5 Practices to Keep in Mind About Your Granite Countertops - Best Countertop Store Near Austin Texas | Serving All Of Central Texas and Beyond! (2024)

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5 Practices to Keep in Mind About Your Granite Countertops - Best Countertop Store Near Austin Texas | Serving All Of Central Texas and Beyond!? ›

What you should not do: Use harsh chemicals for cleaning like bleach, ammonia or bathroom cleansers. Use vinegar to clean your granite countertops.

What you should not do: Use harsh chemicals for cleaning like bleach, ammonia or bathroom cleansers. Use vinegar to clean your granite countertops.

The reason you should avoid Clorox wipes on granite countertops is that they contain large amounts of citric acid. As citric acid is very strong, these ingredients can break down the sealant that is placed on the granite kitchen worktops which is there to protect it.

Yes, Dawn dish soap is safe to use to clean granite countertops. Not only is it safe to use on your cooking and food prep surfaces, but it is also a great degreaser and can remove stubborn grease stains. Be sure to mix it with water so the concentration isn't as strong, as you don't need to use more than a few drops.

Granite is naturally heat resistant, and heat damage would occur only if the granite was heated unevenly. So briefly putting a hot pan down on your granite countertop isn't going to cause long-term damage. That said, we don't recommend putting hot pans on granite countertops — not for the granite's sake but for yours.

Bleach, vinegar, the ingredients in Lysol, and others can cause permanent damage, especially if used incorrectly. Acids, such as vinegar and even lemon juice, can break down the sealant that is used on stone countertops. Clorox and Lysol sprays and wipes are convenient, but they are not safe for granite countertops.

Daily granite countertop care is as easy as cleaning with a gentle cleanser like Murphy's Oil Soap or mild dishwashing liquid. If needed you can use a synthetic scrubbing pad to clean your granite counter.

Since granite countertops have a sealant on them to keep them shiny and stain-resistant, you want to avoid using anything too acidic or basic on the granite. Frequent use of vinegar, Windex or bleach will dull the granite and weaken the sealant. Instead, a little soap and water should do the trick.

Essentially, any type of harsh acidic or abrasive cleanser may strip away the sealant, which is essential for keeping your granite countertop germ-free, clean and food-safe.

Rubbing alcohol is a natural bactericide and can also kill fungus and viruses. It has no ill effects on your granite or the seal on your granite so it's an ideal way to keep countertops clean. The list of disinfectants that are harmful for granite countertops is very long.

What dish soap is safe for granite? ›

Luckily, everything you'll need to clean your hard surfaces can already be found in your home: Concentrated dish soap that's tough on stains and grease while staying gentle on stainless steel, granite, and glassware, like Dawn® Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray. Soft cloth and sponge.

Regular Dawn or other dish soaps work well. Do use a soft cloth. No special tools needed here: a soft cloth will help remove all grime and dirt without damaging countertops. Do use warm to hot water.

Windex; acidic cleaners, like vinegar, lemon, lime; or anything with ammonia or bleach should be avoided. Frequent use of these chemicals will dull and weaken the sealant over time. Basically, the harsher the cleaner, the quicker it will break down the sealant.

While you can cut directly on some stone countertops, it is not recommended. Granite is one of the most durable countertop materials you can buy, and it can certainly withstand cuts from a knife blade. However, if your granite has a sealer on it, cutting can eventually wear down the sealant.

Granite is heat-resistant but you should still place hot pans on pads or trivets rather than directly on the surface to be safe. Use coasters for cups, glasses and bottles. Take special care especially with glasses that contain alcohol or acidic beverages.

Just as you shouldn't place heavy loads on the countertops, granite countertop installers Rockville also advise against standing or sitting on the countertops. You also shouldn't place heavy kitchen appliances such as microwaves on the surfaces.

Since granite countertops have a sealant on them to keep them shiny and stain-resistant, you want to avoid using anything too acidic or basic on the granite. Frequent use of vinegar, Windex or bleach will dull the granite and weaken the sealant. Instead, a little soap and water should do the trick.

Avoid countertops that are largely plastic such as cultured marble, solid surface, and those that introduce formaldehyde, like laminate. If using laminate countertops, specify that the substrate be made with a no added formaldehyde (NAF) resin. Additionally, CDPH-certified laminate materials are preferred.

Granite is porous. This means that unsealed or poorly sealed counters can absorb wine, juice or oil, producing a stain that might be impossible to remove. A poorly-sealed countertop can also harbor bacteria in its pores.

Granite is a porous stone, which means that some spills can seep through and stain your countertops. Follow these tips to remove stains from your granite countertops. Make a paste of baking soda and water. With a soft sponge, apply the baking soda paste on the stain and work it into the stone.