How to Take Care of Stone Countertops

Nature creates unique materials such as granite, marble, travertine, onyx, limestone. On the surface (pun intended), nothing beats the beauty of the natural stone, but without proper protection, your investment will get easily stained and some materials, like marble, are easily etched by acid.

Each stone countertop has unique characteristics that require different care. When initially choosing a stone for your home, it is important to look into the extent of cleaning and maintenance needed to preserve the appearance of your stone countertop. 

Before we dive into individual maintenance tips for granite, quartz, and marble, let’s go over some simple tips to preserve the life of every stone countertop:

• Use coasters under glasses
• Use counter mats and trivets when setting hot objects on your stone counter
• Blot spills immediately with paper towels and avoids wiping/spreading the spill

Why Is Counter Maintenance Important?

The importance of regular countertop maintenance boils down to two main principles: Preservation and Sanitization.

Preservation 

Without proper maintenance, the life of your countertop significantly decreases. While sealants are the number one way to protect your stone, regular cleaning is a sealer’s sidekick. 

It’s important to keep in mind that general-purpose cleaners often contain acidic ingredients (like ammonia, bleach, and abrasives) that are harmful to natural stone surfaces. These products can break down stone sealers and permanently damage the surface.

 Sanitization

Our kitchens are breeding zones for food-borne bacteria, so properly cleaning your countertops ensures that they are not going to get you sick. Natural stone, like granite and marble, is porous, meaning it has tiny holes and spaces through which bacteria are able to seep into the stone. Quartz, on the other hand, is manufactured with resin, making it non-porous, unlike slabs of natural stone – however, that is not to say that they do not require the same mindfulness when it comes to care. 

Breaking it Down (to avoid breakdown)

Granite

As mentioned, granite is a naturally porous material, similar to a sponge, and will absorb any spilled liquid, leading to stains and trapped bacteria. Lighter colored granite is more porous than darker granite, which is denser. The most important maintenance practice is to stay on top of resealing your countertop. Lighter granite should be resealed every 1-2 years, and darker granite, due to its higher density, should be resealed every 3-5 years. 

Granite sealers not only protect countertops from stains, but they also enhance the natural shine of the surface. That being said, if you use the wrong sealer for your surface, it can lead to damage. 

Granite maintenance tips:

• Avoid sponges that have metal mesh. With time, it will damage the polish
• Wash with regular soap and warm water
• After washing, always go over the surface with a dry rag to catch leftover water. Failure to dry the surface will result in streaks. 

Marble 

Marble is a stone we typically don’t recommend as it is a big commitment, especially if you install it in your kitchen or bathroom. In our opinion, marble is best for walls – but if you do choose marble for your countertop, go will a matte finish over a gloss. Matte finishes help preserve countertop life and hide etch spots better than a glossy surface. 

With marble countertops, resealing is required much more often than granite – every 6 months. Even so, marble sealants are only short-term fixes. Marble can begin to look stained, etched or damaged from water, wine, and food within days or even hours after application.

A marble countertop is truly a commitment, much like adopting a puppy, so make sure you fully understand the demand and of this countertop option.

Marble maintenance tips:

• Regularly clean with a soft cloth and a very minimal amount of non-acidic cleaner
• Clean tougher spills with mild dish soap and warm water
• Avoid acidic or harsh cleaners

 We recommend Diamond Coat for a long-term protection product for natural stone. It is an epoxy that coats the entire countertop surface like a thin layer of liquid glass, filling in all imperfections and pores. After it cures, it leaves you with a strong, smooth surface – making it easier to clean and prevent bacterial buildup.

Quartz

Quartz countertops require the least amount of maintenance. Due to the resin mixed with ground, natural quartz, it is a non-porous, man-made material that doesn’t require any sealer. This means that when it comes to preservation and sanitization, quartz will always come in the first place. There are no tiny holes for germs to hide and build-up, making quartz the most antibacterial stone countertop option. 

This doesn’t mean you get a free pass out of countertop cleaning. The maintenance factor to consider with quartz is that if you don’t keep your surface clean, over time, dirt can get trapped within the texture of the quartz particles and appear as a stain. 

Quartz maintenance tips:

• Clean regularly with mild dish soap and a warm, wet, soft towel. 
• Clean spills and sticky residue as quickly as possible to avoid staining
• For harder or dried on spills, clean with a glass surface cleaner – if scraping is necessary, use plastic utensils only
• Avoid bleach, acidic, or abrasive cleaners
• Never place hot pots and pans directly on the countertop, always use trivets or counter mats

Remember that with your top-of-the-line countertops, you should invest top-of-the-line care. Without a doubt, you and your family will spend a lot of time in your kitchen, so it is important to keep your countertops clean and bacteria-free, and in the process, preserve the life and look of your beautiful kitchen.