Artistic Marble and Granite

Do: Blot up spills immediately. Acidic substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce and sodas will not etch granite like they do marble, but they could potentially stain the surface. Cooking oils may also leave a stain if not wiped up.

Do: Clean surfaces using a sponge or soft cloth. Using a specially formulated stone cleaner like Stone PLUS is recommended to keep your tops in the best condition and protect the sealer, but hot water will do for quick clean-ups. Dish soap won't hurt your granite, but repeated or excessive use of soap will cause build-up and dull your countertop's shine.

Do: Use coasters under all glasses, bottles and cans. Again, granite won't etch and using coasters on dense and/or properly sealed granite is not an absolute necessity like with marble, but using coasters is just a good practice to protect all surfaces.

Do: Use trivets and hot pads under pots, pans and dinnerware. Yes, you can take a hot pot off the stove and put it right on granite, quartz or soapstone without any problems. Not true for all other surfaces. But you must consider other issues as well. Grit that gets trapped between the pot and the countertop surface may scratch the surface--even granite. Granite is very hard and can take tons of abuse without any damage, but it does contain some softer minerals that could be chipped or scratched. The likelihood is pretty slim, but it is possible. And ALL other surfaces are softer that granite. Better safe than sorry. If it does happen, don't fret too much. Most chips and scratches can be easily repaired, but it's best to avoid them by following the granite counter top care tips. Also, once you remove the hot pan from the countertop the surface will be very hot and may burn.

Do: Use cutting boards. Again, avoid the possibility of scratching the surface and protect your knives. Cutting on stone will dull and damage your knives' edges quickly.

Do: Dust mop your natural stone floors regularly. Use a clean, dry, non-treated dust-mop. Some people choose to use a vacuum cleaner. But be real careful. Worn parts or grit jammed by the wheels may scratch the surface.

Do: Use door mats inside and out along with runners and area rugs. Grit, dirt and sand carried in by our shoes are abrasive and will wear and scratch the surface. Clean the rugs regularly.

Don't: Use generic cleaning products such as bleach, glass cleaners or degreasers. These products that you buy at your local store contain acids, alkalis and other chemicals that can etch marble and degrade the granite sealer leaving the stone more vulnerable to staining. Trying to save money by using these chemicals only ensures that you'll spend a lot more time and money on you granite counter top care in the long-run. See our Stone Care Center for recommended products.

Don't: Use vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange as cleaners. Don't: Use bathroom, tub & tile or grout cleaners. The powders and even the "soft" creams contain abrasives that will scratch and dull surfaces.