Granite Care

While granite is a very robust and durable material, there are still several steps you can take to maintain the stone and its polish.

  • Be sure to apply a high quality sealer annually.*Time span may vary in certain stones
    • General instructions for applying sealer are as follows:
      1. Saturate a paper towel with the sealer and liberally apply to the total granite surface and edges.
      2. Wait approximately 20 minutes (Note: This time may vary. Check the label of your sealer for more detailed instructions)
      3. With a dry paper towel, buff the stone until dry.
      4. (Note: These directions may vary between different sealers. Check the label of your sealer for more detailed instructions)
  • Clean your countertops as necessary. Soap and water works well, or you can purchase a granite countertop cleaner. These cleaners generally have a mild sealer in them which will help maintain your sealer throughout the year.
    1. Note: Strong cleaners and bleach are NOT recommended. These cleaners can break down your sealer, making the granite more susceptible to stains.
  • Be careful of potentially staining spills. (Citrus, red wines, tomatoes, and any other acidic or harsh substances)
    • If a spill should happen, simply clean it in a timely manner. The sealer protects granite from stains and etching, but if a spill is left for a prolonged period of time (i.e. 8+ hours) harsh substances can break down the sealer.
    • Should a stain occur:
      1. Attempt to clean the stain out with a strong cleaner such as acetone or lacquer thinner. If the stain persists, continue to the next step.
        • Note: Acetone and lacquer thinner are very harsh cleaners. If this method is required to remove your stain, be sure to reseal your granite.
      2. Spread poultice paste over the stain and cover with plastic wrap. Tape down the plastic wrap to restrict airflow. Leave for a full 24 hours. If the stain still persists, contact Nature’s Stone for more assistance.

Quartz Care

Quartz is manufactured and stain resistant, however, it is still a good idea to properly maintain your quartz countertops.

  • Be sure to wipe up potentially harsh spills in a timely manner.
    1. For dried spills or heavy stains, a glass or surface cleaner and a non-abrasive sponge work well.
    2. If you encounter a greasy stain, typically around your cooking area, it is safe to use a degreasing product to clean.
  • Avoid abrasives and acidic or alkaline cleaners.
    1. Scouring pad and “eraser” type sponges are not recommended. These may seem to work well at first, however, over time these harsh abrasives can actually wear down and remove the shine from the quartz surface.
    2. Quartz will tolerate mild alkaline solutions such as diluted bleach, but high-pH substances such as oven cleaners and concentrated bleach can damage the surface. If these types of substances get onto the quartz countertops, clean and rinse the exposed surface immediately and thoroughly with water.
  • Avoid high heat
    1. Trivets and hot pads are highly recommended if you have quartz countertops. Quartz countertops are typically around 93% quartz and the remaining 7% is a mixture of pigments and resins. These resins are prone to melting if exposed to heat above 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
      • DO NOT place dishes directly from a hot oven/stove-top onto quartz countertops. Sudden temperature changes or prolonged exposure to heat from a pan may cause the quartz to crack.
  • Always use a cutting board
    1. When preparing food, be sure to always use a cutting board. Quartz countertops are hard, but usually not hard enough to resist scratching from strong blades.

Marble Care

Marble is the softest of the stones we offer for countertops.

Care for marble countertops is very similar to granite care since they are both natural stones, but you must take extreme care with marble. It is so soft compared to granite, even setting a drinking glass down at the wrong angle could result in a scratch.

While we are happy to supply marble at a customer’s request. It is not recommended for high-traffic areas such as a busy kitchen simply because of how soft the stone is.