There is a lot of information on the web about the trials and tribulations of owning natural stone countertops. The vast majority of the problems that people have with countertops made of natural stone are those that are older marble counters.
In many cases, these old marble countertops in Shakopee, MN homes were never properly sealed or, if they were sealed, the sealant was not applied as needed, which may need to be as often as once a year or as infrequent as every two to three years. The same issue is also common with the complaints about granite countertops; it is typically a lack of basic, routine maintenance that is the problem.
With that being said, there are also some very simple mistakes to avoid with granite countertops. By knowing what not to do as well as what you can do with the counters, you will never experience any problems with your counters throughout the life of the home.
Don’t Clean with Cleaning Products
Typical cleaning products, including any scrubbing types of kitchen cleaners or those that contain bleach or ammonia, can damage the sealant on the surface of granite countertops, leading to a risk of staining and etching.
Avoid these cleaners and any abrasive types of cleaning pads or cloths and instead use a microfiber cloth and warm water. There are specialized neutral pH cleaners and disinfectant products that can be used as needed without any damage to the surface.
Avoid High Temperatures
Just as with other countertops, it is important to avoid placing hot pots and pans from the stove or dishes from the oven directly on the surface. While granite is a natural stone and very durable, sudden temperature changes can damage the sealant as well as increase the risk of a crack as sudden heat is applied to one area of the surface.
By simply placing a trivet or a hot pot holder on the surface, you won’t have to worry about any damage from heat to your Shakopee, MN counters.
