Caring for Your Granite Countertop
Granite countertops have become a common material in homes and businesses, especially for countertops, and with good reason! Granite countertops are very hard and dense, making them hard to scratch and well suited for high traffic areas.
Polished granite is usually used for kitchen countertops because they have very high surface tension. This makes them naturally resistant to staining and moisture. But, this isn’t to say that they are effortless — granite countertops require regular maintenance to ensure they stay beautiful. You will need to make sure that the granite is sealed periodically to protect your investment, and staying on top of things like stains, cracks, or chips will also help the integrity of your countertop in the long run.
Basic and Every Day Cleaning
Using a microfiber cloth to dust the surface and clean food particles and crumbs off should be a daily thing. When dealing with a spill, try to wipe down the granite countertop daily or as needed using only water. It may be a good idea to wipe your granite countertops down with a damp cloth and a stone cleaner formulated with a neutral pH. For any stone countertop, it is a good idea not to use any harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners on the countertops, as they can scratch, pit, and etch the surface of the stone permanently. If you are dealing with a stain that has soaked into the granite, try a safe poultice of baking soda, dish soap, and water.
Seasonal Maintenance
You should expect to seal your granite countertops regularly to make sure that they are maintaining their durability and resistance against spills, scratches, and more. If there are any damages to the stone, it may be a good idea to contact the professional who installed it for repair. Just like with everything else, delaying repair could lead to more costly repairs and even replacement.
Caring for Your Marble Countertop
Marble countertops are a truly beautiful and elegant choice for any kitchen or bathroom. However, they can be considered high maintenance because of the lack of durability. This means a more consistent daily to yearly upkeep, and a more conscious effort put in when cleaning and handling marble.
Basic and Every Day Cleaning
When marble comes into contact with anything acidic, it can etch, which looks like a dull spot or a burn mark. Acidic products are quite common in kitchens, and can include tomatoes, citrus fruits, juices, alcohol, and vinegar. In addition to being vulnerable to these common kitchen foods, marble countertops can also be vulnerable to substances such as red wine and oil, as these can stain the countertop and make for a frustrating day of cleaning. To avoid these, be sure to use cutting boards and coasters for anything on your countertops. Also, marble is tolerant of hot pots and pans, but you should always make the point to protect it with a trivet.
When cleaning, avoid using acidic or abrasive cleaners. Use a sponge regularly to clean up any food and crumbs, and use a poultice paste to spot treat your marble countertops.
Seasonal Maintenance
As stated in our previous blog, marble is a porous stone that requires a sealant in order to protect its natural color and appearance. Sealant is usually needed for whatever finish you have on your countertop and will last between six months or 10 years, depending on the type of sealant used. Sealing your marble countertop is a preventative step, but not something that eliminates the possibility of stains or etches getting through.
Caring for your Limestone Countertop
Limestone countertops are beautiful, but they come at a price. Because the stone particles are relatively soft, they need more attention than most other stone countertops. Improper cleaning could lead to scratches on the surface, or even the cleaning products you use can cause harm. You must avoid strong cleaning products with a neutral PH as its chemicals can destroy the limestone material.
Basic and Every Day Cleaning
You can use a hand vacuum to remove all of the debris off your limestone countertop, making sure you reach debris in narrow crevices. Using a sponge, warm water, and mild soap specifically meant for limestone materials will also effectively clean the surface of your countertop. Just be sure to rinse the countertop of any soap, as the residue will attract more dirt over time, and may even create a film that makes the counter appear duller.
If your counter has stains, you can remove them by using a hydrogen peroxide and flour mixture, creating a paste that can be left to dry on the stain before being removed with a rubber scraper. If scratches occur and are not very deep, you may be able to lightly buff them out with a 0000-grade fine steel wool, or by using a bit of car polishing compound. And, always reseal the area of cleaning.
Seasonal Maintenance
Just like other stone material countertops, it is essential that you seal your limestone countertops with the proper sealant to ensure that daily use and cleaning aren’t eroding the surface. Furthermore, protecting countertops can help them last for decades to come.
Caring for Your Quartz Countertop
Even though quartz is a naturally-occurring mineral found in many stones, quartz countertops are not a solid slab. As a matter of fact, they are engineered into a solid slab with the help of randomly sized quartz crystals, resins, and colored pigment. Because of this manufacturing process, quartz countertops are nonporous and do not need to be sealed or resealed. The downside of a quartz countertop is that the color will fade if exposed for long periods of time in harsh, direct sunlight.
Basic and Every Day Cleaning
Quartz is one of the easiest stone countertops to care for since it is not affected by acidic foods and does not scratch easily. For daily cleaning, simply use a glass cleaner or any non-abrasive household cleaner, but remember to stay away from abrasive, scouring pads. Not much can stain a quartz countertop, except permanent ink, but if you run into paint or nail polish on the countertop, gently scrape it off using a putty knife.
We hope you found this blog helpful, and feel more prepared to care for your solid stone countertops. For more information, or to talk about an upcoming project, contact us today to get a quote on countertop fabrication and installation.