Granite and Marble Stone for Sale are some of the most durable, natural stones for your countertop. As such, they are very popular with kitchen designers and homeowners. It is formed over millions of years from magma, and has a high content of alkali metal oxides, and silica, and it gradually cools and crystallizes underground. It is a light, coarse-grained igneous rock that is largely made up of alkali feldspar, plagioclase, and quartz. The manner of its formation gives it its immense strength and durability. It comes in different colors, reflecting the minerals that are in any slab of granite. Its sole drawback is that, because it is composed of so many different stones, it has large grains that make it porous. This means that liquids and dirt can seep through the granite, ruining the color and over time, perhaps even cracking it. It’s for this reason that a sealant is used to cover a granite countertop. Normally, if you take good care of your granite countertops, they will stand the test of time. In this article, we will discuss how to clean your granite countertops.
It’s easy to believe that because granite is so strong, you can or should clean it with harsh, abrasive materials like steel wool sponge or vinegar, or that it should be cleaned in a rough way. That is far from the case.
When you are cleaning granite, you want to use some warm, soapy water and a terry cloth or soft microfiber. Make sure the soap you use is very mild. These materials will not damage or scratch your granite countertop or the sealant.
Clean the granite countertop with the soapy water and the soft cloth. Don’t use too much water or leave any puddles on the sealant like you would on your outdoor furniture from full coverage residential painting.
To stain is human, to remove stains is divine. If you have a stain on your countertop, then baking soda should do the trick. It’s not harsh or abrasive, yet is capable of removing many of the toughest stains. If your stain is oil-based, mix baking soda and water into a paste. If, however, your stain is water-based, then mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide instead.
You will only need small portions of each of the ingredients in order to get rid of the majority of stains. Apply the paste onto the stain and clean it with soapy water. If the stain refuses to submit to your solution, then apply it again, and then cover the area with a plastic wrap.
Take a day to two days to allow the solution to work its way through the stain. Make sure to tape the edges of the countertop. After a day or two, uncover the solution and you should find the stain gone. Clean the surface once again to get rid of any residual paste.
Using the above techniques, you should be able to clean your granite countertops, leaving them looking spik and span. Do this frequently, and your countertops will last for a very long time.
Planning to install a new countertop? Walnut butcher block countertops are a classic favorite for all kinds of homes from urban industrial to traditional or rustic.