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Care and Maintenance
Natural Stone
Natural stone is an investment that will give you many years of enjoyment and service. Stone is a natural product that requires simple care and maintenance to keep it looking beautiful. Here are some recommendations for routine care and cleaning.
Granite
Most day-to-day care is as simple as cleaning with soap and water and drying with a cloth or paper towel to prevent water spots. Granite is the hardest countertop you can buy. Normal cutting can be done right on your countertop, however, you'll want to sharpen your knives as cutting on granite will dull them. Granite absorbs heat and distributes it out. When placing hot pans on the countertop you will want to avoid coming in contact with the exposed area due to the possibility of extreme heat being deposited, by the pan, onto the granite.
All granite countertops should be sealed. We seal the countertop as the last thing we do before we leave the installation. Our sealer will resist oil and other staining materials, but not for prolonged amounts of time. We recommend reapplication of our sealer should be done once a year. This product is available at our office or we can reapply.
If the countertop becomes stained, immediately blot the spill with a clean paper towel. If the stain soaks into the granite then a poultice may need to be applied.
Marble
Clean stone surfaces with lukewarm water and dry with a cotton cloth. Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone.
Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface.
Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.
Marble Floor Surfaces
Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface.
Bath and Other Wet Areas
In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water). Frequent or over-use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the marble surface.
Vanity Top Surfaces
Vanity tops may need to have a penetrating sealer applied. Check with your installer for recommendations.
Food Preparation Areas
In food preparation areas, the stone may need to have a penetrating sealer applied. Check with your installer for recommendations. If a sealer is applied, be sure that it is non-toxic and safe for use on food preparation surfaces. If there are questions, check with the sealer manufacturer.
Outdoor Pool & Patio Areas
In outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas, flush with clear water and use a mild bleach solution to remove algae or moss.
Natural Stone Do's and Don'ts
- Do dust mop floors frequently
- Do blot up spills immediately
- Do protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and countertop surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats.
- Don't use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces.
- Don't use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners.
- Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
- Don't mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas
Call your professional stone supplier, installer or restoration specialist for problems that appear too difficult to treat.
The Marble Institute of America offers a brochure that includes information on treating spills and stains on natural stone surfaces. For a copy, please send $1.00( US ) along with a self addressed, stamped business size envelope (37 cents) to the Marble Institute of America, 28901 Clemens Road, Suite 100 , Cleveland , Ohio 44145 USA .
Quartz Surfacing
Quartz surfaces are easy to maintain. That simple maintenance will keep the shine and luster for many years to come. Quartz surfacing is nonporous, stain, scratch and heat resistant. We recommend the use of trivets or hot pads and cutting boards when using this surface.
Simply wipe with warm water and soap, using a damp cloth or paper towel. To remove stubborn or dried spills use a damp, soft cloth with warm water and soap. If needed, apply common household cleaners. To remove adhered material such as food, gum, nail polish or even dried paint, first scrape away the excess material with a putty knife and then clean the surface with a damp cloth to remove any marks left behind and any residual dirt.
Avoid cleaners such as nail polish remover, paint strippers, and oven cleaners.
Specific Care and Maintenance guidelines can found at their respective website.
Solid Surface
With a few simple steps the beauty of solid surface will shine through. There are three types of countertop finishes: matte/satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss. Most countertops are finished with a matte/satin finish. All sinks have a matte/satin finish. Soapy water, ammonia based cleaners or commercially available solid surface cleaners will remove most dirt and residue from all types of finishes. Stubborn residue will require a little stronger cleaner. With over 100 colors and varying hues some colors may appear to require more frequent cleaning to maintain a uniform finish. Darker colors tend to require more attention than lighter colors. Over time through care and use your countertop will acquire a patina, changing the appearance of the finish. You may restore the look of the original finish by following the refurbishing guidelines.
A sponge, soap and water will clean most stains. For more stubborn stains use a green Scotch Brite pad and an abrasive cleanser. To remove scratches, start sanding with 240 grit paper and then clean with an abrasive cleanser and a green Scotch Brite pad.
- Always use a hot pad or trivet under hot pots or heat producing appliances.
- Always use a cutting board.
- Never stand on your counters.
- Avoid harsh chemicals such as drain cleaners and paint removers, they may cause whitening.
- For high gloss counters place felt protectors on the bottom of pottery or other hard objects.
- Avoid sliding hard objects across these glossy surfaces.
- Always run cool water when pouring boiling water into solid surface sinks.
Periodically it may also be helpful to go over the entire surface in a circular motion with an abrasive cleaner or wet Scotch Brite pad to maintain a uniform appearance.
 Specific Care and Maintenance guidelines can found at their respective website.
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