So, you’ve just remodeled your kitchen and installed gorgeous granite kitchen counters. You’ve probably heard lots of advice about what NOT to do with your granite countertops. Perhaps you’ve even been scared away from having granite installed because you’re worried about the care and maintenance that comes with it. But, honestly, taking care of your granite is very simple, and you probably already have almost everything you need somewhere around your house. So, let’s take a look at just what caring for and maintaining granite looks like.
First of all, you definitely need to keep your granite kitchen counters well-sealed. Granite is a natural stone, meaning it’s porous. If you don’t have a good seal on your granite, it can absorb bacteria or stains. Sealing is very easy. Just get a good sealant, make sure your counter is clean (more on that coming up next!), pour a very small amount of sealant on the countertop (a little goes a long way) and spread it all over the countertop with a cloth. This needs to be done about once a year. You can test the seal by dropping a little bit of water on your granite countertops and waiting about ten to fifteen minutes. If the water has absorbed into the granite, you need to reseal. If the water beads up on top of the surface and doesn’t absorb into the granite, you should be good to go.
Next, you’ll want to wipe down your granite kitchen counters daily with a little bit of gentle dish soap and water. Simple as that! You never want to use anything acidic or abrasive on your granite countertops. Acid will break down the seal on the countertops, which can lead to all kinds of problems like scratches, stains, and bacteria. Avoid cleaning with lemon or lime juice, vinegar, or commercial products (like Windex, Soft Scrub, Lysol, etc.) Just a simple wipe-down with a little bit of gentle household dish soap and water is all you need on a daily basis.
Every few days, we recommend you give your granite kitchen counters a gentle scrape with a straight razor blade (just be sure to hold it flat against the countertop) to remove any built-up residue. Then sanitize the countertops with a 50/50 solution of rubbing alcohol and water. Just fill a spray bottle halfway up with water and the rest of the way with isopropyl alcohol. You could add some essential oils like lavender or peppermint if you’d like to add a nice smell, but it’s not necessary. Not only will this remove any built-up residue and disinfect your granite, but it will also add a beautiful shine. Just take a microfiber cloth and rub gently to watch your granite sparkle!