Granite countertops require
special care so that they continue looking beautiful for
many years. Although granite is quite resistant to
scratches, to properly maintain this type of countertop
material, it's advisable to follow a few simple procedures.
1. Spills have a tendency to soak into the surface,
so to avoid deep staining wipe up spills immediately.
2. For stone surfaces a neutral cleaner, such as
stone soap or mild dishwashing liquid and warm water, is
safe to use.
3. When cleaning with a soap solution, use a soft,
clean cloth and then rinse the surface thoroughly. Finish
off by drying with a soft, clean cloth.
4. If you do happen to stain the surface, removal
depends on the type of stain. First, try removing it with
this paste: mix together a cup of flour, 1-2 tablespoons of
dishwashing liquid, and water. Place the paste over the
stain, cover in plastic wrap, and leave overnight. In the
morning, use a wooden utensil to scrape away the paste and
give it a rinse. This should work except for stains made
from grease, oil, or milk. In these cases, instead of
dishwashing liquid use hydrogen peroxide in the paste, or
ammonia.
5. For organic stains resulting from coffee, tea, or
fruit, a mixture of 12% hydrogen peroxide combined with a
few drops of ammonia should work wonders.
6. Ink, marker and wine stains on darker stone
require a lacquer thinner or acetone for removal. Hydrogen
peroxide works well on light-colored granite.
7. Another method to remove wine, ink, or any other
non-oil stain is to mix molding plaster and pure bleach into
a paste. Apply for 30 minutes, remove, and rinse.
8. For oil-based or fat-based stains, create a paste
of molding plaster and water. Keep it on the stain for 3
hours and then remove and rinse.
9. Granite countertops require resealing every two to
three years, but ask your installer for suggestions as to
when this needs to be done. Of course, on surfaces that will
be used for food preparation, use a non-toxic sealer.
10. New disinfectant cleaners on the market now come
in formulas designed for granite countertops - purchase this
type of product if you prefer disinfectant cleaners to other
cleaning options.
11. For any problem that you can't handle on your own
or are not familiar with, call a professional to handle the
cleaning job.
12. Use coasters, especially for alcoholic and citrus
beverages, as the acid in these drinks can dull the stone's
surface.
13. Keep hot items off the surface.
14. Always test these cleaning methods on small
discreet area for color fastness or granite damage. |
