If you have a bought a home that has granite counter tops or are remodeling a kitchen and plan to use granite countertops, one thing you have realized is that granite countertops are an investment in your home. Granite is a durable material that adds an element of sophistication and shine to your kitchen decor. Granite is available in numerous patterns and colors. Considering the cost of this investment it is important that one knows how to properly care for granite to avoid damage, stains, and scratches that can damage appearance and resell values one day.
Daily Care
Daily putting efforts into motion to care for your granite countertops is important in there overall upkeep. Granite is an extremely hard material and therefore it is difficult to scratch, it rarely cracks and can withstand extremely high temperatures. Even with those characteristics care should be taken to protect the granites overall durability. Always use pot holders or some form of heat protection materials before setting hot pots and pans on a granite surface. This will prevent the change of any cracks or thermal stains. On the flip side use drink coasters or some form of protection before you place down cold glasses and bottles. It is best to always wipe up any spills immediately, to avoid the potential for any discoloration. Lastly, always use a cutting board or some form of protection when using sharp knives and other objects.
Cleaning
Even though granite is a hard surface, you will want to use neutral, soft cleaners when desiring a little deeper clean. Refrain from using any harsh, abrasive chemicals. There are some stone soaps that have been developed to clean granite specifically. You simply mix the stone soap with water and clean. If stone soap is not available you may use a gentle dish washing liquid, but you will not want to use this on a regular basis because it can dull the natural shine on granite due to the build up of chemicals. Be sure to use soft cloths and towels to wipe down granite countertops. Although granite is strong, items such as scouring pads with metal components could scratch the surface. Make sure that when you are cleaning granite countertops to wipe them completely dry, do not allow residual liquids to remain on the surface.
Granted that granite countertops are extremely durable, but at some time or another they may become stained. In these situations where dish washing liquid doesn’t eliminate the stain completely you should mix a cup of flour and a small amount of water to form a paste. Smooth the paste substance over the stained area and cover with plastic wrap to sit overnight. On the next day remove the dry paste and the stain should remove right along with it. If the stain is from a marker or such use a small amount of acetone-based nail polish remover, if your granite tops are dark in color, if they are light in color use some hydrogen peroxide.
Knowing how to properly take care of your granite countertops will buy you years of enjoyable kitchen surfaces to work from and save you a lot of money on costly fixes, repairs, and replacement.
