Granite Care during the Holidays

The kitchen and bathrooms are the most used rooms in the house during the holidays. Here are some do’s and don’ts to keep your granite counter tops looking great during the messy, and stressful holiday season.

Do: Use coasters. Have an abundance on hand for holiday guests.

Do: Use pot holders. We all know that granite can take the heat from a hot pot but they can suffer “thermal shock” and crack. It’s rare but its better to be safe than sorry.

Do: Wipe up spills immediately. Acidic substances will not etch granite but they will marble. They could stain, same with cooking oils. Wipe them up to prevent those stains.

Don’t use generic cleaning products such as bleach, glass cleaners, de-greasers or other common household cleaners. They contain acids, alkalis and other chemicals that will degrade the granite sealer (and will etch marble) leaving the stone more vulnerable to staining.

Do: Use stone cleaners with a soft sponges or cloths. Hot water will do in quick clean ups. Dish soap with work too, but will build up and dull your surface.

Don’t let your guests or yourself sit or stand on counter tops. Your counter tops are hard, but too much weight could cause a crack.

If you follow these easy steps, you could prevent a holiday granite disaster!