Your new granite countertop is the showstopper of your kitchen. Whether you choose the color Black Pearl or Typhoon Bordeaux, your granite countertops are sure to make an impression in nearly every kitchen or bathroom.
After your new granite countertops are first installed, you’re likely wondering how you can keep the quality and color looking top-notch for years to come. Luckily, caring for new granite countertops is quite easy. You only need a small amount of supplies to maintain your new countertops and keep them looking good as new.
Chipping And Scratching Your Granite Countertops
Granite countertops are very durable and difficult to scratch or chip, but it’s entirely possible. The best way to care for chipping and scratching your new granite countertops is by avoiding the problem in the first place.
Granite can chip if a large and heavy item is banged into the countertop. Be careful when you handle heavy pots and pans and small appliances in the kitchen, as these are the biggest offenders of causing chips in your countertops. Otherwise, it is quite unlikely that you will run into many instances where you chip your granite.
Scratching your new granite is another unlikely yet possible risk. Although granite is one of the hardest materials for countertops, items that are as equally hard or harder than granite can cause scratching. This includes items such as another piece of granite or a diamond ring.
If you happen to scratch your granite countertops, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t further damage the granite when attempting to repair it on your own. You can try to conceal the scratch with a permanent marker or improve it with a dry #0000 steel wool pad.
In addition to chipping and scratching, staining is another concern you might have with your new countertops. Luckily, it’s easier to care for spills and stains than chipping and scratching, as long as you take care of the situation in a timely manner.
Tackling Spills And Stains on Your New Granite Countertops
One benefit of choosing granite countertops for your kitchen or bathroom is that they are very resilient to most stains. Stains originating from liquids such as citric acid, tea, coffee, alcohol, and wine typically clean up in an instant. However, there are several key factors to keep in mind to further prevent stains from settling in permanently.
For instance, if you spill red wine on your granite countertop and leave it overnight, it increases the chance of leaving a stain. Granite and most other natural stones can absorb liquids that are left on your countertops for long periods of time.
You can avoid this issue by blotting spilled liquids off of your granite countertops as quickly as you can. One of the easiest methods you can use to clean your granite countertops is with an organic cleaning product that you can make at home. Mixing baking soda with water into a paste will remove spills right off of your countertops. You can also use warm water with non-acidic dishwashing detergent and a soft cloth.
Sealing your granite countertop can also help protect against stains. Even though your granite countertops are usually sealed when you first get them, it’s important to understand why sealing is so important for the maintenance of granite.
Why Should You Seal Your Granite Countertops?
While it’s true that granite is a durable stone, adding an extra layer of protection is beneficial for several reasons.
First, sealing your granite countertops helps protect granite against stains. It makes it less likely that liquid or oil will be absorbed into your countertops and cause staining before you get the chance to clean it. Keep in mind that even water can stain granite countertops.
Several other good reasons to seal your granite is to reduce etching, reduce the need of using chemical-based cleaners, and maintain your granite countertops for years to come.
Contact Arch City Granite For Expert Granite Countertop Care
Whether your granite countertops are brand new or 10 years old, Arch City Granite can help repair and care for your granite. Contact us today for granite countertop installation in St. Louis at 314-426-3100 or O’Fallon at 636-329-8400.