Products

With the proper care, your granite or marble countertop will look new for years. Stone is one of the easiest surfaces to maintain.

Granite, being 7 on the Mohs hardness scale of 1 to 10, is virtually unscratchable. (A stainless steel knife blade is a 6 on the scale.)

• Clean up spills immediately, before they penetrate the surface.
• Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid and warm water.
• Use a soft, clean cloth to clean the granite. Rinse after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft, clean cloth.
• Remove a stain on granite, basing the method on the type of stain. Mix a cup of flour, 1-2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid with water to make a thick paste. Put it on the stain, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit overnight.
• Scrape away the mixture with a wooden utensil and rinse.
• Oil-based stains (e.g. grease, oil, milk), use hydrogen peroxide in the paste instead of dishwashing liquid - or try ammonia on it.
• Organic stain (e.g. coffee, tea, fruit). Try a mixture of 12 percent hydrogen peroxide mixed with a couple drops of ammonia.
• Ink or marker stains : Use a lacquer thinner or acetone to remove from darker stone. On light-colored granite, use hydrogen peroxide to these stains. This also works for wine stains.
• Wine, ink or other non-oil stain : Mix molding plaster and pure bleach into a paste and spread over the stain. Leave on for 30 minutes, then remove and rinse.
• Oil-based or fat-based stain : Paste a mix of molding plaster and water over the stain. Mold it into a bird's-nest shape and allow to stand for 3 hours. Remove and rinse.
• Reseal the countertop every year or two years. Check with the installer for recommendations. Use a non-toxic sealer on food preparation areas.
• Consider using a new disinfectant cleaner made specifically for granite.
• Call your professional stone supplier, installer, or restoration specialist for problems that appear too difficult to treat.