Maintaining natural stone countertops

One of the worst spills that can happen in the context of natural stone countertops is molten lard oil. The stuff spreads quite a lot and it also penetrates these stone surfaces. In case of such stains you have no option but to poultice the stains out of the surface in question. In such cases you can use a few layers of cheesecloth and soak them in water, along with a powder named whiting. You can get these cleaning materials at most stores that sell houseware products. This cleaning process can take up to three days and you need to leave the layers on for that period.

You could be sure that this is an effective form of treating such stains. However, you also need to keep in mind the fact that when you poultice your stone you should seal it later on. There are quite a few kinds of stains that you can remove yourself. In case of rusts you can use the technique of poultice. In the context of stains such as mildew and soap scum you can use a solution of a gallon of water and half a cup of ammonia. As far as common stains such as juices and coffee are concerned all you got to do is use a smidgen of hydrogen peroxide in water and use a few drops of ammonia as well.

When it comes to wear-and-tear that happens as a result of usage of the natural stone countertop on a regular basis, you should just buff the small scratches away. In this case you can use superfine dry steel wool also known as grade 0000. In case, the condition of your new countertops are really worrying you then you can use engineered quartzes to address the situation. It is nearly impossible to destroy them or even just penetrate them for that matter.   

How to retain the superior and exceptional characteristics of marble countertops

There are certain ways in which you can always preserve the natural charm of your marble countertops. You should always use coasters underneath all the cups, glasses, and mugs that you place on a marble countertop. This is especially true of vessels that contain alcohol and juices of citrus fruits. In case your marble countertops are being used in the kitchen, you would be better off by using trivets and hot pads. You should do this in spite of the fact that by virtue of being a natural stone marble can withstand a fair amount of heat. You need to be careful with spills though.

Immediately after food or liquids get spilled on the surface you should blot the space with a paper towel. You can also use mild soap and water to flush the stain and then rinse it a number of times. You should also dry the area with soft cloth in a thorough manner and repeat as and when may be needed. In case your marble countertop is a customized one, you should follow the aforementioned tips. In such cases you should always use a mild dishwashing liquid, or warm water, or a stone cleaner. Also in these cases, do rinse the surface thoroughly.

This rinsing needs to be done after you are done washing. In this case you should use a soap solution. Once this step is out of the way you should dry the area by using a soft piece of cloth. When you are rinsing, you should try and change the water being used for rinsing as frequently as you can. It is also important that you stay alert to the possibility of spills and wipe them off immediately. Otherwise they can leave a bad mark on the marble countertop in your kitchen or bathroom.   

How to clean marble countertops the proper way

There are certain things that you should never do when you attempt to clean a marble countertop. Marble is made from calcium carbonate and such stuff reacts rather quickly with acids. So, if any acid gets spilled on your marble countertop you can be sure that there would be stains and etches to deal with. And all this would happen because of the chemical reaction that is natural in these cases. You should also know that lime juice can be bad for your marble worktop as well. The same thing can be said about vinegar as well. You should also not use powdered cleaners.

Similarly, never use abrasive material and harsh chemicals on your marble countertops. Never use bleach on them. When you use bleach there is an acid reaction and this just corrodes the surface. Even if the corrosion is small, it is still there and you would not want such a thing on your marble countertop now, would you? This is especially true if you happen to be a perfectionist or a fastidious owner as such. Now, that you know what you should not do, the question that needs to be asked is what you should do then.

Cleaning marble countertops is really simple and it is this simplicity, which ensures that there are not too many alternative methods in this case. All you need to use are soap, a towel, and a spray bottle. They may be from different companies or separate colors but it would hardly matter in such cases. All you need to do is take a little care on a regular basis and you can be sure that your marble countertop will look new for years to come. Since marble is a stone it will also stay durable for a long time as well.  

How to care for limestone countertops

You should never use the conventional cleaners that you use in your kitchen in order to clean limestone countertops. In case you are unable to find a cleaner that is supposed to be used specifically for these countertops then you can employ a combination of warm water and some mild soap. Normally, the cleaners that are used to clean limestone countertops have a neutral pH level. You should also shy away from using sponge or any cleaning equipment that has a rough surface. The major reason for such a suggestion is the fact that these cleaners are perfectly capable of damaging the surface by leaving scratches on it.

