Natural Stone Cleaning & Care
Contrary to popular myths, caring for and maintaining your soapstone, granite, marble, and quartz stone countertop is quite easy and simple. We thought it would be helpful to make a page for our customers to provide detailed and easy instructions on natural stone countertop maintenance and care.
J&L Custom Countertops cares about forming a long lasting relationship with our customers and are willing to answer any of your countertop care questions that you come across. Please contact us for any further questions or assistance.
In order to keep new countertops in the same top quality they are installed in, we have a few recommendations on the care and maintenance. Each material possess unique characteristics and need to be cared for differently. The following information will provide you tips to clean and care for your new custom countertops.
Simple tips to preserve the life of every stone countertops:
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Use coasters under all glasses, bottles, cans, etc.
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Utilize trivets and mats when setting hot objects on your stone counter.
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Blot spills with paper towels immediately and avoid wiping/spreading the spill.
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Don’t use vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange (acidic formulas) as cleaners.
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Oil can stain any natural stone so avoid contact with your countertops.
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Avoid scraping, as it could cause damage.
Care for Marble:
Marble Countertops are heavy duty and durable, but are still porous surfaces. Clean surfaces with a sponge or soft cloth, mild dish soap and warm water. Use of a specifically formulated natural stone and granite cleaner is highly recommended (and can be purchased at J&L if requested). Avoid using excessive amounts of cleaner.
Every few months test to see if you need to seal your kitchen and bathroom countertops. To seal, apply a marble stone sealer to the surface in small sections and let sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, pour a few drops of water and check to see if the water forms little beads. If water beads, you are done! Keeping your countertop cleaned and polishing it every month should mean you only need to seal roughly every 3-6 months.
Never use acidic or harsh cleaners on your marble countertops. Acidic cleaners such as lemon juice, Windex, and vinegar are too abrasive and should not be used on marble countertop surfaces. Solid surface vanity tops and countertops should never be cleaned with hard pads or with utensils that scrape the marble countertop. Instead, use a mild, non-acidic cleaner.
Care for Quartz:
Regular cleaning with a warm, wet soft towel. Use a mild detergent or mild dish soap. If there are any spills or sticky residue, clean as soon as they happen to avoid staining. For heavier and dried on spills, clean with a glass or surface cleaner. If you need to scrape dried on messes away, use plastic utensils only.
Never use bleach or harsh acidic cleaners and avoid using abrasive materials when cleaning.
Never use hydrofluoric acid on your countertops, as it attacks the minerals in the stone and can harm your countertop.
Care for Granite:
For regular maintenance, clean surfaces with a sponge or soft cloth and warm, soapy water to clear any dirt or spills from the surface. Use of a specifically formulated natural stone and granite cleaner is highly recommended (and can be purchased at J&L if requested).
Sealing your granite countertops is an added precaution to avoid staining. Sealing does not make your countertop stain proof, but rather adds a layer of protection and makes the stone countertop stain resistant.
Every few months, test to see if you need to seal your countertops. To seal, apply a granite stone sealer to the clean countertop surface. Use a non-toxic sealer when applying sealer to food preparation areas. Clean in smaller sections and let sit for roughly 30 minutes. The final step is to pour a few drops of water on the surface after the wait to see if it forms little beads. If the water beads up, you are done! Keeping your countertops cleaned and polishing every month means you only need to seal it once or twice per year.