Granite Countertop Tips
With the
proper care, your granite or marble countertop will stay new-looking for years. Stone is
one of the easiest surfaces to maintain. And granite, being 7 on the Mohs hardness scale
of 1 to 10, is virtually unscratchable. (A stainless steel knife blade is a 6 on the
scale.)
Steps:
1. Blot up spills immediately, before they penetrate the surface.
2. Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (available in
hardware stores or from a stone dealer), or mild dishwashing liquid and warm water.
3. Use a soft, clean cloth to clean the granite. Rinse after washing with the soap
solution and dry with a soft, clean cloth.
4. Remove a stain on granite, basing the method on the type of stain. Mix a cup of flour,
1-2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid with water to make a thick paste. Put it on the
stain, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit overnight.
5. Scrape away the mixture with a wooden utensil and rinse. If the stain is oil-based
(e.g. grease, oil, milk), use hydrogen peroxide in
the paste instead of dishwashing liquid - or try ammonia on it.
6. Try a mixture of 12 percent hydrogen peroxide mixed with a couple drops of ammonia
for an organic stain (e.g. coffee, tea, fruit).
7. Use a lacquer thinner or acetone to remove ink or marker stains
from darker stone. On light-colored granite, use
hydrogen peroxide to these stains. This also works for wine stains.
8. Mix molding plaster and pure bleach into a paste and spread over a wine, ink or other
non-oil stain. Leave on for 30
minutes, then remove and rinse.
9. Paste a mix of molding plaster and water over an oil-based or fat-based stain. Mold it
into a bird's-nest shape and allow to stand for
3 hours. Remove and rinse.
10. Reseal the countertop every year or two years. Check with the installer for
recommendations. Use a non-toxic sealer on
food preparation areas.
11. Consider using a new disinfectant cleaner made specifically for granite.
12. Call your professional stone supplier, installer, or restoration specialist for
problems that appear too difficult to treat.
Special
Care Tips
Ask a professional to remove or repair a scratch
in granite.
Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface.
Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes
and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that could scratch the
surface.
Warnings:
Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar
or other acids on marble or limestone. Strong detergents or corrosive liquids can dull the
polished marble/granite surface and should not be used.
Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers, scouring powders, or
'soft' cleansers.
Do not mix cleaning products such as ammonia and bleach together - the
result is toxic.
The information on this web site is true and complete to the best of our
knowledge, and is provided as information only, without guarantee on part of Ron Sperry
and The Home Care Club.. We recommend that before trying any cleaning technique or using
any product, you thoroughly test the technique or product, or consult with a professional
cleaning service. Ron Sperry and The Home Care Club disclaims any liability in connection
with the use of this information.