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 granite care and cleaning
procedures that follow for all your countertops . . . no matter what
type of stone or surface ... you'll eliminate most potential problems
without ever having to think too hard about it or worry that you may be
causing damage.
Do: Blot up spills immediately.
Acidic
substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce and sodas can
etch the polish or stain the surface. Cooking oils may also leave a
stain if not wiped up.
Do: Clean surfaces using a sponge or soft cloth.
Preferrably
use a specially formulated stone cleaner, but warm water and a basic
liquid dish soap will do for quick clean-ups. However, repeated or
excessive use of soap will cause build-up and dull your countertop's
shine.
Simple Green is another option (see: "Good Advice" below).
Do: Use coasters under all glasses, bottles and cans.
Will a beer bottle set on your granite for five minutes leave a ring? Not if it was sealed properly, but it would on marble.
Many common foods and drinks contain acids that
may etch the polish or damage the surface. So for easy solid surface,
natural stone and granite counter top maintenance, always use coasters
no matter what the surface.
For glasses and dishes that pile up on the kitchen
countertop (which should be granite) and around the kitchen sink, just
be sure to rinse out with water before letting them set for any length
of time.
Do: Use trivets and hot pads under pots, pans and dinnerware.
Yes, you can take a hot pot off the stove and put
it right on granite, quartz or soapstone without any problems. Not true
for all other surfaces. But you must consider other issues as well.
Grit that gets trapped between the pot and the
countertop surface may scratch the surface--even granite. Granite is
very hard and can take tons of abuse without any damage, but it does
contain some softer minerals that could be chipped or scratched. The
likelihood is pretty slim, but it is possible. And ALL other surfaces
are softer that granite. Better safe than sorry.
If it does happen, don't fret too much. Most chips
and scratches can be easily repaired, but it's best to avoid them by
following the granite counter top care tips.
Also, once you remove the hot pan from the countertop the surface will be very hot and may burn.
Do: Use cutting boards.
Again, avoid the
possibility of scratching the surface and protect your knives. Cutting
on stone will dull and damage your knives' edges quickly.
Do: Dust mop your natural stone floors regularly.
Use
a clean, dry, non-treated dust-mop. Some people choose to use a vacuum
cleaner. But be real careful. Worn parts or grit jammed by the wheels
may scratch the surface.
Do: Use door mats inside and out along with runners and area rugs.
Grit, dirt and sand carried in by our shoes are abrasive and will wear and scratch the surface.
Don't: Use generic cleaning products such as bleach, glass cleaners or degreasers.
These
products that you buy at your local store contain acids, alkalis and
other chemicals that can etch or damage the countertop surface or
degrade the granite sealer leaving the stone more vulnerable to
staining.
Trying to save money by using these chemicals only
ensures that you'll spend a lot more time and money on you granite
counter top maintenance in the long-run.
Don't: Use vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange as cleaners.
Don't: Use bathroom, tub & tile or grout cleaners.
The powders and even the "soft" creams contain abrasives that will scratch and dull surfaces.
Don't: Sit or stand on your countertops.
Unlike
laminate countertops, granite, marble and quartz countertops are very
hard, but not flexible and they DO NOT have plywood backing so too much
weight in one spot could cause a crack.
Don't: Place toiletry products directly on your countertop surface.
Hair products, perfumes, colognes, nail
products, creams, lotions and potions may stain or damage the surface
or etch the polish leaving a ring. Protect your countertop by placing
these products on a decorative tray like they do in fancy hotels!
Bad Advice You May Have Heard
Unfortunately, if you search around the web you'll
find lots of conflicting and plain wrong information about the
characteristics of countertop surfaces and the correct procedures for
granite counter top care.
I've seen Windex recommended for cleaning granite.
True, it will clean it and your countertop will look nice and shiny.
But as noted above, when used consistently over time, Windex and all
other generic cleaners may damage the surface or granite sealer. You
won't see it right away.
And don't forget when cleaning your mirrors in the
bathrooms to spray the glass cleaner away from the countertop and onto
the paper towel or cloth FIRST then wipe the mirror. Don't spray it
onto the mirror because guess were the overspray goes?
Dishsoap?
Dishsoap is also commonly recommended for stone
and granite counter top care as a daily cleaner because it will not
damage your stone or sealant if it's a mild, plain soap like Ivory.
However, soap scum will build up over time,
dulling the surface and requiring a thorough cleaning with special
products to restore the original luster.
So, while using a soapy sponge or cloth for quick
clean-up while you're cooking, etc. is certainly fine, cleaning your
countertops with soap is not the best or easiest method for granite
counter top care.
Good Advice
The one all-purpose cleaning product that doesn't
have damaging chemicals AND has a relatively neutral pH is Simple
Green. They're even coming out with a product specially for granite
counter top care (cleaning not sealing).
I would recommend this as a general cleaner over
soap, but ONLY on granite, quartz or solid-surface (not on marble,
travertine or limestone) and it isn't needed more than once a day. If
using Simple Green, regular cleaning with a specially formulated stone
cleaner/sealer should also be performed on weekly basis.
Best Advice
Daily: Truthfully, hot water and a sponge is
sufficient to wipe up spills and debris and keep your countertops clean
and tidy throughout the day. At the end of the day, a quick spray and
wipe of the most heavily used areas with a stone cleaner will
adequately clean, disinfect and protect your countertops.
Weekly: Use the stone cleaner over the entire surface.
Quarterly: Polishes, revitalizers and
color-ehancers can also be used periodically for the ultimate in
natural stone and granite counter top maintenance.
Yearly: Annual re-sealing is a good idea although
the frequency for proper granite counter top care really depends on the
type of stone (porous or dense) and the quality of the sealant. It's a
very easy job and unless you have a stone that really shouldn't be
sealed (i.e. some black granites), then re-sealing every year will only
ensure that your countertops are well protected against staining. It's
a must for marble, travertine and limestone.
Think Roman Coliseum
A lot to say, but many of my recommendations are
things that you probably do already. So really, granite counter top
care is very easy. In fact, if all you ever did was seal your stone and
wipe with a sponge and hot water your countertops would likely still
look great 10 years from now. But follow the simple steps for granite
counter top care outlined above and your countertops will always look
spectacular!
