Whether you have granite worktops in your kitchen or bathroom, these areas of your home see a lot of household traffic. And whilst granite is an incredibly hardy material, it’s still important to take the time to care for granite worktops. Granite gives a real high-end feel to any home, so why wouldn’t you want to keep it looking pristine?
In this article, we’re going to talk about how to care for granite worktops, including how to clean them, how to remove stains and watermarks and the major do’s and don’ts.
How to clean granite worktops
Think how many hands, objects and food items come into contact with your worktops on a day-to-day basis. All of these things have the potential to transfer germs, so it’s important to clean your surfaces daily.
So, what’s the best way to do this? We recommend keeping it simple and using a microfibre cloth, warm water and a suitable cleaning product. You’ll want to find something pH-balanced that does not contain bleach or acidic ingredients such as vinegar or lemon juice. You can even find cleaning products on the market that are specially formulated for granite worktops.
How to make granite worktops shine
Due to the high quartz content in granite, granite worktops can be incredibly shiny. This creates a luxurious feel in any home. However, over time granite worktops can dull a little. This could be caused by a build-up of soap within cleaning products or perhaps even a high mineral content in your water. But fear not – by caring properly for granite worktops, you can restore that glossy shine and give your worktops a new lease of life.
Regular cleaning should keep your worktops in tip-top condition, however, you may need to get yourself a soap film remover to bring back your shine. You could also get your hands on a polishing powder designed for natural stone worktops. When using either of these products, ensure that you follow the instructions carefully. Never use abrasive products or tools and buff the product using a microfibre cloth and circular motions.
How to remove stains from granite worktops
Much like any other material, granite can stain. How you remove a stain will depend on what has caused it. The most common stains you may come across are caused by food and drinks; particularly things like tea, coffee and oil. Some stains will be more stubborn than others and much of this may depend on how long they’ve been in contact with the granite surface for. That’s why we always recommend that spills are cleaned up straight away before they have a chance to absorb into the granite.
A simple mixture of hot water and washing up liquid may do the trick, but more stubborn stains may require a little more work. Try mixing a tablespoon or two of washing up liquid, one cup of flour and enough water to make a thick paste. Apply it and leave it on overnight if necessary.
Are granite worktops heat resistant?
Yes, granite worktops are heat resistant. This is just one of the many reasons why this material makes a great choice for kitchen worktops. Granite melts at roughly 1260 degrees Celsius, so you’d be hard-pressed to do some damage to your granite with something like a hot pan whilst cooking.
That being said, it’s not recommended to put hot pans directly onto your surface. If it happens once or twice, then it’s likely to be unproblematic. However, if a hot pan is left there for an extended period of time then you could run the risk of adverse wear on the polished surface.
How to get watermarks off granite worktops
Just like many other shiny surfaces, granite is susceptible to watermarks. Water might seem harmless, but it actually contains a number of chemicals and minerals that can cause watermarks and, potentially, water stains. It goes without saying that surfaces in both the kitchen and bathrooms are likely to come into contact with water pretty much daily, so it’s important to know how to deal with any mess that may be left behind.
Luckily, watermarks are super easy to remove. They should come away with just gentle detergent and water, using a soft-bristled brush to give the marks a little scrub. Finish by rinsing with clean water and drying the area. You may be able to remove water stains with this method too, however, some may need a little more attention. If this is the case, then adding baking soda to the mix might work. It’s slightly abrasive, which may help to lift any stubborn stains.
If you need any help with how to care for your granite worktops from Bellagio Stone, we are always on hand to answer any questions.
Contact our customer service team on 01926 430626.
