The people who love granite countertops care a lot about functionality, appearance, and maintenance. These are the primary reasons that granite is so popular among homeowners all around the world.
Among many advantages of granite countertops, easy maintenance is really important for the busy modern lifestyle of the age. However, though “easy maintenance” is a big clear plus, it doesn’t mean “no maintenance” either.
There is an advised granite countertop care routine on a daily to yearly basis. Also, there are some dos and don’ts that you should know if you have a granite countertop. Following these simple routines, you will not need any countertop restoration for a long time.
In this guide, you will read about the maintenance routine and some valuable advice about granite countertops care procedures.
Maintenance of Granite Countertops
Granite countertops need care on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. Caring for granite might sound overwhelming at first, but it is just what you need if you want to see your granite countertops shine bright like a diamond after long years of use.
Daily Maintenance Routine of Granite Countertops Care
There are special granite spray cleaners on the market. The sprays can provide you with a gentle and effective cleaning for daily use. However, you can also give good daily maintenance to your granite countertop with a little bit of hot water and a soft sponge against spills or crumbs.
Weekly Maintenance Routine of Granite Countertops Care
The idea of a weekly granite cleaning is to get rid of bacteria, dust, and debris that could manage to stay there on your countertop, and more possibly, in the corners and edges. So, first of all, you should remove all the clutter on your countertop. Then you apply granite cleaner on the surface of the countertop thoroughly.
Monthly Maintenance Routine of Granite Countertops Care
As for monthly care of granite countertops, the idea is to maintain the shiny look on the stone. Granite polishing products can help you keep the bright look of your countertop for a longer time. Additionally, you should also examine your countertop closely so that you can notice the cracks or chips if there are any. If you see any problem, you should focus on that rather than polishing or cleaning granite countertops.
Yearly Maintenance Routine of Granite Countertops Care
Many homeowners think that they should seal their countertop on a yearly basis. In fact, it depends on the quality of your existing seal. In order to understand whether your granite countertop needs resealing or not, you can apply water drop tests and lemon juice tests. If your countertop doesn’t absorb the liquids, then you don’t need to reseal your countertop. So, instead of resealing for no reason, you can test the countertop surface yearly and take action accordingly.
Granite Countertops Care
Although granite is a highly resistant stone to stain, you should still take care of spills, splashes, and other problems. You should remember that easy maintenance doesn’t mean “no maintenance”. Here are some important points you should consider for the health of your granite countertops.
Do: Blot Spills Immediately
Unlike some other products, granite countertops are resistant to penetration of many liquids, including acidic ones like fizzy drinks, wine, coffee, or some kinds of sauce. However, if they stay on the surface for a long time, they can still leave a stain, especially when they are hot. For example, a drop of cooking oil splashed from the pan can leave a stain if you don’t clean it shortly after. Blotting is an effective way of cleaning that you put a piece of cloth on the liquid stains and try to take it out gently rather than rubbing it harshly.
Do: Use A Soft Cloth And A Granite Cleaning Spray
One thing you should always keep in your mind is that granite countertops’ care aims to protect the sealer on the surface. Therefore, you should avoid using abrasive products to clean the surface. However, if the stain doesn’t go away with the spray and a soft cloth, you can use some hot water to ease the job.
Do: Use Coasters
Coasters are small platforms that you can put your glasses, plates, bottles…etc. on the kitchen countertop; or soap, hair gel, perfumes…etc. on the bathroom countertop. Using these small but functional tools, you can protect your granite countertop from potential stains.
Do: Be Careful About Hot Pots and Pans
Normally, granite countertops allow you to put hot pots or pans. The surface is resilient to this kind of stress. However, if there are cracks under the surface, they might get larger, and new cracks might appear due to the thermal shock. Although it is a small possibility, you should still consider that if you want to enjoy your kitchen countertops for many years.
Do: Use A Cutting Board
If you use your granite countertop as a cutting platform, there are two risks. First, your knife will get dull as it contacts directly to the hard granite surface, and second, your granite surface might get lighter and be more vulnerable to the upcoming stress, especially the area closer to the kitchen sink. Simply using a cutting board can save you from both of these troubles.
Don’t : Use Abrasive Cleaners
Many of the household cleaners contain acidic and or other hard chemical content that may damage your granite countertop. In fact, such abrasive cleaners clean the granite surface very well, but they degrade the sealer on the surface. It means your countertop becomes more vulnerable to stains.
Also, some people think that using natural ingredients will not damage the countertop surfaces. However, lemon, vinegar, orange..etc.. can damage your granite surface as much as other abrasive cleaners. Therefore, you are strongly advised to use recommended granite cleaners for cleaning.
Don’t: Put Much Weight On The Countertop
Granite stones are very sturdy, and it is hard to break them. However, since countertops are large surfaces, it loses its resistance especially when it is not supported by a plywood backing. Therefore, you shouldn’t put heavy things on your countertop. Especially, sitting or standing on a countertop is highly risky for you since you might hurt yourself seriously, which is much worse than breaking the countertop.
Don’t: Keep Your Toiletries On The Bathroom Countertops
Creams, lotions, colognes, perfumes, or potions usually leak after you use them. The leak can easily reach the ground surface on your bathroom vanity tops, and the chemicals can damage your granite surface in the long term. They can damage countertop colors even. Therefore, you should keep such products on shelves after use. If your storage is not enough or good for them, you can find pretty nice decorative trays or coasters on the market.
