How to care for Granite Countertops?
Your granite countertops will look and feel new for many years, provided that you give them proper care. Even though granite is one of the toughest materials around, it may still get discolored if you do not take care of it, and clean it regularly.Granite care and maintenance
- In order to preserve the shine and color of your granite countertop blot up any spills as soon as possible, to make sure that they do not break into the surface. In particular, orange juice, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are acidic, and can cause damage to your countertops. If you do spill something, use a cloth or paper towel to soak up any major spills and then use a damp rag to take care of any sticky residue.
- Granite holds up extremely well under heat, but thin strips of granite do not have enough surface area to absorb all the heat from dishes. Avoid placing very hot items right on your granite countertop's surface. Utilize place mats or trivets under very hot dishes. We suggest even using coasters under glasses that contain citrus juices.
- Avoid Harsh Cleaning Products. Just like certain foods and beverages that have high levels of acid in them, some common household cleaners have high levels of acid and other chemicals that have the potential to damage your granite countertops.
- If you see a rough patch, scratch or scratches on your granite countertop, do not attempt to fix them yourself - call a professional. Making a mistake while trying your hand at removing the scratch without experience working with stone countertops may cost you a lot of money.
- Protect Your Countertops with a Sealant - one thing you can do to help protect your countertops from damage is to apply a sealant to them once they have been installed. A solvent-based sealer can be applied to granite countertops to help keep them looking new. This sealer does not make your countertops impervious to stains; it just means you have a little extra time to clean up a spill before the countertops will become stained. The life of this sealer varies based on a number of factors, but you can estimate that you will need to reapply the sealer to your countertops every six to thirty-six months or when water stops beading on the surface.
Other tips for cleaning granite counter tops
- It is best to use a neutral cleaner on anything granite. You can purchase stone soap from almost any home improvement or hardware store. If you are having a hard time finding one, stick to warm water and mild dishwashing liquid. Avoid using products with lemon-based or vinegar-based ingredients in it. As a general rule, you should avoid using acidic compounds that can harm limestone or marble to make sure your granite does not get discolored. Also stay away from corrosive liquids, strong detergents, dry cleansers, and 'soft' cleansers, as they can strip away the granite's natural shine.
- Never use anything abrasive like steel wool, scouring pads or scouring powders on your granite countertop. Don't use abrasive cleaners and never combine strong cleaning products like bleach and ammonia together, as the combination can be poisonous. Do not use vinegar, lemon or orange as cleaners, bathroom, tub, tile or grout cleaners as the acid can etch your granite countertops.
- Remember to use only clean, soft cloths when wiping your granite countertop. Do not leave it wet - always rinse after washing and dry the surface with a soft cloth.
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