Cleaning Granite Countertops

How do you clean granite countertops is a question more and more people are asking, as their popularity in the use of kitchen work surfaces begins to rise rapidly.

This rise of popularity is down to their pretty nature as well as their durability and ruggedness and it's their latter mentioned qualities which people tend to overly on, principally by neglecting their counter tops and generally taking them for granted.

One of the main concerns of neglect is attributed to the proper cleaning of them; people generally don't clean them often enough or they tend to use harmful products and materials on them. Here I will discuss how to clean and maintain your granite countertops so they keep that everlasting charm which you have come to enjoy.

Generally people purchase polished granite work surfaces, and the idea is that you want them to be kept in that pristine condition. Although these types of granite countertops are pretty easy to maintain a number of guidelines need to be followed. Firstly, it's essential that when you are chopping any food at all that you use a chopping board, if you fail to do so you'll end up with deep scratches on your surfaces, which after a while will need professional care and attention to rectify the problem. However, if you do forget and the damage which has been caused in minimum then there is a possibility you could rectify the problem yourself by using fine steel wool to smooth away the scratches, but make sure the steel wool is fine and not abrasive as this could increase the damage.

Leading nicely on from the above guideline is you need to ensure that hot pots, pans, dishes, plates and hot drinks shouldn't be placed directly on the countertops instead heatproof mats should be placed underneath the hot kitchenware. Generally if you fail to follow this procedure black marks may appear on the surface. Again, if this does happen then the best way to solve this situation is to use fine steel wool on the marks.

In addition to the above procedures care must be taken not to leave the remains of acidic foods such as citrus fruit, beer, wine, vinegar, fizzy drinks etc or even cleaning products which are citric acid or vinegar based on the granite countertop, as the liquid will be absorbed by the stone which can eventually lead to corrosion. You'll need to make sure that any of these liquids are wiped off using warm soapy water and a soft cloth; and any drinks containing these liquids should be used in conjunction with a coaster, in fact coasters should be used underneath any class when placed on a granite countertop, as any sliding of the vessel across the surface could scratch it.

Just to finish off on the cleaning of granite countertops it's important that you don't use any abrasive products or materials to clean the stone, use the aforementioned soft cloth and non-acidic soapy water.

The coup de grace in the maintenance of your surfaces is a little godsend known as stone penetrating sealant which should be suggested by manufacturer of your kitchen. This sealant contains special polymers and resins which penetrate deep inside the stone which forms an oil and water resistant barrier, protecting it against problems such as mold, mildew and stain causing dirt. The final beauty of this product is that it will allow your countertops to release moisture and breathe naturally. This sealant should be applied at least once a year in order to make the most of it's qualities.

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