Granite is one of the oldest ingenious rocks in the world. Comprised of strong minerals like quartz and feldspar, it’s prized for its strength and durability and used in household kitchens all over the world. White granite’s versatile nature accommodates many design styles, from minimal to opulent and more classic interiors. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a style it doesn’t complement.
Despite its desirable attributes, many of our customers initially think white countertops are a counterintuitive choice. After all, white has a propensity to show up dirt. Truthfully, cleaning granite is not that much different from cleaning other stone countertops. If you adopt a healthy cleaning habit, it becomes second nature.
Once you know how to clean white granite, it’s easy to keep your countertops looking brand new. We’ve put together invaluable tips on how to clean white granite countertops to ensure yours remains the same from the day it’s installed.
Like all natural stone countertops, it’s best to wipe white granite countertops down whenever you’re finished working on them. Here are some additional general cleaning recommendations on how to clean white granite.
While strong, granite is not invincible. Regular cleaning with mild soap, diluted with warm water, ensures the stone preserves its finish. Be sure to wipe your counter dry after cleaning to prevent liquid from seeping into its pores. If left unattended, even water can leave horrible etch marks, which is why you shouldn’t leave it to air dry. This includes wiping away oily crumbs that can produce microscopic marks.
Most people wipe up spills by sweeping their dishcloths across the length of their counters. However, you should blot up the spills first. Wiping your cloth across the counter merely spreads the liquid over a larger area, increasing the chances of seeping into a bigger surface area. Blotting immediately eliminates the liquid from spreading and the development of etch marks.
So, what’s the secret on how to clean white kitchen slabs? Be gentle. Granite has a propensity to scratch if wiped and rubbed with coarse materials, like pot scourers. Rather use soft sponges and microfibre cloths to avoid surface abrasion. Ideally, there should always be a protective layer between the countertop and the objects resting on it, as well as the tools or utensils you’re working with.
Try not to chop food directly on your white granite countertop as it will scratch. Always use wooden or plastic chopping boards to prevent unsightly damage. In recent years, due to social media, there’s been a rise in the use of stone dough rolling boards. While beautiful to look at, they too can scratch countertops if scrapped across the surface, so handle with care.
DIY vinegar and store-bought cleaners with bleach, lemon, and ammonia damage the integrity of granite stone and leave etch marks, dulling its surface. Luckily, learning how to clean white granite is easy; use a gentle liquid soap detergent mixed with water for day-to-day cleaning. You can also buy special granite countertop cleaners and use them for more thorough cleaning weekly or monthly.
Many seemingly harmless liquids like creams, lotions, nail polish remover, and fragrances contain chemicals that, if spilled, eat away at the sealant. This includes fresh produce with citrus, oily, or vinegar compounds. Granted, it’s not entirely possible to keep fresh produce away from countertops, in which case covering the surface you’re working on or using chopping boards is the next best solution.
As an igneous rock, granite can handle heat. Brief encounters with a hot pot won’t do much damage. However, repeated contact with heat will weaken sealants, which can cause the stone to crack from thermal shock. When cooking, always place hot pots and pans on trivets and hot pads. Trivets made from wood, silicon, or cork tend to work best because their thermal conductivity is lower.
Wondering how to remove stains from white granite countertops? It’s cliché, but in the context of natural stone, prevention is better than cure. While resting mugs, cups, and glasses on countertops is unavoidable, their ring stains are. Get into the habit of using coasters, and you’ll seldom see those dull etch marks caused by liquid seeping into a countertop’s pores.
Avoid Sitting on a Countertop
Avoid sitting on and placing heavy items on the same spot over long periods, as prolonged and weight distributed unevenly can make granite crack. Overhangs are particularly prone to being leaned on, mostly because they’re made to accommodate bar stools. If you’re not sitting, don’t overdo the leaning. When a granite countertop cracks, it often means the whole slab has to be replaced, which can be costly.
Like all natural stones, granite needs to be resealed every so often to protect it from staining and to retain its shine, especially if you have polished countertops. Granite countertops are sealed upon installation and then every 1-5 years, depending on their color, porosity, quality of sealer, and application.
There are many DIY sealants on the market, and the whole process typically takes half a day. However, if you haven’t done it before and aren’t 100% confident, we recommend hiring a professional for greater peace of mind. You should also find out from your fabricator more-or-less how often your particular stone needs sealing.
Implementing a regular schedule for cleaning white granite countertops goes a long way in preserving the stone’s beauty and strength.
Daily: Clean countertops with hot water and mild soap whenever you’re finished using them.
Weekly: Remove objects that permanently rest on your countertop, like microwaves, for example, and polish with a specialized granite cleaner.
Monthly: Polish your countertop with a specialized granite cleaner to maintain the stone’s integrity. Use polishing powder if necessary.
Yearly: Granite does not need to be sealed every year. However, this is dependent on its finish and frequency of use. Schedule sealing maintenance when needed.
Cleaning white granite countertops doesn’t have to be an unpleasant chore. When taken care of, white granite countertops can last a lifetime and increase your property’s resale value. If you want to install white granite countertops, give us a call at (888) 906 3317 or click here for an instant quote. Our expert designers and fabricators have helped many clients bring their visions to life at affordable rates.
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