Have you recently implemented granite countertops into your interior kitchen design? Are you planning on installing new granite countertops columbia md and wondering what the maintenance would entail? If so, then you need to learn all that you can about how to keep those granite kitchen countertops looking brand-spanking-new.
Doing so will help you keep your entire kitchen looking young and refreshed. No matter what you’re cooking up for dinner that night, those countertops will look worthy of a showroom floor.
See below for more information on how to keep those granite kitchen countertops looking shiny, clean, and pretty for when your guests arrive.
1. Know the Tricks to the Trade
First things first. If you’re going to keep those kitchen countertops looking aesthetically pleasing, then you need to know how to properly clean granite as a material. It’s a little different than most other materials your counters would be comprised of.
The first thing you should know is that granite is strong. By implementing granite countertops, you’ve given your kitchen a durable material that will withstand virtually anything you put it through.
The trick is to just keep it clean and to do that, you’ll want to prioritize two types of cleaning: frequent touch-up cleaning and deep cleaning.
You should wipe down your countertops at the end of every day (whenever you’re done using them for the day). The deep cleaning should be performed once every month, or if you’re looking to be extremely thorough, then once every two weeks.
For daily cleaning, you can use any kitchen-friendly surface cleaner. For the deep clean, you’ll need to use something that’s specially made for granite countertops.
Over time, granite develops grime that gets caught inside, which will slowly eat away at the shiny, polished surface. The granite cleaner can break up that grime build-up and get it back to its original form.
2. Prioritize the Daily Clean
As we just mentioned, cleaning your countertops daily will help your granite countertops from building up too much grime.
But we need to stress the importance of giving it a thorough enough clean, not just a once-over every single night; that will ultimately do you no good.
First, grab a bowl and mix warm water with about 2 teaspoons of dish soap. Grab a sponge (a regular sponge will do just fine) and fully submerge it into the water/soap mixture.
It’s important to use a sponge since they are a softer material. Don’t use steel wool, as that can leave scratches or ruin the quality of your granite countertop’s finish.
Wipe the entire countertop with your sponge, putting extra scrubbing into the areas where you notice some grime buildup (this will have a whitish tint to it).
Allow the water solution to sit for around 5 minutes, then have a dry rag handy so that you can wipe down the surface to dry it. You don’t want to leave it soaking wet, as this might invite unwanted pests into your home, who are attracted to sitting water and humidity.
On that note, you might consider sprinkling a bit of lemon into your water/soap mixture. Lemon is considered a natural insect repellent, as bugs (especially roaches) despise the scent of citrus. Also, granite is acid-resistant, so the lemon won’t harm your countertops in any way. It’s a win-win!
3. Be Mindful of Harmful Chemicals
Maintaining your granite kitchen countertops is as much about avoiding harmful cleaning solutions as it is about using the right ones.
There’s a reason we’re telling you to use dish soap and granite-friendly cleaning solutions. There are certain ingredients out there that can harm the integrity of your granite countertops, such as:
- Ammonia
- Vinegar
- Oil
- Bleach
- Hydrogen Peroxide
Before you use any type of cleaning solution, even the granite-friendly ones, be sure to use scour the ingredients for chemicals and substances like the ones mentioned above.
Accidentally using these once or twice wouldn’t be the end of the world. However, over time, they can eat away at the aesthetic of your granite.
4. Repolish Every Five Years
Make sure to remember when you implement your granite countertops into your kitchen; it’s important to use this and gauge when you need to repolish that surface.
Contrary to popular belief, polishes aren’t used to add a protective coat, they’re used to create a brand-new surface.
When you polish granite countertops, you’re breaking down the top, overused layer and making room for a new, beautiful layer beneath. That will bring back the shiny surface you know and love.
5. Invest in Cutting Boards
Whatever you do, do not use your granite countertops as a cutting board. This is a quick way to make them age poorly.
Be sure to invest in some cutting boards that you can use to chop up vegetables, mix ingredients for cooking, and so forth.
As a matter of fact, the less food you can get on the surface, the better. Granite countertops will do a great job of giving your family a surface to eat on and create a delicious food spread display during game day, but make sure that you clean up any spills as soon as they occur.
Keep Those Granite Kitchen Countertops Looking Fresh and Clean
Now that you have seen an in-depth guide on how to keep your granite kitchen countertops looking fresh, be sure to use this information to your advantage.
Take the time to browse our website for more articles on granite countertops, as well as many other topics that you will find intriguing!
