Tips and Tricks For Granite Worktop Surface Care

When you invest time and cash into something, you want to make sure you protect it. Obviously, when you are renovating a kitchen this is also the case, and purchasing a new granite worktop is a big deal.

Your shiny new worktop will be your new baby for a considerable length of time, and you will probably stand and admire it at length, marvelling at its opulence and beauty. With that in mind, you’ll also want to know how to look after it properly, without having to dedicate endless hours to the cause, or any extra cash.

It’s always a good idea to ensure that you get your new work surface installed professionally at the start, because that way you know you’re working on a good foundation and you don’t have issues from the get-go. On top of this, remember that granite is a porous stone and you will need to seal it at least annually, to keep it on top condition.

Here are a few hints and tips on how you can look after your granite worktop and keep it looking as shiny as new for much longer.

1. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners like the plague – Anything which contains bleach or ammonia needs to be avoided completely. Whilst granite is very strong and resistant to breakage, chemicals will slowly degrade and break down the surface over time so avoid them from the get-go.

2. Do not use any cloths or sponges which are abrasive – Scouring pads or anything which could scratch the surface of your granite worktop needs to be avoided. Granite is very highly scratch resistant, but that doesn’t mean you should subject it to abuse!

3. Stick to warm, soapy water – The cheapest and most effective way to clean and look after your granite worktop is by simply using warm, gentle soapy water and making sure that you dry it properly after cleaning. Granite is porous, so it is going to soak up excess water.

4. Use soft cloths, one wet cloth for cleaning, and one dry one for buffing – A soft cloth is all you need, and as we just mentioned have a wet cloth for cleaning (although not soaking wet), and a dry cloth for buffing and getting rid of standing water.

5. Use a sealing spray occasionally – We’ve mentioned that granite is porous and that means that you are going to have to seal it, but in-between actual sealing sessions you can use a gentle sealing spray from time to time. This doesn’t have to be a regular occurrence, and you can easily buy these quite cheaply, but this will give you extra protection for your granite surface.

6. Seal annually – As we mentioned, you will need to seal your worktop properly on an annual basis, and this is to ensure that it isn’t left open to any potential damaging effects, because of the porosity status.

7. Mop up spillages as they happen – Obviously don’t leave anything spilled on your surface as this could stain or soak into the stone over time. If you do happen to spill something acidic, make sure this is mopped up immediately and no damage should occur.

As you can see, looking after your new granite worktop is not rocket science, and much of it is common sense.