Now you do not want such damage on your countertop, do you? It is always best to use a soft piece of rag or washcloth would be the best option that you may have in this regard. There are also some things that need to be kept in mind when it comes to dealing with scratches on these countertops. You need to understand that these surfaces get scratched quite easily. This is why if you want to avoid scratches then you should use cutting boards on these countertop surfaces. This is especially applicable when you are using knives on the surface.

You should also use dishes and utensils carefully on this especially ones that can potentially damage the surface. In case of these dishes and utensils you can use place-mats and trivets. In case you find small scratches on the limestone surface you can use fine steel wool in order to buff them out lightly. In this case you can also use small amounts of polishing compound that is designed in such a way that it can take scratches off car doors and even grout on the scratch. It is quite a useful feature to have.   

Why are granite countertops so popular?

There is a good reason why granite countertops are as popular as they are. As a raw material for building countertops they are really efficient and the quality of service that you get from them is unparalleled to say the least. This is why home owners and builders both prefer it as a material. This is why if you ask professionals and experts in the domain of home improvement you would see that they are the best options when it comes to building countertops in bathrooms and kitchens. As far as high-end kitchen surfaces are concerned granite countertops happen to be one of the leading choices out there. 

The one thing that you need to be a bit mindful of in this regard is the price of countertops. The cost of installing them can be a bit on the higher side as well. So before you take any decision in this regard try and do a bit of research and arrive at a fair balance where you are getting decent service in exchange for a price that does not burn a veritable hole in your pocket. In fact, high prices are one reason why people are often wary of installing these wonderful countertops at their kitchens and bathrooms. 

As far as variety is concerned, granite will not disappoint you either. It is not that all granite countertops are similarly priced. If you use granite that is little bit low in terms of quality then you can save a significant amount of money in the process as well. The term low quality does not mean that it will not be as durable as ones that are of a higher quality. In case of granite quality depends on how rare said variant is. Countertops made from slab granite tend to be the costliest of the lot.    

What you needed to know about granite

You may have seen a granite countertop at someone else’s home – probably that of a rich friend. However, what do you know about its history? The first time that stone suppliers started to experiment with polished granite was in 1831. It was only in 1851 that polished granite became a popular surface for using in countertops. It was in this year that at the Great Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations of London a finished piece of granite was shown. As far as countertops are concerned granite is an exceptional medium – perhaps the best that you would get out there. 

As far as stones are concerned it happens to be the most durable. Only diamonds can compare to granite in terms of hardness. As a medium it can be quite versatile as well. This is why professionals and home chefs like granite as a material for building their countertops. You can easily place a hot pot on a granite surface and it will not get hurt even in the least. You can also work quite easily with confectionery and dough on granite. Since these countertops are naturally beautiful they can easily complement any kind of cabinets – be it wood or something else. 

When you have a granite countertop you can go for any kind of cabinet – the latest modern styles as well as French country. As a stone, granite is really attractive and when you install it in a room you can be sure that you are adding beauty and warmth to the same. Granite countertops have been really popular for designers for many years now. These days, even common people are looking out for these countertops. Granite offers plenty of variety in terms of colors. There are around 100 colors in which they are available. There are different kinds of white apart from shades like brown, blue, red, black, and green.

The various ways of using granite countertops

If you ask a professional or expert in the domain of home improvement he would tell you quite clearly that you can use granite countertops in many ways. Apart from their obvious use as countertops you can use them in the shape of slabs and tiles too. You can use them in different parts of your home such as sink, bathtub, and kitchen. There are different kinds of these countertops available these days with respect to factors such as color, specification, and design. Even in spite of being a natural stone as such granite is quite different from other naturalstones out there.  In fact, the differences are quite stark to say the least. 

In fact, truth to be told, all the natural stones are not the same. They differ from each other in terms of resistance and durability that they can offer to the end users. It is very easy to install granite countertops and removing them is similarly convenient as well. Granite is made of elements such as fusion and heat and this is the reason why it is so resistant and durable in the first place. There are several advantages of installing granite countertops at your kitchen and bathrooms. For starters, it seems like they can last for generations and they actually do if maintained well. 

They also remain beautiful for a really-long amount of time. You already know that they are highly resistant and durable and remain so for a substantial period of time. However, it is very important that you avail the services of a quality expert in order to install the same. Even a professional installer should serve your purpose. So, as you are able to see there are plenty of reasons as to why you should choose granite countertops. They are really efficient as countertops and that is saying the least one can about them.