Granite Countertops by Arch City Granite, St. Louis

Does Granite Stain? This is one of the more frequent questions we hear from first-time granite buyers. It should be a simple question, but there is a lot of misinformation floating around on the internet.

Yes, technically granite can stain, but it’s not very common. Technically all natural stones are porous. Some stones like granite are less porous and other stones like marble are more porous. Granite is relatively impervious to water and is only minimally absorbent. That’s one of the reasons it is such a popular choice for building exteriors all over the world. Most of the time, any liquid spilled on granite will remain on the surface for at least a few minutes. If the granite is unsealed, this liquid may soak into the granite pores. In these cases, it will usually dry back out within 15-20 minutes.

In some cases, particularly with oils or grease, liquid left on the counter can soak in and create a stain. However, even when this happens, the stain is not necessarily permanent. Most of the time it can be removed using a topically applied paste that draws out any moisture from the stone.

And if the chances of staining weren’t already small enough, you’ll never have to worry about water rings, temporary dark spots, or stains if you properly seal your granite every year.

At Arch City Granite and Marble in St. Louis, we use a top-of-the-line sealer from Dry-Treat Sealer. Dry-Treat makes sealers with advanced “Nano-Technology” that are effective for 15 years. Our sealer is an alcohol-based formula that fills pores in the granite, stopping any liquids from penetrating the stone. Sealer will not change the appearance of your stone; in fact, it will make it more sanitary and easier to clean, since no liquids from food can get into the stone.

How to Seal Granite

Like most quality fabricators, we seal your granite immediately after installation to make sure it’s protected from day one. After that, you can easily repeat the process yourself to ensure your granite stays like-new for years and years to come. Just follow these simple steps:

• Clean your granite counters off with water and allow them to dry completely.
• Shake the sealer and apply it liberally to every part of your counters using a clean paint roller (you can use a clean paintbrush or paper-towels to get all the way into the corners). The idea is to have a thin film of sealer on the entire surface of the stone.
• Let the sealer soak into the counters for 15 minutes. Then you need to wipe off the countertops with a clean cloth.
• If you have a white granite or other stone that is more susceptible to stains, you may want to apply a second coat. In that case, wait for at least 48 hours before you apply the second coat the same way as the first.
• Wipe off the counter with clean towels or paper towels, making sure to wipe away any excess sealer. Whatever didn’t soak into the counters is excess.
• Let your countertops sit for 24 hours before you use them if possible.
• Clean your rollers or brushes with water and store in a clean place.

For regular cleaning, we recommend using Dry-Treat’s Rejuvenata Spray. This product not only cleans and polishes, but also adds a small bit of sealer to make sure there are no unsealed patches on your granite counters.

If you have more questions, please visit our St. Louis granite showroom to speak with natural stone experts.

The post Does Granite Stain? Real Answers from a Stone Pro appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

It is good to know that granite countertops are not a breeding ground for bacterial growth. The Center for Disease Control nor the Institute for Occupational Safety Control have found any evidence to show that granite countertops harbor bacteria.

Yet any countertop material, including granite, may harbor bacteria when they are kept moist and food debris is allowed to stay for long.

You can keep beautiful granite counters pristinely clean by disinfecting it with a solution that will not harm the granite or the sealant covering the top.

The process of disinfecting a granite countertop is simple and it can be inexpensive if you use a simple and effective cleaning solution that you make yourself.

Killing Germs

Mild dishwashing soap has antibacterial properties, which makes it ideal to use for disinfecting granite countertops. Make your own inexpensive countertop cleaner that will clean the granite surfaces safely and effectively.

Mix 4 tablespoons of isopropyl alcohol and 4 drops of dishwashing soap in a 1-liter spray bottle. You can purchase isopropyl alcohol in any grocery store or pharmacy chain. It is the same liquid used in first aid kits for small injuries. Fill the bottle almost to the top with warm water and shake the contents gently. Do not shake the mixture too vigorously because the homemade cleaner could lather so much that it won’t spray through the spray nozzle.

The Cleaning Process

Spray the cleaning solution onto the granite countertop, covering roughly 2 square feet of counter area. Allow the liquid to sit on the surface of the granite for about one minute to disinfect the counter.

Wipe off the cleaner with a clean, dry, white cloth to finish cleaning the area. Using a white cloth prevents possible stains from colored fabric. Repeat the same process until you clean the entire granite countertop.

Ingredients to Avoid

There are a few things to avoid when it comes to choosing a cleaner for your granite countertops. Avoid cleaners that contain vinegar or other acidic ingredients because these ingredients can diminish the shine of granite surfaces. Abrasive cleansers can harm the finish of a granite counter.

