Caring for your Granite Countertops
Granite is known as one of the most durable types of countertop available. If you’ve chosen a granite kitchen countertop after reviewing the different styles of kitchen countertops, you’ll need to pay close attention to the care of the granite in order for your kitchen to keep its value and beauty.
You will want to take precautions to keep them from being stained or damaged. With proper care and cleaning, your granite countertops will continue to look beautiful for years to come.
Protect Your Countertops with a Sealant
An important thing you can do to help protect your countertops from damage is to apply a sealant to them after installation. A solvent-based sealer can be applied to granite countertops to help keep them looking new. The sealer does not make your countertops immune to stains; it just means you have a little extra time to clean up a spill before the countertops become stained. The life of this sealer can vary based on a number of factors, but you can estimate that you will need to reapply the sealer to your countertops every two to three years.
Use Trivets or Hot Pads for Hot Dishes
Granite holds up extremely well under heat, however, thin strips of granite do not have enough surface area to absorb all of the heat from pots, pans, and dishes adequately. If you have small strips of granite countertop near other construction materials, use a trivet or hot pad for any hot dishes. This will help to keep heat away from materials that are less durable than your granite countertops.
Clean Up Spills Immediately
If you spill something, use a cloth or paper towel to soak up any major spills and then use a damp rag to take care of any sticky residue. Try to avoid spilling anything other than water or some mild dish soap on your granite countertops, liquids that have a high level of acidity in particular. Citrus juices, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages are acidic and can cause damage to your countertops if they are need cleaned up immediately.
Avoid Adding Weight to Countertop Edges
While granite countertops are very durable, you want to do your best to eliminate any chance of damaging them. One way you can prevent damage is to avoid putting any unnecessary weight on the edges of the countertops. This can include grabbing on to the countertops for balance or using the countertops to climb up and reach a high shelf or clean something that has spattered high up on the wall. This added pressure and weight can cause damage to the edge of your granite countertops, which can take away from the attractiveness of the granite.
Avoid Harsh Cleaning Products
Just as some beverages and foods have high levels of acid in them, some common household cleaners have high levels of acid and other chemicals that have the potential to damage your granite countertops. If you must use anything other than water to help clean up a spill, use something mild like dish soap to avoid damaging the granite.
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