4 Top Tips for Cleaning Granite Worktops
If the kitchen is the centre of the home, then your Granite worktop is its core. You selected it to fit your decor, and it’s a reflection of your personal taste. It’s where you lovingly create a special meal or prepare a quick snack on the go. It’s also where you gather with friends and family, or simply sit with a coffee and a book. No matter what your lifestyle, your Granite worktop is a high-traffic part of your kitchen. Like all well-used areas of your home, it gets dirty. But don’t just spray it with something you grabbed during your weekly shop! Regularly cleaning Granite worktops requires the same amount of care and consideration you put into selecting it. This is more than just keeping it looking good, it’s also about protecting the investment you’ve made. Read on for the 4 top tips for cleaning Granite worktops.
First, let’s explain why cleaning Granite worktop deserves special attention. What is Granite, anyway? Granite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies underground, making a strong a robust material for making worktops.
Now, let’s look at the 4 top tips for cleaning Granite worktops. Regular maintenance and treatment are necessary to protect your investment and ensure your beautiful worktop retains its lustre.
#1 Regular maintenance
It’s tempting to leave that splash of coffee on the counter if you have to run out the door, or head to bed and leave the spilled wine for the morning. However, you’ll regret it later! Granite worktops are porous, they can stain. The tannins in coffee, tea, wine, and some fruit juices can discolour your Granite worktop if left to sit for long periods. Keep up with daily maintenance and quickly wipe up spills. Regularly cleaning Granite worktops is fast and easy with a soft cloth and the right cleaning product at hand.
#2 Choosing the right cleaning product
The cleaning section of any shop can be dazzling! It’s easy to grab a bottle of the newest product, or try something with a scent you love. However, there is a science to cleaning. The pH value of a product makes the difference between cleaning effectively or causing damage. You may think using bleach for cleaning Granite worktops is a good idea. It’s only natural to want to eliminate bacteria in the kitchen. However, bleach is very alkaline, and it will discolour and damage Granite. Avoid damaging your counter and select a scientifically formulated Granite worktop cleaner that is effective against bacteria and viruses, and also safe on natural stone.
#3 Using the right cleaning material
Though non-porous and durable, Granite worktops can be cut and scuffed. Avoid using something sharp to remove spilled wax from a candle or dried-on food. Also, avoid using a stiff-bristled brush or an abrasive scouring pad. The best thing to use when cleaning Granite worktops is a high-performance microfibre cloth. This soft cloth is gentle and effective to use for daily maintenance cleaning and for regular treatments.
#4 Treatments
Even with daily clean-ups, a Granite worktop can lose its lustre over time. After all, it’s a high-traffic area in the heart of your home. If you want to get back the mirror-finish sparkle you remember from when your counter was newly installed, then turn to a Granite treatment. This highly specialised, advanced formula restores the original surface of the Granite and protects it with a coating that resists finger marks and dirt.
We hope you’ve been inspired by these 4 top tips for cleaning Granite worktops. Enjoy your beautiful kitchen, and check out these products to keep it sparkling!