Granite Care - Mr Granite

Granite and Marble Care Instructions

Granite and marble are natural products. Simple care & maintenance will keep it beautiful for a lifetime!

Granite is the most durable of all stones, second only to diamonds. While durable and low maintenance, it is not impervious to damage. Proper care ensures the longevity and beauty of this premium products. Granite and marble countertops are hard and can withstand a falling can of soup, but the polished surface is a bit more delicate.

The granite and/or marble you have purchased for your home or office is an investment that will provide many years of beautiful service. We recommend the following routine care and cleaning:

Avoiding Scratches

Knives will not scratch these stones, although cutting for example on your kitchen top is not recommended, as your knives will dull very quickly. Damage may also occur on the surface over time in the way of light cut marks and eventually an abrasive surface.

Quartz and diamonds can certainly scratch granite. Certain stoneware dishes contain rough silica sand and also pose a risk of scratching, as do some pizza-stones if they are spun around while cutting the pizza. If you use a marble cutting board make sure the rubber or plastic feet remain secure. If the marble ends up rubbing on the granite this may also pose a scratching risk.

Avoiding Chips

Chips in granite are not a common occurrence. When they do happen, chips are most often caused by banging something into the edge of the countertop. Heavy pots and pans and the bottoms of large bottles do most of the damage. Take care when you handle them around your granite and marble kitchen tops. If a chip does occur and you find the piece that chipped out, save it. Most of the time, it can be epoxied back into place.

Hot Pans

High temperatures will not harm granite in any way. You can take a pan off the stove or a dish out of the oven and put it on your kitchen top without damage. If you have a seam in your kitchen top it is best to avoid putting hot materials on top of it. The epoxy in the seam is heat resistant, but can be melted if exposed to heat for an extended period.

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.

Sealing the Granite and Marble

It is suggested that a penetrating sealant be applied once a year. Avoid using a sealer that will not penetrate the stone, as it will create a cloudy surface that will have to be removed by stripping the entire top. Remember, the glossy shine isn't caused by a coating on the surface, but by expert polishing using diamond polishing tools.

We hope you enjoy your granite and marble countertops for years to come!

Disclaimer
Mr Granite does not manufacture products or stone cleaning/maintenance products. Mr Granite provides the information contained herein to its customers as an information source only and under no circumstances shall Mr Granite be liable for any costs, losses, expenses or damages (whether direct or indirect, consequential, special, economic or financial including any losses of profits) whatsoever that may be incurred through the use of this information. Use at your own risk.

Granite and Marble Do's and Don'ts

Following the basic do's and don'ts of granite and marble care will extend the natural life of your granite and marble products and will provide many years of beautiful service.

Do’s

Dust surfaces frequently with a soft clean cloth.
“Blot” up spills immediately (don't rub), before they penetrate the granite or marble surface.
Clean kitchen tops with a few drops of pH balanced dishwashing liquid and warm water. Rinse after washing and dry completely with a soft, clean cloth to avoid streaks (too much soap may also leave a film and cause streaks).
Wipe your kitchen top as soon as possible when it came into contact with cooking oil. While stains are rare, they are caused most frequently by cooking oil.
Remove a stain on granite or marble, with a mixture (paste) of one cup flour, 1-2 tablespoons pH balanced dishwashing liquid (or hydrogen peroxide for oil based stains) with water to make a fairly thick paste (just so it doesn’t run), like peanut butter. If it’s too thick it will take a long time to dry.
Clean the stained area with distilled water & pH dishwashing liquid. Remember to “blot” rather than wipe. Then rinse, but don’t dry.
Apply the paste to the stained area with a plastic spatula, overlapping the stain by at least a ¼ and avoiding air pockets.
Cover the paste with plastic wrap & tape around the edges of the plastic using painters tape (don’t use regular masking tape, it’s too sticky). Let it sit for 24 hours or until thoroughly dry.
Remove the plastic cover and check to see if the paste has dried. If it has not, allow it to sit uncovered until thoroughly dry. Once it is dry, remove the paste by scraping with a wooden or plastic spatula, or debit card, and rinse the area with distilled water and dry with a soft cloth.
Examine the stain. If it remains, but is somewhat lighter, re-process up to five more times.
Scrape off a hard substance stuck to the granite and marble surface, and lime build up, by gently scraping with a hard and thin object like a debit card or single sided razor blade.

Don’ts

Do not leave acidic liquids (vinegar, lemon juice, orange juice, lime juice, soft drinks & wine) on granite or marble for long, as they can etch the surface and dull the finish. Polished kitchen tops are rather delicate and must be treated with more care.
Do not use cleaners containing bleach, ammonia, acid or alkaline such as bathroom, grout or abrasive cleaners (liquid or powder), lime removers, or tub and tile cleaners.
Do not use any generic cleaning product on your natural stone, unless the label specifies that it’s safe to use on natural granite and marble.
Do not use scouring powders/creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.
Do not store bottles of cooking oil directly on your granite or marble kitchen top.
Do not store metal pots and pans on your kitchen tops either, as rust can stain the stone. The sealer is not a waterproofing agent. If your stone darkens when it is wet do not be alarmed. It will return to its original color when the water evaporates.
Do not slide appliances, utensils, pots and pans on polished granite or marble, they may scratch the polished surface.
Do not apply stone sealers that don't penetrate the stone, these harsh solvents are hard to remove eventually.