How can I maintain my new granite new countertops?

[williewow]

We have new granite counter tops (6 months old ). Do we need to reseal them on a regular basis or is general cleaning okay to maintain them? They do not get a lot of heavy use and they look fine.

Thanks,

Williewow

[Mark D.]

If they are sealed they will remain that way until heavy usage or alkaline wears the seal. Look up the lemon test on here, if they pass that they are fine, if they don't then use this to reseal them:

http://www.defusco.com/Hydrex-Sealer

Glad to be of service,
Mark

[Stone Dude]

first of all is what NOT to use. ammonia (windex), vinegar, soapy cleaners or detergents (will leave film), brillo pads are just a few things that will damage the finish over time.

i would recommend a tericloth or cotton towel with an antibacterial cleaner, or other "daily" cleaner that is designed for natural stone. i wouldnt recommend using these products every day only because they tend to leave a film from over use.

as far as testing it to see if its sealed, you dont necessarily need lemon juice, just throw some water on it and leave it for 5-10 minutes. wipe it off and dry it. if theres a dark spot, the stone has absorbed the water, if theres not a dark spot then the stone has not absorbed any water and therefor will not absorb any sealer and sealing wont be necessary.

if it does need to be sealed, use a good impregnating sealer and just follow the instructions, or have a professional do it. a good sealer should last 10-15 years. granite is very durable and will outlast you and your grandchildren if simple care is taken. enjoy youre new kitchen!!

[Mark D.]

Cameron,
Have you used Tenax's Hydrex? That way you can give me a nod on that!

Mark

[cabinladyaz]

Sorry, not sure how to use this forum yet    I have a new granite bath countertop.  I have read all of the stuff about sealing and weather it needs to be sealed.  I put a water based sealer on it.  I am very careful about water spots, but they still show up occassionally.  This is not a discoloration spot, more of a spot you can see in the shine.  Can someone tell me what to do about this.  Also what to clean it with?

Thanks so much!

[Stone Dude]

if its granite, you shouldnt worry too much. you still want to be carefull but water spots wont be permanent. mark may suggest a specific cleaner, i would recommend an antibacterial cleaner made for stone for before and after food preperation, and  a stone cleaner for use a few times a week.

[Mark D.]

Tenax Lustro is exactly what Cameron is describing.
Lustro Italiano Stone / Granite Polish Kit from Tenax is a two part system made for the professional stone restoration industry. It is now packaged for the individual consumer. In this stone care kit you receive a stone cleaner which is Ph balanced. It has no harmful solvents and will not shorten the life of a stone sealant. You also get a spray on stone polish with sealer to give you added luster on your stone.! Here is the link:

http://www.defusco.com/LUSTRO-ITALIANO-STONE-CARE-KIT-2544
Glad to be of service,
Mark

[winger07]

Try using enzyme cleaners. They're harmless to the stone, don't leave a residue & break down anything organic so you just have to wipe away the dirt. They can be found at most stores that are on the green track. IE; Whole Foods. Over time they can even remove permanent staining!! 
 

[Rock Doc]

I'm new to the forum so I thought I would add a comment as well. Everyone is well versed in sealing the granite so let's talk about cleaning. We found a natural product called Howard's Natural cleaner. Use it once a week or so to keep it clean and it smells like citrus.

[Mark D.]

That is an Alkaline cleaner. For a really deep clean those are great. We carry HDCLN by Surface Technology Treatments. It works like a champ. I used it to get all the calcium hard water deposits off of my stone and glass (think shower doors here). The stuff flat out works better than any cleaner I have tried. You can find it here:
http://www.defusco.com/STT-Heavy-Duty-Cleaner-1GAL-3233

You should reseal your stone after using an alkaline based cleaner. Look here for sealers:
http://www.defusco.com/Hydrex-Sealer
http://www.defusco.com/Protex-Sealer-for-stone
http://www.defusco.com/Ager-Sealer-Ager-Tiger-Sealer

Tenax & STT hava a daily use cleaner that is also very good but it is Ph balanced. They are here:
http://www.defusco.com/TENAX-COUNTERTOP-CLEANER-FOR-STONE-32OZ-2674
http://www.defusco.com/STT-Easy-Clean-Stone-Cleaner-24-oz-3230

We get it out to our stone people but we even have a complete kit for the home owner dealing with heavy clean up on stone, glass or tile. The kit is here:
http://www.defusco.com/HARD-SURFACE-DEEP-CLEANING-KIT-3231

Glad to be of service,
Mark

[5MinuteSealer]

go to www.edp-enterprise.com

[Mark D.]

Your edp is unproven and very light duty.

[5MinuteSealer]

BTW, how was is determined that is light duty based on the website?

[Mark D.]

I read the msds....have you?

[Peter Sams]

As much as possible, always clean your granite countertops thoroughly and keep it dry always.  In cleaning just use a mild dish washing liquid and a soft sponge.  Granite is one of the most durable natural stone and is scratch-resistance.