How to Keep Your Stone Countertops Looking Pristine
So you have your beautiful new stone countertops, but now the worry of keeping them looking as good as they do now, forever starts to creep in. Worry not, we are here with a brief guide to maintain the beauty of your investment. FYI, some installers, including us, offer a protection plan for those that don’t ever want to deal with the worry.
The most important step to take is to find out what the manufacturer of the stone recommends as far as taking care of your countertops. The manufacturer will have guides for cleaning and protecting, along with product recommendations. If you can’t find anything from the manufacturer, contact the fabricator and they should be able to give you guidance.
One of the most important points to remember is that harsh chemicals can quickly do serious damage to your countertops. Make sure that you and anyone who might clean your countertops are aware of what can and can’t be used on your specific material. Don’t scrub your countertops with harsh cloths or abrasive pads.
When regularly using your countertops, use a cutting board even though it’s common to hear that many materials can be cut on. Make sure that you don’t let any spills sit on the countertops, as it doesn’t take much or very long to leave an ugly stain.
Many people are under the incorrect impression that all stone countertops are heat resistant and will not have issues with hot pans placed directly on the surface. Unfortunately this has led to at least a good few scorch marks on countertops. Granite, quartzite, lava, porcelain, and stainless steel are highly heat-resistant, but if you are wanting to be more careful it may be smart to not set hot pots and pans directly on the countertop. Setting hot pots and pans in the same spot directly on the countertop can cause discoloration of sealer, and the heating and cooling can cause fractures over long periods of time.
Sealing countertops is one of the most important steps that you can take to maintain your investment. The proper sealer will give you one of the most important first lines of defense for your countertop. Read about how to seal your countertops here.
If you haven’t yet purchased countertops, it is worth taking the time to research the different kinds of countertops, as everyone has different uses and needs for their space, and there is no “one-size-fits-all”. Reach out to talk to one of our knowledgeable salespeople, and take a look at our blog posts to learn more.
