Granite Care

The easiest way to keep your stone looking great is to avoid bad habits that may damage it. Granite, marble, travertine, limestone, soapstone, quartz and solid surface are similar in many ways, but their differences require varying degrees of maintenance. However . . .

If you utilize the granite counter top care and cleaning procedures that follow for all your countertops . . . no matter what type of stone or surface . . . you’ll eliminate most potential problems without ever having to think too hard about it or worry that you may be causing damage.

Do: Blot up spills immediately.

Acidic substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce and sodas will not etch granite like they do marble, but they could potentially stain the surface. Cooking oils may also leave a stain if not wiped up.

Do: Clean surfaces using a sponge or soft cloth.

Using a specially formulated natural stone cleaner like Granite & Marble Cleaning Spray is recommended to keep your tops in the best condition and protect the sealer, but hot water will do for quick clean-ups.

Dish soap won’t permanently damage your granite, but repeated use of soap will cause build-up (yes, even if you rinse) and dull your countertop’s shine. So, using dish soap for regular granite counter top care is not recommended.

Do: Use coasters under all glasses, bottles and cans.

Again, granite won’t etch and using coasters on dense and/or properly sealed granite is not an absolute necessity like with marble, but using coasters is just a good practice to protect all surfaces.

Do: Use trivets and hot pads under pots & pans.

Yes, you can take a hot pot off the stove and put it right on granite countertops without any problems. It is possible for granite (or any stone or quartz) to suffer “thermal shock” and crack, but rare. You don’t really want to put hot pans on any other surface save soapstone.

But you must consider other issues as well…

Grit that gets trapped between the pot and the countertop surface may scratch the surface–even granite countertops. Granite is very hard and can take tons of abuse without any significant damage, but it can develop light surface scratches or pitting in high-use areas around the sink and cooktop.

It is not common, but it is possible. And ALL other surfaces are softer that granite. Better safe than sorry.

If it does happen, don’t fret too much. Most chips and scratches can be repaired, but it’s best to avoid them by following the granite counter top care tips.

Also, once you remove the hot pan from the countertop the surface will be very hot and may burn.

Do: Use cutting boards.

Again, avoid the possibility of scratching the surface and protect your knives. Cutting on stone will dull and damage your knives’ edges quickly.

Do: Dust mop your natural stone floors regularly.

Use a clean, dry, non-treated dust mop. Some people choose to use a vacuum cleaner. But be real careful. Worn parts or grit jammed by the wheels may scratch the surface.

Do: Use door mats inside and out along with runners and area rugs.

Grit, dirt and sand carried in by our shoes are abrasive and will wear and scratch the surface. Clean the rugs regularly.

Don’t: use generic cleaning products such as bleach, glass cleaners, de-greasers or other common household cleaners.

These products that you buy at your local store contain acids, alkalis and other chemicals that will degrade the granite sealer (and will etch marble) leaving the stone more vulnerable to staining.

Trying to save money by using these chemicals only ensures that you’ll spend a lot more time and money on you granite counter top care in the long-run.

Don’t: use vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange as cleaners. Again, most common and name-brand household products are not good for cleaning granite countertops (and definitely cannot be used for marble, travertine or most other stones)

Don’t: use bathroom, tub & tile or grout cleaners.

The powders and even the “soft” creams contain abrasives that will scratch and dull surfaces.

Don’t: sit or stand on your countertops.

Unlike laminate countertops, granite, marble and quartz countertops are very hard, but not flexible and they DO NOT have a plywood backing so too much weight in one spot could cause a crack.

Don’t: store liquids or toiletry products directly on your countertop surface.

Cooking oils, Hair products, perfumes, colognes, nail products, creams, lotions and potions have a tendency to spill or leak and go overlooked.

 

Marble Care

Important Things to Know Before You Clean Your Cultured Marble!

 

Finishes

We know that cultured marble is marble dust and plastic resin, but that doesn’t mean you can clean it with just anything.

What to consider:

• Glossy or matte finish, take extra care with cleaning because the finish shows every little scratch.
• Consider whether it has the gel coating I mentioned above. Gel coated marble is impervious and much less delicate than cultured marble that does not have the coating.
• Don’t use strong acid or alkaline based cleaners on non-coated cultured marble. You risk dulling the finish.

Using Abrasives

The general rule of thumb is this: Only use a soft cloth or chamois. Period.

Do not use an abrasive cleaner.

Don’t use Ajax or Comet, even in cream form.

Don’t use a scouring pad, the scratchy side of sponge, steel wool or anything else that could scratch the marble.

Regular Cleaning

• The majority of all cultured marble products can take strong acid or alkaline cleaners, but some can’t. What you can use to clean it will vary by the manufacturers product, so please don’t assume- you really should check your product care manual to be sure.
• Cultured marble is normally cleaned with a little soap, a mild detergent, or Windex.
• Regular sanitizing bathroom cleaners like: Tilex, or Fantastic work well but be sure to read the product label to make sure the product is safe to use and does not contain abrasives.

