Safely Cleaning Granite & Marble

A: We typically recommend the use of warm water and dish soap. The counters should then be rinsed with clean warm water and towel dried to avoid spotting and soap build-up.

A: Since food can be prepared directly on stone counter tops such as Granite we recommend the use of an Anti-Bacterial Kitchen Spray. Most sprays are now safe to use on natural stone but, be sure to always check the label first. Buff dry.

A: In almost all cases the loss of shine is due to some type of build-up on the surface such as soap build-up. The tops do not require polishing, just a good cleaning to remove the soap film.

A: We generally use something as simple as "Windex" sprayed directly to the surface and buff dry. It is always a good idea to buff the counter tops dry; this prevents spots, hazing, and streaks.

A: There is most likely sealer sitting on the surface so don't worry, the stone should be fine. If a sealer isn't buffed dry it will create a film on the surface. The film can be removed by reapplying the same sealer, this chemically breaks down the film so it can be removed easily...don't forget to buff the tops dry.

A: Spots and glass rings tend to show up if water is allowed to dry on a highly polished surface such as Granite. These can be easily removed with a product like "Windex".

A: This could just be as simple as water spotting as stated with Granite or as severe as the polish being etched. Materials such as Marble, Limestone, and Onyx are vulnerable to Acids (Citrus Fruit for example) and Alcohol. Extra care should be taken if these types of stones are used in an area that would expose the counter top to these types of things.

A: The good news is the tops are just fine, they just need to be repolished. The repolishing should be done by a professional restoration company to ensure the process is done properly or further damage can be done. To avoid etching in the future you could request the restoration company to Hone the tops (remove the high shine) and then apply a Seal & Color Enhancer to restore most of the natural color of the stone.

A: Most homes have Hard water and the white film is actually mineral deposits that are sitting on the surface of the stone; this is usually found around the faucet and areas where water tends to sit and air dry. To remove this you can try a spray that is safe for natural stone that removes mineral deposits. If you feel comfortable handling a single edge razorblade you can get the area wet with water and then scrape the deposits away holding the blade at a flat angle to the counter; similar to the technique used to scrape paint off of glass.

*Extra caution should be used with this technique: personal injury can happen and if used on soft natural stone damage to the stone can occur.*

Follow up with "Windex" and buff dry.