Hard marble, quartz, and granite countertops are beautiful additions to your kitchen. Caring for your countertops is not difficult or time-consuming, and it can help keep your countertops in great shape for years to come.
Read on to find out what to use (and what not to use) to keep your counters looking great! Read on to find out how to deal with stubborn stains and general maintenance. If you have countertop questions, call our Maryland countertop depot at 410.875.7579.
Taking Care of Hard Marble
Hard marble countertops are timeless, durable, and easy to care for. Making a few adjustments to your cleaning practices will help your counters stay looking new and bright.
Hard Marble: Daily Cleaning
Hard Marble countertops are easy to clean. For regular cleaning, use oil-free dish soap, a rag, and warm water. Wipe away excess soap bubbles with a paper towel.
Hard Marble: Weekly Cleaning
Once per week, you will want to use a specially formulated granite cleaner to wipe down your countertops. Granite cleaner can be purchased from any hardware or grocery store. Granite cleaners are pH-neutral, which will help you avoid discoloration over time.
Hard Marble Tips
- Use soap and water for daily cleaning.
- Use a cutting board during meal prep.
- Avoid leaving spills to sit overnight.
- Never use harsh cleaners or bleach.
- Avoid leaving fruit or veggies on the counters.
- Reseal your countertops every 3-5 years.
- If you notice dark marks when exposed to water, it’s time to reseal.
- MB Stone Care Stain Reaper Poultice Paste is an excellent choice for most hard marble stains.
Quartz Countertops: Daily Cleaning
To clean your quartz countertops, use dish soap, warm water, and a clean rag (never use brillo or abrasive sponges) to clean your quartz counters. Use a paper towel to wipe away soap residue.
Quartz Countertops: Weekly Cleaning
Use a granite cleaner to clean your quartz countertops every week. Do not use polish or dry powder cleaners). We recommend Stone Care International Granite, Quartz, and Stone Daily Cleaner spray for weekly cleaning.
Quartz Countertops: Maintenance Tips
- Put hot appliances on a cutting board–they can damage quartz.
- Clean up spills right away.
- Only use products designated for natural stones.
- Avoid putting hot, sharp, or abrasive items on your quartz countertops.
- Do not slide heavy objects across your counters.
- Never use harsh cleaners or bleach.
- For a stubborn stain, use a small amount of Bar Keeper’s Friend “Soft Cleanser Liquid” and clean using a circular motion for 10-30 seconds.
- Email a photo of the stain to info@graniteproremodeling.com and we’ll be happy to offer suggestions.
Granite Countertops: Daily Cleaning
For daily cleaning, use a clean rag, warm water, and oil-free dish soap to wipe down your counters. Do not use soaps with any kind of oil.
Granite Countertops: Weekly Cleaning
Just like with quartz and hard marble, a good way to keep your granite looking its best is to wipe it down with granite cleaner once a week. Do not use any kind of polish, bleach, ammonia, or abrasive material on your granite countertops.
Granite Care Tips
- Avoid placing hot pots and pans on your granite.
- Don’t walk on your countertops.
- Do not use bleach, ammonia, abrasives, or harsh chemicals on your counters.
- Use a cutting board when cutting food.
- Avoid leaving fruit or veggies directly on the countertops.
- We recommend MB Stone Care Stain Reaper Poultice Paste for stains.
GranitePro: Maryland’s Go-To Granite Emporium
If you have questions about how to care for your countertops or are interested in replacing them, the experts at GranitePro are available to help. Give us a call at 410.875.7579 to speak with a countertop expert near you!