Choosing a countertop can be a lot of work especially with the many options you have to choose from as shown here. Obviously, you have now settled for a granite countertop, a great choice by the way. You can now settle down to enjoy the full benefits of your choice.
There’s one more thing though – you need to know how to take proper care of your new granite countertop.
After spending all that time and money to get your new granite counter top, it only makes sense that you learn how to take proper care of it so your investment will not go to waste. Here are a few ways to go about taking care of that countertop.
We will break these into two groups. The first will be daily care routines while the second will be occasional care routines.
Daily Care Routines:
To take care of granite countertops, there are some basic care routines you should adopt on a daily basis. You may, however, need to carry out some of them multiple times daily.
- Wipe the surface daily with a cleaning product that is PH neutral. You do not want to use any harsh cleaning products on your granite countertop. Remember that the surface has a sealant which could be worn down by the use of harsh cleaning products. Use the mild cleaning product with a soft cloth so you do not scratch the surface.
- You should also clean the surface as often as you can with warm water and a few drops of dishwashing soap. Rinse out the soap with clean water and a soft cloth. Be sure to dry the surface thoroughly after cleaning it.
- Once there is a spill, be sure to clean it up immediately. However, do not clean it by wiping the spill. This can spread it to other areas. What you should do is blot the spill so it does not spread. Be sure to properly dry these spills so they do not seep into your countertop’s sealant.
- To avoid stains and liquids seeping into your countertop’s sealant, do not place cups or any other containers with liquids directly on your countertop. Place them instead on coasters so any accidental spillovers can be prevented.
- Your granite countertops are quite strong and can withstand a lot of heat. However, do not make it a habit to place hot pots and pans on them. It is especially bad if the temperature is sharply contrasting. For example, placing a hot pot on the granite countertop in a very cold kitchen for a long time can damage the stone.
Occasional Care Routines:
These routines cover those care needs that only come up from time to time. For example, cleaning stains and sealing the countertop.
- There are times when you can have a stain on the countertop. For example, you placed a wine glass on the countertop without a coaster (like we advised above) and when you lifted it, you saw that there was now a red stain on the surface. This can be cleaned with ease. Get some hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Some use bleach and molding plaster instead. Make a paste from the mixture of the two and cover the stain with the paste. Allow this site for several hours. If you use bleach and molding paste, you shouldn’t allow it to sit for long. 30 minutes should be okay. Clean it out and the stain should be gone.
If however, it is an oil-base stain like grease, use just baking soda and water. Make a paste of the two and follow the same process as shown above. In both cases, be sure to thoroughly clean out any traces of the paste.
- About once a year, you should reseal your countertop. This will help it maintain its water resistance. Before sealing, confirm that your countertop does indeed require sealing. A quick way to check is to pour a little water on your countertop and see how long it takes to form a stain on it. Ideally, it should sit on the surface for a while. If however, you notice that there is a stain after about 10 minutes, then you need to reseal the surface. Be sure to use good quality sealants for better performance. Do not also forget to properly ventilate the space while you are working. For a more detailed guide on how to properly seal your granite countertop, read this: https://www.wikihow.com/Seal-Granite-Countertops.
As you give your granite countertop the TLC it requires, it will serve you well for many years to come.
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