How To Protect The Finish Of Granite Countertops
Posted on: 25 August 2015
Granite countertops are beautiful and durable. This low maintenance countertop is perfect for today's busy families. Granite provides diamond-like hardness, has the ability to resist most stains and improves the look of the kitchen. However, preventive care must be exercised to keep your countertops looking amazing.
Things to Avoid
Although granite countertops are durable, they should never be sat on or stood on. Placing too much weight on the countertop can cause cracks to form. Although granite is very hard, most counterops are only a couple of inches thick.
Never place hot pots and pans directly on your granite. This can cause discoloration to occur. Use a trivet to help protect your countertops from damage.
Wipe up spills immediately. If spills are not cleaned up, it can stain the countertops. Granite is resilient to stains caused by coffee, tea or wine; however, acidic products and oils can damage the surface if not dealt with properly. If you spill oil on your countertop, wipe up the oil immediately and apply a poultice of water and baking soda. Cover the poultice with plastic wrap and allow it to sit on the countertop for a couple of hours. Rinse the area with clean water. Do not scrub the area as it can damage the countertop.
How to Clean Your Countertops
Cleaning your countertops is quite easy. Use a soft, clean cloth dipped in a mixture of warm water and mild dish washing soap and wipe down your counters. Then, use a clean damp cloth to remove the soap from the counter. Buff dry with a soft absorbent cloth.
How to Make Your Countertops Shine
Over time, your countertops can begin to lose their shine. You can restore the shine with one of the many stone polishing formulas available at your local home improvement store. These formulas are simple to use. Just spray on the polish, allow it to sit for a couple of moments and then buff with a soft cloth. You will be rewarded with granite countertops that look brand new.
What to Do if Your Granite Chips
Chips in a granite countertop are not common; however, they can occur. These chips generally occur at the edge of the coutertop and are often caused by placing too heavy of a pot close to the edge. If a chip does occur, find the piece of granite that chipped out and contact a granite countertop specialist. Most of the time, the specialist will be able to fix the chip.
Granite countertops can bring years of enjoyment to your kitchen when properly taken care of. Use the tips above to help keep your countertops looking beautiful for a lifetime. For more information on granite counterop installation, talk with a contractor from a company like Artisan Granite & Marble.
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