Updating your home with stone countertops (in either the bathrooms, the kitchen, or both) is an excellent investment in the property: the ROI is great as buyers are almost always looking for beautifully-updated countertops in bathrooms and kitchens. But even if you’re not ready for resale just yet, it’s still a great renovation to undertake. Old, worn countertops can seriously date your home, and today’s stone countertops (when taken care of), have amazing longevity and add powerful pizzazz to a space. As long as your stone countertops are well-loved (and not well-worn), they’ll sparkle for years and still preserve a “like-new” glow come resale time.
So, how do you maintain your stone countertops for the long haul? Maintenance of stone countertops occurs in two steps: sealing and everyday cleaning. Sealing is a process by which the minuscule pores in your stone are effectively closed. This prevents water from seeping into the material (which, over time, can cause cracks). It also prevents other liquids like oils or vinegar from infiltrating the material’s pores, which causes staining.
For some great tips on cleaning your countertop, click here.
It is for these reasons that sealing is vital. When you first purchase your new stone countertops, discuss with the manufacturer whether or not they’ll come pre-sealed. If not, it’s easy to do at home (more on that later). Beyond sealing, you’ll also need to give your stone countertops care daily. Depending upon the fragility of the material, you’ll need to make special considerations regarding the type of soap you use and the roughness of the towel or sponge. Here, we’ll discuss a few of the popular stone countertops you might choose to invest in, and how to care for each.
Marble
If you’ve renovated with marble countertops, then well done: that’s an update that’s very on-trend and sure to turn some heads. But marble countertops require care if you want to keep them glistening and gorgeous for years to come. For everyday maintenance, clean your marble with a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap. Avoid acidic or citrus-based dish soaps if you can, and wipe the marble with a soft, microfiber towel. Marble needs to be sealed a few times a year: when you first purchase your marble countertops, confirm that the manufacturer has sealed the marble before installation. Then, when you’re ready to seal the marble on your own, make sure you clean the marble thoroughly with water and dish soap and dry it carefully before you begin sealing. Invest in a vetted marble sealer that should spray on with ease.
Because marble is porous, deeper stains can set in, but they are typically reversible. Oil-based stains can be removed with a home-made paste of baking-soda and water: apply the paste to the stain, cover it with plastic cling wrap, and tape the edges down so that the cover is sealed. Let sit for a few days – if the stain is not completely removed, repeat the process as needed. For water-based stains, use a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
Granite
Granite and marble can be treated fairly similarly, although granite requires less frequent sealing (just once a year). A good granite sealer, like a good marble sealer, will render the pores of your granite utterly closed off to water. You know you’ve sealed your stone effectively when water beads on the top of the granite: if it seeps into the stone even just a little bit, it’s time to re-seal your countertop. When sealing your granite, work in small spaces: pore or spray a small amount of sealer onto the counter and gently rub it into the granite in circles. Like marble, you should ensure your granite countertops are cleaned and dried before you begin sealing. And take care with your everyday cleaning of granite – rough towels or materials like iron wool can scratch granite very easily, so ensure that you’re using a gentle, microfiber towel or terrycloth to keep your granite buffed and shining.
Quartz or Engineered Stone
Quartz and engineered stone countertops are really made to shine, so you want to ensure they’re always sparkling and beautiful with regular cleaning. For every day, mix warm water with a mild dish detergent (again, not acidic or citrus-based), and use a soft rag or sponge to clean the counters. Quartz countertops are not as porous as marble or granite: they’re designed to withstand staining. That said, stains do happen. If your quartz or engineered stone countertop does stain, try first using a more concentrated soap and water solution to address the issue. If soap isn’t strong enough, apply a glass-cleaner to the area. Let sit for a few hours and then wipe gently.
If you’re wondering whether or not to seal your quartz or engineered stone countertops, the answer is roundly and decidedly ‘no.’ Quartz and engineered stone are design to be non-porous: they’re made to require little-to-no maintenance to stay sparkly. That’s why quartz countertops have increased so notably in popularity: the material is as sturdy as a granite or marble yet flexible (so it doesn’t chip). And maintenance is incredibly minimal. For the avid chef who’s always making a mess in the kitchen, quartz countertops (or their engineered substitutes) are an incredible option.
As a general rule of thumb, make using a hot pad or trivet an everyday part of cooking in your kitchen (i.e. don’t ever, ever place a hot pan or pot onto your stone countertops). If these porous stones have any liquid in them whatsoever, the sudden heat transfer can cause cracking. You should also take care not to let acidic liquids pool on the counter (for example, a lemon wedge left on a granite countertop is a serious no-no). Acids can not only strip a sealer off of a stone countertop, but they can also react with the materials in the stone to create color changes. It’s best to wipe up all liquid spills as soon as they occur to avoid staining, but this is definitely true for acidic liquids.
When you make good stone countertop maintenance a part of your daily living, you’ll ensure that your countertops will last for years to come. Just make sure that you seal in a timely way, that you’re gentle in your daily cleaning, and that you avoid contact with acids or hot pots and pans like the plague. These practices will ensure that your stone countertops stay beautiful and eye-popping, no matter what you’re cooking up in the kitchen.