Caring for Granite– Keep Your Counters Beautiful
Caring for granite properly is important if you want your counters to be a lustrous and beautiful as they were when you first had them installed. While granite is a tough material, most people don’t realize that is still needs routine maintenance to keep it look the way it did when it was installed. These tips on caring for granite can help you keep your counter tops looking beautiful.
THREE STEPS TO PROPERLY CARING FOR GRANITE
Properly caring for granite involves three basic steps, and while the steps are basic, they’re key to keeping your granite counter tops looking beautiful. The importance of maintaining your counters cannot be overstated. While granite is incredibly durable, it still needs proper, routine maintenance. Most of us – including myself at one time – don’t realize that. Here’s how to keep your granite looking great
CLEAN OFTEN
In addition to just plain keeping your space clean, regularly cleaning your granite helps extend its life. Regular cleaning is essential to caring for granite because it removes not only surface dirt, but also any enzymes that could affect the finish. For example, acidic liquids can eat away at the finish on your granite counter tops. So clean your counters regularly and always clean up spills of any sort as quickly as possible.
SEAL FREQUENTLY
Sealing frequently is another key part of properly caring for granite. No matter how careful you are or how often you clean, the sealant on your granite will wear away eventually. When that happens, your granite is left open to staining. Remember, granite is a porous material, so if you spill something on unsealed granite, you’re practically guaranteed to have a stain. Use the water test to know when it’s time to seal again. Simply pour a small amount of water on the surface of your counter top in several different places. The water should be about a 3 inch diameter puddle. Let the water sit for 30 minutes. If you a dark ring or mark appears, it means that the granite is absorbing the water, and its time to seal.
POLISH FREQUENTLY
A regular polish protects your granite counter top’s finish and just plain looks good. It’s the money shot of caring for granite because everyone loves that high gloss shine! Remember, NEVER try to polish your counter top if it isn’t 100% clean and NEVER try cleaning your counter tops with a regular cleaner, as they can damage the finish. Finally, use a high quality one-step polish like Granite Gold Polish.