Learn How to Keep Your Granite Looking Good

Granite countertops are among the most durable surfaces that you can have in your home. They stand up to all types of normal kitchen use, and they require very little maintenance. They're easy to keep clean and resist most stains.

The tips below help you understand your new granite countertops and keep them looking their best for many years to come. If you have any questions about caring for your granite countertops, please call Custom Stone Interiors. we have more than 30 years of experience, and we'll be glad to help.

Tips for Cleaning and Caring for Granite Countertops

• Cleaning — Clean your granite countertops with simple soap and water, any non-abrasive household cleaner, or cleaners formulated for natural stone that are available from Custom Stone Interiors. Do not use products that are not pH neutral, such as vinegar, ammonia, or bleach. A mild solution of vinegar and water can be used occasionally, but frequent use will remove the sealer we've applied to the stone. Do not wax your counter.
• Sealing — Since natural stone is porous, we've applied an FDA-approved sealer to the surface of your stone countertop as the last step in our fabrication process. This sealer can be reapplied yearly or whenever you feel it's ready. The process is simple (apply it, let it sit, wipe it off), and sealer is available from Custom Stone Interiors.
• Heat — Your new granite countertop is virtually impervious to any level of heat that you'll find in the average kitchen.
• Stains and stain removal — As the last step in our fabrication process, we apply a sealer that makes your new countertop highly resistant to stains. Our customers report very few stains (only 2 stains in over 2,000 countertops) that could not be wiped up easily. Those stains resulted from oil or acidic materials (bacon grease, wine, or fruit juice) that were spilled and allowed to sit. If you do experience staining, please call Custom Stone Interiors. If we know what caused the stain, we can provide instructions on how to remove it.
• Bacterial contamination — Sealed natural stone resists bacterial contamination quite well. One formal study (available here) reported the results listed below. As you can see, sealed granite performed exceptionally well.
• For the laminate, washing and rinsing reduced the bacterial counts by about 285. When the vinegar was applied, the overall reduction was increased to about 500,000 to 1.
• For the wood, washing and rinsing reduced the bacterial counts by about 500. When the vinegar was applied, the overall reduction was increased to about 2,000 to 1.
• For the tile, washing and rinsing reduced the bacterial counts by about 900 to 1. When the vinegar was applied, the overall reduction was increased to about 233,000 to 1.
• For the stainless steel, washing and rinsing reduced the bacterial counts by about 4,000 to 1. When the vinegar was applied, the overall reduction was increased to about 230,000,000 to 1.
• For the granite, washing and rinsing reduced the bacterial counts by about 36,000 to 1. When the vinegar was applied, the overall reduction was increased to about 80,000,000 to 1.
• Scratch removal — Other than the diamond in a ring, granite is likely the hardest material in your home, so scratches are unlikely. The only common household items that are prone to cause damage are stone planters and green Scotch-Brite-style scrubbing pads. If your granite surface does become scratched, please call us. Scratch removal is possible, but it requires the skills and tools of a professional stone worker.
• Chips — Chipping is uncommon, but it can happen. With natural stone this is something that you cannot always avoid. The most common causes are heavy metal objects being dropped on the surface, like a fireplace tool or cast-iron cooking vessel. We have fillers and adhesives that can repair the damage, often in a way that is indistinguishable from the surrounding stone. Please call Custom Stone Interiors if your granite surface has chipped.