Do not use chlorine bleach, commercial window cleaners or other all-purpose cleansers on granite countertops. Check cleaner labels and do not use products containing hydrofluoric acid. These cleaners may harm the sealant or the granite itself.

Discouraging Bacteria

• Disinfect granite countertops periodically if you cook in the kitchen every day.
• Always use a cutting board when chopping or dicing food so food bacteria do not sit on the granite surfaces. This can be especially important in seamed areas of the countertop.
• Wipe spills and messes when they occur. Leaving moisture on the granite surface could breed bacteria.
• Maintain an effective sealant over the granite surface to act as a barrier for bacteria. Reapply the sealant once a year to keep the sealant adequate. Or you can use 3 year sealants like Stonetech Bulletproof Sealer.

Everything You Need to Know About Cleaning Granite Countertops

Granite countertops make an impressive addition to any home — and a healthy one too. Tests by the Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show granite demonstrates excellent natural resistance to bacteria. These countertops come in a wide variety of colors and natural patterns to complement virtually any decor. With the right cleaning and care, you can keep yours looking brilliant for years to come. 

Keeping countertops clean around the home has always been essential for promoting a healthy environment. With the onset of COVID-19, cleanliness takes on a whole new level of importance. Many household products claim to kill viruses and bacteria, but for many of them, the risk may outweigh the reward. Bleach, Lysol, vinegar and other popular cleaning solutions may be useful in sterilizing your surfaces, but the chemicals within them can cause lasting damage to natural stone surfaces.

The Best Way to Clean Granite Countertops

The best way to clean granite countertops is with a mixture of warm water and liquid dish detergent. This method is an eco-friendly solution and very effective at removing grease, fingerprints, food and buildup. Soap and water are gentle on granite and you can use them on your countertops as often as you like without risking damage. 

For increased disinfecting power, add isopropyl alcohol to the mix. Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol provides an excellent solution for killing bacteria and viruses like COVID-19 while preserving the finish and shine of your countertops.

To create your cleaning solution, add one drop of dish detergent into your spray bottle for every eight ounces of warm water and four tablespoons of rubbing alcohol. Mix them together gently to reduce pressure and lather in the bottle.

Disinfecting Granite Countertops for COVID-19 and Other Viruses

Cleaning and disinfecting granite countertops is easy and something you can do every day to keep your stone surfaces healthy and looking great. To ensure you fully disinfect your countertops, focus on areas no larger than a few square feet at a time. To get a complete clean for your granite countertops:

• Prepare your counters: Remove any appliances, home decor and other items for access, and wipe any crumbs into your sink or dustpan to prevent scratching.
• Spray your counters: Use your solution to spray your countertops. Allow the spray to sit for at least one minute so the alcohol can achieve its full potential.
• Clean your counters: Scrub your countertops using a clean, soft cloth, preferably microfiber. Repeat the process as needed until your countertops shine. 
• Dry your counters: When you are finished scrubbing, rinse your rag and remove any excess soap. Using a dry towel, dab the remaining water off the counter.

People Also Read:

• Can I Use Cleaner on My Natural Stone?
• Green Ways to Clean Granite Countertops
• How to Keep a Kitchen Clean Throughout the Year
• How to Remove Stains from your Granite Countertops
• How to Remove Scratches from Granite Countertops
• How to Remove Stains from Granite Countertops

The post What can be used to Disinfect Granite Countertops? appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

Granite is an exceptionally hard natural stone, but it is possible to damage it if you do not take care of it properly.

Products to Avoid

Keep strong chemicals and cleaners away from granite surfaces. Avoid chlorine bleach, abrasive cleaners, ammonia, vinegar and citrus liquids. Damage could occur to the sealant layer on top of the granite with some chemicals.

Instead of using harsh chemicals, use gentle cleaners to keep granite beautiful. Gentle dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water should clean granite efficiently and safely. Plain water and a microfiber cloth will also remove smudges and soiling.

Special Liquids to Protect Granite

Check with the company from which you purchased the granite for a cleaner recommendation. Special granite cleaners are available which not only clean and shine the granite countertops, but can also replenish the protective sealant.

In this way you are protecting your granite countertops without the worry to remember the sealing schedule. DuPont Stonetech Revitalizer is one good product. It is proven to be very effective and yet is costs only $35 to $ 39 dollars for a gallon container that may last for 2 to 4 years depending on the size of the kitchen. You can use this revitalizer every day, once in few days, or as many times as you want to clean your countertops.

Sealing Granite

Maintenance of granite is basic and straightforward. Expect to reseal the surface once each year to protect the surface from stains that could permeate through the sealant. There are very effective sealants like the Bulletproof sealer, manufactured by DuPont, that can protect up to 3 years as opposed to yearly sealing.

Bulletproof Seal is a very effective product made by DuPont. You can purchase these products from reputable fabricators of your area.

