Natural stone is porous and needs to be sealed on annual basis. The best way to prevent stains, water spots, and things of that nature is to apply a protective sealant. The sealer can be easily applied by the homeowner, and the process does not take long at all. If you purchased your stone with us, we apply the initial coat of sealer for your countertops, but it is highly recommended that you reapply the sealer every year.
Routine cleaning of your stone is extremely simple, as long as you avoid using chemicals that can cause a negative impact on your stone. Ammonia is one of your worst enemies, and you need to avoid using it at all costs. What ammonia does as far as the stone is concerned is that it dissolves the sealer. If the sealer isn’t present, your stone is at risk of staining. One of the most common household cleaners that contain ammonia is “Windex”, please make sure to avoid using it to clean your countertops. What you DO want to use is a mild detergent and water. There are many different granite cleaners on the market, which are certainly safe to use, but in all honesty, soap and water is all you need.
Natural stone can sustain heat up to various temperatures, depending on the exact material, but we still highly recommend using trivets or some sort of mat under hot dishes or cookware. We also highly recommend using place mats under fine china, ceramics, silver, or other similar products that can be normally scratch other materials just to be safe. More than likely your countertops would resist scratches from all the above. It is always best to use caution where possible, for the protection of your investment.
DO’S & DON’TS
- DON’T wait to clean up spills, take care of cleaning them up as soon as you can.
- DON’T use cleaner that contains a grit in it for cleaning (i.e. Soft Scrub, Comet, or Clorox, etc.).
- DON’T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia, or anything with high levels of acid for cleaning.
- DON’T use anything abrasive (i.e. Steel Wool).
- DON’T use alkaline cleaners that are not specifically formulated for natural stone.
- DO clean surfaces regularly with soap and water, or an approved stone cleaner.
- DO make sure you to ENJOY your countertops, don’t be afraid to use them, just be conscious of items that could potentially harm them.
