How to Take Care of Granite

Granite kitchen counter tops are durable as well as beautiful. But they need a little special care so their smooth, polished surface stays pristine. Treat them as you would any delicate object: clean up spills immediately and keep harsh cleansers or sharp objects away from them.

Instructions

1. Clean up spills right away. This is particularly important in the case of any acidic spills, like lemon juice, vinegar or wine. The acid in these liquids can etch the surface of granite and show up as fuzzy spots or rings.

2. Use a mild, pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid any cleanser containing vinegar, citrus, or ammonia. This cleaners will mar and abrade the polish on the granite.

3. Use trivets for hot pans or dishes. Even though granite itself is not harmed by heat, excessive heat can damage the surface polish or sealant.

4. Seal the surface once a year with granite sealant. Use a sealant that penetrates the surface of the granite. Do not use a non-penetrating sealant; if it becomes necessary to remove it, you can damage the granite trying to do so.

5. Avoid using granite counter tops as a cutting board. Small cuts and scrapes can compromise the surface by allowing liquids to seep past the sealant into the granite.

6. Keep from dragging pots, pans, or other utensils across counter tops. Any metal object can scratch the surface of granite. Over time, the surface can become noticeably marred by objects being repeatedly scraped across it.

Tips & Warnings

• Minor cuts and scrapes to granite counter tops can be polished with extra fine grade steel wool using light pressure. If a hard substance is stuck to your granite counter top, use a plastic scraper to gently scrape it off, then polish lightly with extra fine grade steel wool.