With a strong sealant covering the granite, cleanup will be easier because the sealant layer will release particles and liquids easily.

Test the sealant to see if it’s time to seal again. If a droplet of water stays beaded on the surface of the granite, the existing sealant is still effective. If the water absorbs into the stone and the granite looks darker, reapply a fresh coat of sealant.

Chips or Cracks in the Granite

Typical everyday use of a granite countertop should not damage it. However, granite will break or chip under extreme abuse.

Granite countertops are strong enough to be installed directly over your cabinets. 3 cm granite slabs are ideal for this purpose. When granite is installed with overhangs of more than 8 inches, an adequate support needs to be built. Otherwise there is a possibility of cracking or breaking when heavy items are placed on the granite, or heavy people lean on the overhangs.

Reputable fabricators who follow the Marble Institute of America stone installation standards will take care of this issue by providing the necessary steel braces to support the granite.

Sometimes granite will chip around the edges of the counter. Impact of a ladder, or appliances, or any other sturdy objects while being moved around kitchen area may cause the granite chipping.

Generally these chips are small in size, but they may mar the beauty of your counter. A professional can repair a granite chip by filling the area in with a matching epoxy and filing and buffing it down to match the surrounding counter.

Scratches in Granite

Although it’s difficult to scratch granite, it can happen. Another rough piece of granite could scratch a granite counter. If scratches occur, contact a professional for repair to restore the shine.

Granite does not burn easily. Most pots and pans that you could place on granite would not be hot enough to scorch or damage the stone. Heat over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit would damage granite.

Common sense usage and care should keep your granite countertops brilliantly beautiful for many years.

Please visit Arch City Granite & Marble if you need any natural stone protection products.

The post What can I do to Protect my Granite Countertops? appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

Reapplying sealant at the correct intervals will ensure that the granite remains free of staining and other damage, which could mar the surface. In recent years with the advent of advanced natural stone sealers, the maintenance of granite has become much less demanding.

Standard Sealing Recommendations

Many professionals recommend sealing granite countertops at least once each year. If you cook frequently in your kitchen and use the countertops daily, you might need to reseal the granite even more frequently. This used to be the advice from stone professionals over the years.

With the advancements in Polymers and Nanotechnologies, very effective and long lasting sealers are available for granite stain protection, reducing the need of yearly applications of sealer to the granite countertops.

The way you maintain your granite counter can also have an effect on the frequency of resealing. If you use chemicals on the granite that wear away or weaken the sealant, you will need to reseal more often.

The best and harmless way to clean granite countertops on a regular basis is a mix of warm water with a spoon of mild hand soap.

Factors to Consider

The color of your granite is an important factor that determines the frequency of resealing. Dark granite colors like Black Pearl, Indian Coffee Brown, and Tan Brown tend to be denser than light colored granites. The higher density makes the granite less porous and less at risk for staining. Dark granites also hide small stains and imperfections more readily than lighter granite counters.

Extending the Resealing Period

Some sealants that you can buy will last longer than other sealants. Look for a sealant with advanced chemical technology, which will enable it to form a more permanent bond on the granite.

Long lasting sealants tend to be little more expensive, but they last – often many years or even indefinitely.  Our customers had great experience by using Stonetech Bullet Proof Sealant manufactured by DuPont. This is the highest grade sealant, and DuPont indicates that its effects last for at least 3 years on the indoor applications.

You can further extend the effectiveness of the DuPont sealer by using a cleaning liquid called Stonetech Revitalizer made by DuPont. Gallon cans be purchased at a very reasonable price and that will last for 2 to 3 years of regular cleaning usage.

Revitalizer liquid has traces of sealant mixed with it. Every time you are cleaning, you are also replenishing the traces of sealant that are lost by wear and tear.

Some of our customers stopped resealing their granite countertops after usage of Revitalizer over several years.

Testing the Sealant

You can test your granite countertop to determine when it’s time to reseal the surface. Drop a few droplets of plain water onto the granite and watch to see what happens over the next five minutes.

If the water remains in beaded droplets on the surface of the granite, the sealant is protecting the granite. If you return to the counter and find the droplets gone because they absorbed into the granite, it’s time to reseal your counter.

How to Seal a Granite Countertop

Remove everything from the counters when it’s time to seal. Wash the granite with mild dishwashing soap and rinse it well. Wipe down the granite with acetone to remove any cleaning residues, if necessary. Spread or spray on the sealer and allow it to absorb into the granite. After the recommended setting time (15 minutes), wipe away the excess sealer with a clean cloth.

(Watch a video about granite sealing.)

Your granite counters should be ready to use 24 hours after sealing it.

Call us at 314-426-3100 for expert granite advice!

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