Even though granite has been used as a countertop material since the late 19th century, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the popularity of them exploded. Now, granite countertops seem to be everywhere. And this presents some very interesting challenges for many people. Although granite isn’t as porous as marble, it does require a fair amount of care to keep it in good condition. If a person takes the time to properly take care of granite, however, they will find out that granite is a material that’s designed to last a lifetime.
Since the lifespan of granite is directly tied to how well it’s taken care of, we’ve decided to give our readers the information they need to take care of their granite countertops. Below are some of the things that we’ve learned from years of using and being around granite countertops that we believe will help everyone keep their granite in great condition for as long as possible.
Taking Proper Care Of Granite
Before we start with a breakdown of the granite cleaning process, we would like to take a few moments to state the importance of using granite properly to keep it in good condition. After all, cleaning is only one part of keeping granite looking good. How the product is used on a daily basis will also determine its condition. Now that we’ve said that, let’s go over some tips for keeping granite in good condition and prevent it from being damaged during regular use.
Please, Don’t Sit On Your Granite
One of the first things that a person can do to make sure their granite stays “healthy” is to avoid putting pressure on it. Leaning on it, sitting on it, or kneeling on it can crack the granite and essentially ruin it. It’s also a bad idea to place heavy objects on the granite as they too can destroy it. Pots, pans, and dishes are fine, just keep everything else off of it.
Speaking Of Pots And Pans
While we’re speaking of pots and pans, we feel that it’s our obligation to remind consumers that they shouldn’t put pots and pans straight from the stove onto the counter. The heat can cause the granite to crack and once again, that will ruin the granite. The better solution is to use a heat-resistant mat or trivet to place on your counter that the pots and pans can rest on.
Wipe Up Those Messes
It’s also important for the consumer to promptly wipe up messes from their counters. Although granite counters are more resilient than what most people give it credit for, messes should still not be allowed to sit on the surface. If a mess is left on the counter, it can stain the counter, so make sure to promptly wipe up the messes.
Avoid Abrasive Cleaners
If you think that you can clean your granite counters with any cleaner, then we’re afraid to break it to you that you’re completely wrong. There are a lot of cleaners that are too acidic or abrasive to use on granite countertops, and as a result, they shouldn’t be used.
How To Properly Clean Granite Counters
Okay, now that we’ve gone over what you shouldn’t do to your granite counters, let’s move this guide along and talk about how you can properly clean the counter. Below are the steps for properly cleaning your counter and keeping it in good condition throughout its entire life.
Step One: Gather The Needed Materials
The first step is to gather all of the materials you’re going to need. And at the top of this list is best granite cleaner. As we’ve said earlier, do not use just any general cleaner on your granite. Instead, use a cleaner that’s designed for cleaning granite. Besides the granite cleaner, you’re also going to need the following items:
- Microfiber Cloths
- Microfiber Towel For Drying
- Dish Soap
- Sponge
Step Two: Follow The Granite Cleaner’s Instructions
The next step is to read the granite cleaner’s instructions and follow them to the letter. For most products, this involves pre-cleaning your granite counter with a little bit of dish soap and a sponge to remove heavy amounts of stuck-on food. When that’s done, the consumer will then usually spray the product on the granite from a distance of about 6 to 8-inches.
If a person wants to make sure the counter is disinfected, then they’re going to want to make sure that they leave the cleaner on the surface for approximately 10-minutes. After that time has elapsed, use your microfiber cloth to clean the surface of the granite.
After the entire surface of the counter has been cleaned, the user is then going to want to use the microfiber towel to dry it off. An alternative to that is simply allowing the counter to air dry. The counter is now ready to be polished.
Step Three: Seal The Granite
Another step in keeping the granite is to apply a sealing product to it. Most sealing products are easy to use and can be applied within only a few moments. All the consumer has to do is to choose one of the more popular granite sealers available. There are a variety of sealers available including Granite Gold, Black Diamond, and Wieman Granite Sealers.
Step Four: Polish The Granite
If the granite sealer doesn’t already contain a polish in it, then now’s the time to buy a dedicated granite polish for your counter. When polishing granite, you’re going to want to make sure that you read the product’s instructions and that you use soft polishing pads. Doing so will ensure that the granite is properly polished but isn’t scratched by the polishing process. Granite should always be polished by hand and a person should never attempt to polish it using power tools.
In Conclusion
If you follow all of the above steps, you can rest assured that your counter stays in good condition for many years. Granite is a beautiful and durable material that isn’t all that difficult to take care of if a person puts in a little bit of effort.
