In your kitchen, you will need to take greater care.
Wipe up spillages as soon as possible. Some liquids – such as hot oil, alcohol, decorating chemicals – could stain if left in a pool for too long. And here’s one fruit that definitely belongs strictly on the chopping board: lime. It’s highly acidic and could etch the surface of your granite if traces of juice are left overnight. And, while diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, beware of your ring when you pick up stacks of plates or dishes because it will most definitely mark your worktop. Items that get placed on the floor – plastic laundry baskets being a classic example – can pick up shards of flint and other abrasive material. Dust off the bottom before you place on your worktop to avoid the risk of dulling or scratching.
DO NOT:
1. Leave hot or greasy pans sitting on the surface.
2. Use any cleaning medium which is abrasive, acidic or highly caustic: dulling (or worse) of the finish may result in damage to the worktop.
3. Use worktops as a workbench or stand on them for access (to replace lights for example); it is dangerous for you and bad for the worktop sealer if left in contact for extended periods.
4. Leave liquid spillages sitting on the surface for long periods; fruit juices, oils and detergents can have a detrimental effect on the granite.
5. Drag heavy appliances across the worktop or use knives/choppers directly on the granite surface. Significant scratches are extremely difficult to deal with.
DO:
1. Wipe up spillages immediately with a clean cloth.
2. Scale deposits especially in hard-water areas.
3. Use a chopping board to prevent damage to the worktops (its also kinder to your knives)
4. Use a trivet (pan stand) to support hot pans.
5. Dry up water splashes; leaving water spillages to dry naturally (for example, around taps) could, over time, lead to unsightly lime. After use, wipe down the surfaces with a clean damp cloth, a little soap in the wiping water may be desirable but frequent washing with copious amounts of water is not recommended.
Maintenance:
If the Good Housekeeping Practices are followed there should be no necessity for major maintenance works; however, to retain the shine on polished surfaces and assist the water-repellent characteristics, the occasional application of a combined cleaner/sealer/polish will be beneficial. (For example Akemi Triple Effect is an easily used spray-on/wipe off product for polished granite maintenance and is food-safe). Where surfaces are a honed finish, products such as Lithofin MN-Stain stop are suitable.
Granite is extremely tough but not infinitely so; hence a little care as outlined above will help to maintain its beauty. As with all natural materials, some of the aesthetic appeal comes from the variations of colour, veins and markings within any particular type of granite and any slight imperfections or brecciations are normal and give each piece its individuality. The suitability of granite (or a particular type of granite) for use in a specific project can be advised by your granite fabricator.
Whilst the foregoing information is given in good faith as a general guide, it cannot be specific for each individual application.
