Cleaning Granite Countertops
Clean your natural stone or quartz countertops on a regular basis with mild dish soap, warm water and a soft clean cloth. You can also use any water based spray cleaners, or clear vinegar diluted with hot water to clean your countertops.
All spills should be cleaned immediately.
Avoid using abrasive cleaners (i.e. Comet powder, Soft Scrub, or similar products) or any acid based chemicals to clean your countertops.
Avoid using any Scotch-Brite, scouring, or steel wool pads to clean your countertops.
If a film develops on your countertops, use vinegar with hot water (3 parts water, 1 part vinegar) and wipe with a soft, clean cloth to remove it.
Sealing Granite Countertops
Your graite countertops have been sealed prior to installation. Some stones will only need sealing once every few years, depending on the stone's porosity and your daily use of the countertops.. You will want to reseal your countertops at least once a year. Sealing works as a stain inhibitor and prevents most stains and soil from being absorbed into the surface, but it is NOT a guarantee against staining.To seal your granite countertops, we recommend the Stone Tech Professional Care System which is available through Granite-Tops. Other stone sealers are available through any stone/tile retail location.
To determine if your countertop needs resealing, perform a water test. Place a small amount of water on your countertop and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. If the water beads on your countertop, your sealer is still working. If the water seeps into the stone, you will need to re-seal
your countertops.
"How To" Seal your Granite Countertops
Make sure your countertops are clean from all scrubs and spills (stains should be removed prior to sealing). You will need 3 clean, dry, soft cloths and stone sealer.
1.) Pour a small amount of sealer (about 3" diameter) onto the granite and distribute the sealer evenly onto the countertops with the first clean, dry cloth. Pour more onto the stone as you move to other areas of the surface.
2.) Allow the sealer to penetrate the stone for 15-30 minutes. (If the sealer is quickly absorbed by the stone, repeat step 2).
3.) Take a second clean, dry cloth and wipe the excess sealer off while it is still wet. If the sealer starts to dry, re-apply a small amount of wet sealer and then wipe it from the countertop.
4.) Once the excess sealer is removed from your countertops, use the last clean, dry cloth and do a final wipe down.