Soap Scum and Build Up

• Keeping on top of soap scum build up before it gets out of control is a good idea because you can’t use abrasives.
• Soap scum or build up can be removed from showers, sinks, or bathtubs using a 50/50 mixture of distilled white vinegar and water.
• Add about 1/2 cup of each to a spray bottle and spray a small area. Wipe the area immediately with the soft cloth. You may need some elbow grease to get it all off.
• Rinse the marble after cleaning. Buff dry for a nice shine.
• We prefer to use a solution of 1 gallon of warm water to 1 cap full of Murphy Oil Soap.
• This cleaning solution is pH neutral and will not damage any marble. It removes soap scum and leaves a nice shine.

Hard Water Stains

• If you’re cleaning cultured marble because of hard water stains, use the same water and vinegar mixture above but let it dry for 30 minutes.
• Then, using a clean, damp cloth, wipe down the hard water stained area. If this doesn’t remove the stain, repeat the process. Remember not to use abrasives when scrubbing.
• Hard water spots are caused by minerals in the water. Some areas have very hard water and this is a real problem. Drying the shower bathtub or sinks after using will go a long way in avoiding water spots in the future.

Removing Stains

If you need to clean hairspray or some other sticky substance from cultured marble, use denatured alcohol.

Denatured Alcohol

• For those of you unfamiliar with denatured alcohol, it is for the most part, rubbing alcohol. Depending on the manufacturer, the bottles in your local drug store may read, “denatured” or “rubbing.”
• Pour a little bit on a cotton ball or cloth and apply to a small, hidden area of the cultured marble. You want to make sure that it won’t discolor or damage the marble.
• If it’s ok, then apply the alcohol to the hairspray and wipe it off. Don’t pour too much alcohol on the cloth or cotton ball at one time. Work slowly and patiently until it’s all removed.

Shining Marble

Some cultured marble manufacturers suggest using car wax or a special countertop wax to clean and shine the marble. Again, always apply the wax to a hidden area to make sure it won’t damage the marble.

Once you know its ok, apply as follows:

• Apply the wax to the countertop according to the directions
• Most will recommend to let the wax dry for 15 to 20 minutes
• Once the wax is dry, use a clean, damp cloth to remove it
• Follow that with a dry cloth to remove any remaining wax
• If you are using wax in the shower or tub be sure to test for slipperiness before getting in again!
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Quartz Care is easy

Simply wash with a soft cotton cloth and warm water, and mild soap if desired.

Do not expose, in use or otherwise, Quartz to abrasive, strong alkaline, acid, free radicals, oxidizers, or other cleaners of the like (whether high, neutral, or low pH). Various chemicals are corrosive and/or erosive in their ability to attack any surface, including Quartz. Be very aware of these potential damages to its surface.

Quartz is not heat proof, chemical proof, or fracture proof in any form. Be aware of exposure to these potentially damaging acts.

Do not use or expose Quartz to certain cleaning products, including, but not limited to, bleach, oven cleaners, Comet®, Soft Scrub®, S.O.S.®, products with pumice, batteries, paint removers, furniture strippers, tarnish or silver cleaners, or the like. Do not use abrasive or harsh scrub pads. Do not apply any sealers, penetrants, or topical treatments to Quartz under any circumstances. Such products will wear off and cause the gloss to appear dull or inconsistent.

Quartz countertops are created from pure natural quartz stone. Variation in natural quartz stone color, pattern, size, shape, and shade are unique and inherent characteristics.

Color blotches are intentionally included in many designs to enhance the product’s natural beauty. Samples are small select cuts from a larger slab and may not fully exhibit all the design characteristics of the final installed Product. These variations do not affect performance and do not qualify for Product replacement.

Quartz is durable and resistant to surface damage. However, all stone can be damaged by force and no stone is chip-proof. Objects hitting edges, particularly at sinks or dishwashers, may cause chips. Though a minor knife slip will dull the knife and not harm Quartz, no stone surface is scratch-proof. Surface markings are more visible on monotone designs than multicolored design surfaces.

Natural stone surfaces can be damaged by sudden and/or rapid change of temperature, especially near the edges, as well as direct and/or sustained heating of the top. Quartz may not withstand the direct transfer of heat from pots and pans and other cooking units such as electric frying pans and griddles, slow cookers, roaster ovens, and heat lamps. Therefore, the use of a closed-weave hot pad or solid trivet, like a bread board, is always recommended to prevent heating.

Quartz is not a structural support material and must be supported in every application. 2cm and 3cm thicknesses are for countertops and other horizontal surfaces; 1cm thickness is for vertical surface finishes such as walls and tub and shower surrounds.

The Quartz finish will show surface markings caused during normal use, which are easily removed with an all-purpose cleaner such as concentrated Simple Green® cleaner. Quartz finish does not shine, and may soil and/or appear to stain from soiling, especially when used in heavy traffic areas such as flooring.

Installation of Quartz requires walls and cabinets to be properly prepared for installation, which includes, but is not limited to, structurally sound, straight, level, and square walls and cabinets. Lack of proper preparation may cause poor installation and poor seam fit or inconsistent countertop overhang and placement. Harmony Star installers are experts and the proper treatment, installation and finishing of Quartz.