Caring for your Stone

Congratulations!

You now have Granite, Marble or another Natural Stone installed in your home and you’re excited! Now for your questions… How do I clean it? Does it need to be sealed? What about regular cleaners – can I still use them? As your natural stone flooring expert, we’re here to answer all of those questions for you!
granite counter top in a kitchen.

Caring for your Granite Countertops

Clean the countertop daily with a soft white cloth and a neutral cleaner or household detergent such as Dove. Household cleaning products including Windex, Lysol Disinfectant and 409 can be used, but may leave a film. A solution of vinegar and water works great to remove streaking, smudges, and body oil.

Granite countertops are generally sealed at the time of fabrication. Resealing is up to the individual. Manufacturers of impregnators recommend countertops to be resealed from 1 to every 4 years, or longer, depending on the application, the sensitivity of the individual, and the type of stone.

Spills should be wiped up immediately. Blot the spill with a clean paper towel. If the countertop stains, a poultice may need to be applied. Use the flat side of a razor blade for removing stuck on tape residue, dried paint, glue, dried food, etc. Use #0000, or finer, steel wool to remove dried water spots, smudges, hazy areas, and for general cleaning. Do not use the steel wool wet, and use a pencil eraser to remove aluminum trails.

  • Do not use acid-based cleaners such as rust removers, sterling silver cleaners, etc., on the countertop, or place rags saturated with acid based cleaners on the countertop.
  • Do not use any cleaners containing Hydrofluoric Acid.
  • Do not use strong abrasive cleaners such as Comet or SoftScrub.
  • Do not leave spills on the countertop for prolonged periods of time.

Natural Stone, Granite and Marble

Natural Stone, Granite and Marble care isn’t any more difficult than other materials you’re familiar with such as leather, formica, wood, etc. The difference is mainly in the cleaning agents.

Natural Stones, especially calcite based stones such as Marble, Travertine, Onyx, and Limestone, have a delicate chemical composition. Cleaning solutions not formulated for Natural Stone may interact negatively with your stone and cause damage. Follow our basic Do’s and Don’ts to preserve the beauty of your Natural Stone.

FLOORS

Do

  • Use floor mats or rugs for areas with direct access to the outside.
  • Clean or shake your mats often.
  • Dust mop your floor frequently. Sand, dirt, and grit are the biggest enemy to stone floors.
  • Buy the appropriate tools such as a good sized closed loop cotton string mop and a professional type mop bucket with a ringer.
  • Mop with a stone friendly floor cleaner, as opposed to soap and water to reduce soap film buildup.
  • Apply a stone polish as soon as possible after installation or restoration to keep that shine. (Not necessary to do right away if you have had your floor detailed by a natural stone professional.)
  • Damp mop your floor regularly.

Don’t

  • Damp mop your floor with vinegar, lemon juice, or other cleaners containing acids on Marble, Travertine, Limestone, or Onyx surfaces. This can seriously damage your stone.
  • Damp mop your floor with a commercially available cleaner unless it indicates it’s SAFE for your Granite and Marble care.
  • Use a vacuum cleaner with worn or missing wheels.

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS

Do

  • Clean your kitchen countertop regularly with a safe Marble and Granite cleaner.
  • If you have a calcite based stone such as Marble, Limestone, Onyx, or Travertine installed, use coasters under all glasses.
  • Take care to clean spills by blotting them as soon as you can.
  • If needed, apply a penetrating sealer that is safe for use in food preparation areas.

Don’t

  • Use products that contain lemon, vinegar, or other acids on Marble, Limestone, Onyx, or Travertine.
  • Use scouring powders or creams.
  • Use more cleanser than recommended.

VANITY TOPS

Do

  • Clean your bathroom vanity top regularly with a Marble and Granite cleaner intended for Natural Stone.
  • Apply a penetrating sealer if needed.

Don’t

  • Clean Marble, Travertine, Limestone, or Onyx Surfaces with vinegar, lemon juice, or any bathroom cleaners containing acids.
  • Clean with dry or soft cleansers that contain abrasive.
  • Clean your vanity mirror with a household cleaner if it’s above a Natural Stone vanity.
  • Use any powder cleaner, or any cream cleaner.
  • Paint your nails on your Marble vanity top, or perm your hair anywhere near it.
  • Put any wet bottle, such as perfume and after shave, on top of a Marble vanity.

SHOWER WALLS

Do

  • Minimize soap scum by using a squeegee after each use.
  • Always remove soap scum with a product intended for Marble or Granite.
  • Monitor your grout and caulk lines periodically and address any problems immediately.

Don’t

  • Use just any cleanser, either in a powdery or creamy form.
  • Frequently use ammonia solutions. Your surface will dull over time.
  • Clean your Granite or Marble shower walls with any generic soap film removers.
  • Use any generic mildew stain removers on your polished stone shower wall.