It's the exposed crystalline structure. Very few granites will be smooth as glass. Most, in fact, won't. It will continue to shed crystals aggressively for the first year or so. Just use some 000 steel wool and give it a once over every so often, unless it's a light colored granite where the steel might leave metal marks. If that's the case, use a fine scotchbrite. I think the red is the one, but check with a paint store about that before using it.

live wire oak, I just scrubbed all my white diamond granite with fine steel wool per the fabricators suggestion to remove grease or other grunge. Have you seen this method leave marks? I don't seen any marks but don't want to continue this method if permanent marks are possible.

It's like a pot leaving a metal mark on a white porcelain sink. It takes a bit of force and abrasion to do that. It's not permanent when it happens, but it's not easy to remove either. Most of the time with steel wool, you won't be able to scrub aggressively enough to leave a mark, but rather than take the miniscule chance, you might investigate the Scotchbrite.

Are all the scrubbie sponges the same? I have a bunch of brand new scotchbrites so I should be set for a while.

live wire oak you might want to jump in the thread about cleaning granite as I think your input would be appreciated.

Sorry soibean, don't mean to hijack your thread.

IMHO steel wool is the way to go. SOme scotchbrite pads are coarse enough and hard enough to actually scratch the granite. It's almost impossible to scratch the "granite" (quotes because many countertop materials called granite are something else) with steel wool.

Note steel wool is the preferred method for removing hard water deposits which occur regularly in our area.

oldryder, can you use steel wool on quartz?

My Caesarstone counters were gritty for what seemed like months after my kitchen was done. I'm not sure if it was shedding or construction dust and debris taking its good time to completely shake loose and settle. Then one day it finally stopped.

Oh good, I'm glad others had answers because I'm not sure about this one. The idea about scotch brite sounds like a good one to me. IIRC, different colors of scotch brite are different levels of abrasiveness. In any case I would certainly do a test on a scrap piece first, if you can.

The snowflakes granite is really a cool one so I hope it works out so that it is perfect!

Can steel wool be used on Giallo Ornamental? I know it's classified as a gneiss.

Linelle, my quartz was smooth and glassy from day one.

may_flowers, that's interesting. At first, I could NOT keep my counters smooth feeling. Yes, I could clean them, but within an hour the gritty feeling was back. Ever since I accidentally discovered Pledge wipes, they feel like glass. I fondle them, esp. the edges, without even realizing it. :)

Glad I'm not the only one. I feel like every time I clean my Colonial Dream countertops, I still feel some grittiness. I thought it was just dust settling but maybe it's not.

I will have to look into the scotch-brite pad that is least abrasive and try it out once we are completely done with the kitchen :)

Some granite tops that feel gritty are due to the structure of the stone. It is the mica crystals that are being dislodged on the surface. It isn't a defect but a natural occurrence.
I think over time it may get better maybe not.
Along with some of the other things noted in this thread a good temporary fix would be a wax.
Use a paste wax, pamir, or a paraffin wax and it should help for a time. You can look them up on the web.
Don't aver apply.
As far as manmade surfaces having this issue it shouldn't be. Something may have been put on the surface that is causing this. Maybe a sealer or other product which shouldn't have been used was.

Steel wool can be used on quartz. It will actuallyleave very fine scratches in the resin portion of the material but it would be very difficult the see.

You can definitely use steel wool on Giallo Ornamental. It is one of my stock colors so we do a lot of kitchens with it. Most so called "granites" will not be damaged by steel wool. It is used regularly in fab shops.

Steel wool would damage the soft materials like marble and limestone.

Thanks, oldryder.

I'm not sure I'd try very fine steel wool on quartz. My fabricator cleaned epoxy off my Caesarstone with Barkeepers Friend after install. They said they do it all the time, but it left a dull spot. The fabricator came back to try to buff it out per Caesarstone's training. He spent 2 1/2 hours on it using very fine polishing discs, but it only spread the dull spot. I had a solid color, so that could have made it more noticeable.