Granite is a beautiful, durable option for kitchen countertops. Granite is incredibly popular in kitchen remodeling, and it has the potential to stand the test of time. If you want your granite to last, there are some simple steps you can take to preserve its integrity. Check out these granite maintenance tips from O’Hanlon Kitchens.
Day-to-Day Granite Cleaning
For daily messes, you can simply wipe down your granite with a paper towel or non-abrasive cleaning wipe. Avoid abrasive brushes and harsh chemicals that could wear down your granite countertop sealant. You can take this one step further by using a specially-formulated granite cleaner. If you do not want to do this every day, you could do so at least once a week – similar to the timeframe you’d use to polish wood furniture.
Preserve Your Stone with Granite Countertop Sealing
Granite countertops need to be sealed in order to preserve the sheen and protect the surface from staining. We recommend sealing your countertops at least once a year, but you could do it as often as every six months. Light granite counters need to be sealed more often than dark granite because the stone is more porous and susceptible to damage. We can go over all of this with you during your kitchen remodeling consultation.
Granite Maintenance Tips to Further Protect Your Countertops
Many elements of granite care are nothing more than common sense. Here are some granite maintenance tips that you may already be doing:
- Use a cutting board to cut food on the countertop. Do not use the countertop as a cutting board because that can damage your knives and your counters.
- Use a trivet or cooling pad to protect the granite from heat. You can temporarily set a hot pan on granite, but you should not rely on the countertop like you would a trivet. The stone could crack due to the extreme temperature change.
- Do not stand on the countertops. If you need to change a lightbulb, clean, or reach something in the upper portions of your cabinets, use a ladder or stepstool. Do not climb on the countertops.
- Clean spills when they occur. Dab up the liquid as much as possible, and then wipe the surface down with an appropriate cleaner.
- Put something between your granite and ceramic. If you have a ceramic utensil holder or canister on your countertop, put something under it to prevent the ceramic from scratching the granite.
- Do not drop heavy objects on the granite. Before you start a project, remember that your granite is not indestructible. Consider moving projects with heavy objects to the garage or another space in your home.
Whether you have granite countertops or want new kitchen countertops, the team at O’Hanlon Kitchens is here to assist you. Contact us at 443-285-0558 to speak with a kitchen remodeler near you.
