Granite is a beautiful and tough stone that is ideal for kitchen countertops because of its durability and its scratch and heat resistance. However, there are a few measures you should take to ensure that your granite kitchen countertop keeps looking great and lasts a long time.
Cleaning Granite Kitchen Countertops
To clean your granite kitchen countertop, use a soft cloth or sponge with just water, or if necessary, some mild dish soap and warm water, to wipe down the surface. Avoid using dish soap too often, however, as it can leave buildup on your countertop over time and make the finish look dull. A better option would be to use a pH-neutral stone soap which is specially designed to clean these types of counters. Don’t use any harsh chemicals on your granite countertops as they could damage the surface.
Sealing Granite Kitchen Countertops
Granite countertops need to be sealed every so often to prevent liquids from penetrating the granite and leaving stains. You can determine whether your countertop needs to be sealed by observing whether water that is on the surface of your countertop either beads up or soaks into the granite after sitting on the counter for several minutes. If it soaks in, it’s time to reseal. Follow the instructions for your sealer product. You will probably need to do two applications, with at least two hours in between. Allow the sealer to dry completely before testing again to see if the sealing is sufficient.
Granite Kitchen Countertop Maintenance
Although granite countertops are heat resistant, it is still a good idea to still use hot pads or trivets when you set a hot pan on your kitchen countertop. The same goes for scratch protection; even though granite countertops are resistant to scratches, you will also want to make sure you use a cutting board to avoid the surface getting scratched up by sharp utensils – and to keep your knives from dulling too quickly. Make sure that you wipe up any spills right away, as certain acidic liquids like coffee or tomato sauce could still stain the surface if left on there too long.
