You have just moved into your new home and not only are you proud of it, but your beautiful open concept kitchen allows you to decide that this year YOU will be hosting family, in-laws, and friends to celebrate special events. In this magnificent piece, of course, you have a stone surface. Brilliant! But how should you prepare your counter to handle the vagaries of spilled wine glasses, hot cauldrons, or prepare the buffet for your guests?
Granite is a siliceous stone, not very absorbent, and it is dense. Through this guide, we offer tips for keeping your granite countertops in top condition.
Properly Identify the Material of Your Countertops
Before starting the maintenance of your granite countertop, it is essential to make sure that you are indeed dealing with granite. Because products and cleaners that are safe for granite can actually degrade other stones. This point is all the more important since there are some stone designs and architectures on the market which are sold as ‘granite’ but only have the appearance.
Granite Countertop Maintenance Products and Techniques
To avoid certain stains or tarnish effects that may appear over time, be sure to apply a good quality sealer to your granite countertops before you start using it. A poor-quality sealer is sure to damage your luxurious granite countertop. Sealants are not the same for all granite countertops. They differ according to the type of granite finish (polished or glossy, matt or satin, antiqued or brushed, etc.) However, granite countertops do require sealant due to their porosity. Other than matte granite countertops which require a sealer applied every six months, the majority of granite countertops should be sealed annually.
How to Apply a Sealant to Granite Countertops
Applying the sealant to your granite countertops is simple. First make sure the countertop surface is completely dry. Then, use a spray bottle, a cloth, or a roller depending on the type of sealer chosen, to apply the first coat of sealer to the entire surface of the stone. Wait a few hours before applying a second coat. Clean off excess sealant. Finally, refrain from using your counter for 48 hours. And always pay attention to what the directions say on the sealant you have purchased.
How to Maintain Your Granite Countertops
You don’t want to forget to renew your sealant. If your counter is prone to staining, that’s a sign it needs to be resealed. When using commercial cleaners or homemade mixtures, make sure they are made for granite and that they do not contain acidic or abrasive liquids or powders. For granite countertops with a polished finish, it is strongly recommended to use neutral PH cleaners to maintain the luster of the material. And for other granite countertops, use a mild liquid soap and water. To rid your counter of dust or sand, you will need to use a dry cloth.
To remove stubborn stains, you have several options. It is important to be patient because most of these impurities are composed of residues trapped between the crystals of the granite after evaporation of their liquid support. Therefore, what you want to do is to liquify them again to remove them using a sponge, cloth, or soft cloth soaked in hot water.
If you are unsure of how you should proceed to remove a stain, do not hesitate to visit a retailer who sells commercial cleaners that can be applied to granite.
What You Should Not Do to Your Granite Countertops
First, to avoid involuntarily damaging your granite countertops, you should avoid bringing them into contact with vinegar or lemon. Indeed, these are acidic products that can degrade all counters made of granite or granite coating. Next, abrasive products and those based on oil or ammonia should also be kept away from your counter. Finally, avoid leaving any liquid products on the counter to dry. Because, even if it is sealed, it is still a porous stone. The liquid as it dries could deposit residue in its pores which can leave nasty stains on your countertops. Worse still, these residues could also deteriorate the granite.
Final Thoughts on Maintenance of Granite Countertops
100% natural granite kitchen counters, each slab of which is unique (there are many varieties of finish, textures, and colors), must be sealed every year and maintained regularly. Granite is a very hard rock, so it is resistant to stains, scratches, abrasives, and heat. To preserve the shine of your granite countertop and avoid stains, clean it after each use with a sponge and warm water and mild soap then rinse and dry it with a soft cloth. To shine granite surfaces, use glycerine or a cloth with petroleum jelly. In case of a stain, to remove stains on granite, rub them with a magic sponge or a solvent (acetone) or claystone (or white stone) then rinse and dry with a soft cloth. You can also use baking soda mixed with water that you apply to the stain. Leave on for a few minutes then rub and wipe with a damp cloth.
