Care and Maintenance of Your Countertops

Congratulations on your new countertops! Taking care of your countertops and not damaging them might sound a little scary at first, but we made it easy for you with our easy-to-follow care and maintenance guide below.

Granite

This countertop material is tough, but it needs to be maintained to keep the true qualities of granite. Follow our guide below on how to keep your granite countertop looking as beautiful as the day you got it!

Sealing
Granite needs to be sealed at least once a year to create a nonporous finish and to protect it from stains. White granite countertops may need sealing more frequently than darker colors, as they are more likely to show stains. To see if your granite countertop needs to be resealed, splash a few drops of water on the surface. If the water beads up, your countertop is in great shape. If the water is absorbed, your counter needs to be resealed. Sealing your granite countertops is an easy task you can do yourself. Simply follow the instructions on the bottle, apply a small amount of the sealant to a soft cloth and spread evenly over the surface. Allow 10-15 minutes for the solution to absorb into the stone and then wipe the surface one more time with a clean cloth to remove any excess.

Daily Care
Just use a soft cloth to dust the surface or wipe it down with plain water and a mild soap. Avoid using any glass cleaner, like Windex, on your granite as the ammonia reacts differently to different stones and may cause permanent streaking. If your countertop needs extra cleaning, use a specially-formulated stone cleaner with a neutral pH. Never use abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals.

Special Care
Occasionally your granite countertop may need special attention. Oily stains that have soaked into the surface may be removed by applying a paste made with baking soda and dish soap. Let sit overnight, covered in plastic wrap, and then rinse thoroughly.

Follow these simple tips to get the longest life of your granite countertops:

• Do not place hot pans or other hot objects, such as crock-pots and electric skillets, directly on your countertop. Always use a protective barrier between any hot object and granite such as a trivet with rubber feet or a mat to protect your countertop.
• Always use coasters under all glasses to prevent any possible damage to your granite countertop.
• If you happen to spill a substance on your countertop, blot the spill with a paper towel immediately. Do not wipe the area, as it will spread the spill. Flush the area with water and mild soap and rinse several times. Dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth.
• Avoid dropping heavy objects on your countertop as granite is more prone to chipping.

Quartz

Quartz is harder than natural stone, however damage can possibly occur if you do not take proper care of your countertop. This material is not so hard to care for, in fact, it is quite low maintenance. To get the longest life and to preserve the beauty of your quartz countertops, follow our guide below!

Sealing
Quartz has a low porosity and it does not require the use of a surface sealant. It is naturally resistant to stains from cooking oils, coffee, wine, and other common kitchen substances.

Daily Care
Wipe your quartz surface with a clean, soft sponge or dishcloth dampened with a mild dish soap and warm water. Rinse the surface with clean water and dry with a soft cloth or a paper towel to prevent spotting.

Special Care
For dried on food and liquid residue, apply a non-abrasive household cleaner and rinse with water. You can always use a plastic putty knife to gently scrape the surface, but avoid using a metal blade of any kind on the surface. For any residual stains or marks, simply wipe with a damp cloth. Never use Methylene Chloride or any cleaners containing alkaline materials as these can damage your countertop surface.

Follow these simple tips to get the longest life of your quartz countertops:

• Do not place hot pans or other hot objects, such as crock-pots and electric skillets, directly on your countertop. Always use a protective barrier between any hot object and quartz such as a trivet with rubber feet or a mat to protect your countertop.
• Always use coasters under all glasses to prevent any possible damage to your quartz countertop.
• Do not cut or chop directly on your countertop. Always use a cutting board or chopping block in food preparation. Also refrain from using your countertop as a work surface where screwdrivers and other metal tools can come in direct contact with it.
• Although quartz is resistant to stain, spills should be cleaned up immediately with soap and water. If a highly acidic or alkaline cleaner spills, such as nail polish remover, turpentine, oven cleaner, bleach, drain cleaners, etc., clean immediately with a mild detergent and rinse.
• Avoid pressure or force on your countertops, such as dropping a heavy pot, as it can chip or crack the stone.

Solid Surface

Solid surface is designed with an impact resistant surface, which enables it to endure harsh use without becoming chipped, cracked, or broken, making this material very durable and low maintenance to care for. Follow the guide below to keep your solid surface countertops looking their very best!

Sealing
Solid surface is nonporous so it does not require any sealers or polishing agents. It is resistant to stains from common kitchen substances and bacteria.

Daily Care 
Clean with soap and water, ammonia-based cleaners, or commercially available solid surface cleaners. Avoid window cleaners as they can leave a waxy build-up that dulls the surface. To prevent film buildup on your counters, be sure to wipe the countertop completely dry after spills and cleaning.

Special Care
Minor damage, such as tough to remove stains, fine scratches, and small cuts, can be easily repaired. First wash the surface with soap and water and dry completely. This will remove any dirt and may remove some hard water deposits. To remove a blotchy appearance from hard water deposits, use a cleaner formulated for removing hard water marks such as CLR or Lime-A-Way. To remove fine scratches, pour some mild abrasive liquid cleaner such as Soft Scrub on a damp sponge or cloth and rub over the area using small circular motions. Rinse the top thoroughly with clean water and wipe surface completely dry.

Follow these simple tips to get the longest life of your solid surface countertops:

• Although solid surface is heat resistant, it is important to minimize the direct heat exposure to protect your countertop. Always use trivets with rubber feet or a mat when placing hot objects on the surface.
• Always use coasters under all glasses to prevent any possible damage to your solid surface countertop.
• Do not cut or chop directly on your countertop. Always use a cutting board or chopping block in food preparation.
• Avoid getting strong chemicals, such as paint removers and oven cleaners on your solid surface countertop. If a spill does occur, promptly flush the surface with water to fully rinse off the chemical.