Granite
Once they have been sealed, most granite countertops are extremely durable and easy to maintain. Even sealed, the lightest granites may show staining from common items like red wine, balsamic vinegar and mustard. If you choose a light colored granite for kitchen counters, be careful to quickly wipe up all dark colored items as soon as possible and avoid colored cleaning products. Cleaning products use dyes to achieve colors they think might be appealing to you as a consumer, but repeated use of those products can eventually lead to your counters taking on the color of your cleaner.
Extreme heat can also damage granite. Although granite is heat resistant, a heavy pan hotter than 200 degrees can cause the granite crystals to separate, leaving a very rough surface that is difficult to repair, or in some cases impossible to repair. It's always safest to set hot pans from the oven or stove top on a hot pad or trivet.
With those precautions, granite is usually easy to clean with a dishrag. Use soap for greasy spills and then rinse out the dishrag and remove the residue. Dark stone will require a pass with a dry towel to remove water streaks. After preparing meat, fish or poultry, it's good to use a highly diluted bleach solution to kill bacteria on counters and breadboards. When you see your granite begin to darken when it gets wet, it's time to re-seal it. With a good sealer, once very few months will be as often as needed.