It works better when wet - carbide wet and dry paper is designed not to disintegrate.
I’ve been known to use hydrochloric acid on severe limescale deposits, particularly at our house in France where a) I always have it, as a pool treatment, anyway and b) the water is incredibly hard. Use with care, of course, and properly diluted, but it’s much more effective than vinegar or any anti-calc product I’ve ever found. The stuff I get is around 30% and I use it neat in toilets or about 50/50 with water for other areas, on the rare occasions I’ve need it elsewhere.
It should, I think, be safe on polished granite, but best not to let it sit for any length of time and make sure it’s properly rinsed off after use. Try it on a hidden area first, like under the sink if you can reach it or just on the underside of the protruding part of the work surface.
EDIT: Apparently not safe on granite, but I’ve used it on ceramic and enamel surfaces, sinks, baths, toilets etc. with no problems.
Not sure if it is a safe way to fix it but what worked for me is the use of this liquid (it’s designed for electric kettles not for taps and it felt quite toxic in the air):
Get the POTZ anticalc fluid (also in a grey plastic bottle like durgol but much cheaper and a lot better) from Migros. That stuff is good. I use it when white vinegar is not strong enough.
Oh wow. Soaked the bathroom one in vinegar for an hour and it wiped right off. Can’t believe it, was so sure the sink surface was badly damaged 
Is vinegar safe for the granite ??
THANK YOU!
Occasional use, yes. But it is alkaline, use with caution.
My high school chemistry says it’s acidic. Acetic acid, if you’re posh… 
I’d use a bit more water to sluice it than a quick wipe off.
Glad you got it sorted. There’s something slightly pleasing about shiny taps.
Slightly off topic. Can anyone recommend a granite kitchen top cleaner for daily use? US & UK seem to have clean & disinfect sprays for granite/stone but I struggle to find a similar product here.
I’ve owned extensive (and expensive!) granite countertops for 30 years. Never ever use muriatic acid (HCl) or sulphuric acid (H2SO4) on stone!! While sulphuric is the weaker of the two, it will etch the stone severely. Here’s what Sciencing says about their relative strengths:
Chemists often describe an acid’s strength using a number called the pKa, which is equal to the negative log of the acid dissociation constant. The acid dissociation constant is a measure of the strength of an acid in water. The more negative the pKa, the stronger the acid. An acid like sulfuric acid that can give away two hydrogen ions has two pKas. The pKa1 for sulfuric acid is -3, while its pKa2 is 1.99. The pKa for muriatic acid, by contrast, is -7.
