Marble, quartz, granite, and soapstone each have their own unique characteristics and need to be cared for in different ways. When choosing a stone countertop, it is important to take into consideration how much cleaning and maintenance will be needed to keep up the appearance of your countertop.
We at Empire Marble & Granite have provided simple natural stone countertop cleaning and maintenance guides below.
Tips for the Preservation of All Types of Stone Countertops
- Always use coasters
- Set hot objects on mats or trivets— not directly on your stone counter
- Gently and methodically lot spills with paper towels— avoid spreading the spill by wiping
Tips for Preserving and Maintaining Marble Countertops
Caring for your marble kitchen and bathroom countertops will keep your home looking beautiful. Although marble countertops are heavy-duty and durable, they are still porous surfaces.
- Mix and use mild dish soap and warm water when cleaning any tougher spills or stains on your marble kitchen or bathroom countertops. Utilize a soft cloth and avoid using too much cleaning product for the best cleaning results.
- Every several months, test to see if your countertops need to be sealed. To seal marble countertops, apply a special marble stone sealer to the clean countertop surface. From there, clean the countertop in smaller sections and avoid over-spraying the countertop. Allow the sealer to sit on the countertop for about thirty minutes.
- The last step is to pour a few water droplets on the marble countertop surface after the half-hour is over and check to see if the water forms little beads. If the water does bead up, you are done!
- Daily cleaning and monthly polishing of the surface should mean that you only need to seal your marble countertop every three to six months.
- Never use acidic or otherwise harsh cleaners on your marble countertops. Acidic cleaning products such as lemon juice, vinegar, and Windex are too abrasive and should never be used on marble countertop surfaces.
- Marble surface vanity tops and countertops shouldn’t be cleaned with hard pads or other cleaning tools that can scrape the marble countertop. Instead, use a mild, non-acidic cleaner.
Tips for Preserving and Maintaining Granite Countertops
- For consistent maintenance of your granite countertop surfaces, clean up any spills or leftover residue with a paper towel as they occur to avoid stains.
- Make sure to wash your granite countertops with warm, soapy water every day to clear any dirt from the surface.
- For a deeper cleaning of your granite countertop, mix a warm non-acidic solution of three parts dish detergent and one part rubbing alcohol.
- Making sure to seal your granite countertop is important in order to avoid staining. With that being said, sealing does not necessarily make your countertop stain-proof but instead adds a protective layer while making the countertop more stain-resistant.
- Every several months, you should check to see if you need to seal your granite countertops.
- To properly seal your granite countertop, apply a granite stone sealer to the clean countertop surface. Make sure to use a non-toxic sealer when applying sealer to food prep areas.
- Do not over-spray the countertop upon application. Allow the granite sealer to sit on the countertop for about thirty minutes.
- Finally, pour a few drops of water on the surface of the granite countertop after the wait time and see if little beads are formed. If the water forms beads, then you’ve successfully sealed the surface.
- Daily cleaning and monthly polishing of the surface should mean that you only need to seal your granite countertop every three to six months.
- Avoid using harsh or acidic cleaners such as vinegar, hydrofluoric acid, lemon juice, Windex, or ammonia to clean your granite countertop surfaces. Even though they’re very durable, granite should never make contact with acidic formulas since this can lead to the deterioration of the solid surface.
Tips for Preserving and Maintaining Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops and vanity tops look like that of natural stone but are actually a mix of quartz stone with a synthetic polymer. This makes cleaning and caring for engineered quartz countertops easy because this kind of stone does not need polishing.
- Clean your quartz countertops regularly with a soft towel wet with lukewarm water. Use a mild detergent or dish soap when cleaning these types of countertops. If there happens to be any spills or sticky residue, wash them off as soon as they happen to help avoid staining.
- For spills that have dried and left a stain, clean your quartz stone countertop with a surface or glass cleaner.
- Don’t ever use bleach or harsh acidic cleaners on quartz countertops and make sure to avoid using abrasive tools or materials when cleaning. Never use hydrofluoric acid because it attacks the minerals in the stone which can greatly harm your countertop.
- Never leave hot pots or pans directly on the top of your quartz kitchen countertop. You should always use a mat or trivet when setting anything hot on the surface of your countertop.
Tips for Preserving and Maintaining Soapstone Countertops
Soapstone countertops are highly durable and are hard to etch or scratch. This nonporous surface is hard to stain and has a high tolerance for heat also.
- Avoid dropping heavy objects on the surface since these countertops are more likely to dent as opposed to getting scratched or chipped.
- Use a paper towel to clear off any spills as they happen so that the stone keeps its sleek appearance.
- Oil your soapstone counters to change up their appearance. Some customers enjoy the natural appearance of soapstone counters, while others like to oil their countertops on a regular basis.
- To oil the countertop, pour mineral oil on the countertop and use dry towels or rags to rub the oil into the surface.
- Let the oil sit on the soapstone surface for thirty minutes and then use another dry and clean rag to clean any excess oil.
- If you don’t apply mineral oil every once in a while to your soapstone countertop, the surface will show dark spots in certain areas over time. This is much more noticeable on darker or black soapstone countertops.
- You should avoid highly acidic cleaners on soapstone countertops.
- Deep scratches or chips that occur over the life of your soapstone countertop should be repaired by a professional.
Get quality natural stone countertops installed in your kitchen by Empire Marble & Granite in Dayton, NJ today.