Regular Maintenance Advices
Daily: Truthfully, hot water and a sponge are sufficient to wipe up spills and debris and keep your countertops clean and tidy throughout the day. At the end of the day, a quick spray and wipe of the most heavily used areas with a stone cleaner will adequately clean, disinfect and protect your countertops.
Weekly: Use the stone cleaner over the entire surface.
Quarterly: Polishes, revitalizes and color-enhancers can also be used periodically for the ultimate in natural stone and marble counter top maintenance.
Yearly: Annual re-sealing is a good idea although the frequency for proper granite countertop maintenance really depends on the type of stone (porous or dense) and the quality of the sealant. It’s a very easy job and unless you have a stone that really shouldn’t be sealed (i.e. some black granite), then re-sealing every year will only ensure that your countertops are well protected against staining. It’s recommended it is done with marble, travertine and limestone.
The most common mistake is made by cleaners and not recognizing the chemical sensitivity of the stone they are caring for.
Marble and limestone are alkaline-based stones and can be dissolved by acids in cleaning products and other kitchen sources, such as lemons, citrus juices, wine, and soft drinks. These fluids can etch and remove the polish from a marble surface, if not wiped up quickly. These stones are soft and vulnerable to scratches and dulling by sand, grit and soil under common foot traffic, and can absorb stains.
However, these natural stones do not come cheap and, without the proper care, to replace them can cost much more. To keep natural stone looking new, proper use and maintenance is required.
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