Taking Care of Your Beautiful Countertops
Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap, or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a clean soft cloth for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar, or other acids on marble or limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface..
Remove all items on the counter and use the granite cleaner over the entire surface to remove dust and debris that collects around appliances, containers, etc. This serves a dual purpose as it also conditions the stone and helps to maintain its overall luster.
Monthly: Temporary polishes can be used periodically to enhance the shine in natural stone and granite. These types of polishes are not for maintenance or repair and they are not what make the counter top shiny. Instead, it “enhances” the shine –similar to waxing a car– improves cleaning and provides a small amount of protection.
Most granite countertops have a protective resin that makes it unlikely that your countertop needs to be sealed on a yearly basis.
You will likely know when it is time to reseal your granite countertops as you will start to see water around the sink darkens the stone instead of beading. This means that the moisture is absorbing and the surface requires resealing.
If your countertops look like this… it’s time for new countertops.
Sealing Your Countertops
As a general rule, an impregnating sealer should be applied to all natural stone. This does not mean that every stone MUST absolutely be sealed and resealed throughout its long life. Many types of granite and other stones never need any kind of sealing. If you wish to seal your granite, make sure you always test any type of cleaner and sealer on a small, inconspicuous area before applying to the entire surface in order to achieve desired results.
General Care:
The easiest way to keep your stone looking great is to avoid bad habits that may damage it. Granite, marble, travertine, limestone, soapstone, quartz and solid surface are similar in many ways, but their differences require varying degrees of maintenance. However, if you utilize the Do’s and Don’ts of granite countertop care and cleaning procedures you’ll eliminate most potential problems.