With proper care your granite bench top or counter top can stay new-looking for years. Stone is one of the easiest surfaces to maintain. Granite is between 7 & 9 on the MOHS hardness scale of 1 to 10 and is virtually unscratchable. (Marble is between 4 & 5 and a stainless steel knife blade is a 6 on the scale.)

Care Instructions:

1. Blot up spills immediately before they penetrate the surface. Be particularly careful of foods containing acids such as wine or citrus juices as these can etch or dull the stone surface.
2. Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (available in hardware stores or from a stone dealer), or mild dishwashing liquid and warm water.
3. Use a soft, clean cloth to clean the granite. Rinse after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft, clean cloth.
4. Reseal the countertop every year or two. Check with the installer for recommendations. Use a non-toxic sealer on food preparation areas.
5. Consider using a new disinfectant cleaner made specifically for granite.

Removing Stains:

There are several ways to remove stains so choose the method according to the type of stain.

Step One

Mix a cup of flour and 1-2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid with a little water to make a thick paste. Spread the paste over the stain, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit overnight.

Step Two

Scrape away the paste using a wooden utensil and rinse.

Alternative Stain Removal

Oil Based Stains: If the stain is oil-based (e.g. grease, oil, milk), use hydrogen peroxide in the paste instead of dishwashing liquid - or try ammonia on it.

You can also try mixing up a paste of molding plaster and water to spread an oil or fat-based stain. Mould this into a bird's-nest shape and allow it to stand for 3 hours. Remove and rinse.

Organic Stains: For an organic stain (e.g. coffee, tea, fruit) try a mixture of 12 percent hydrogen peroxide mixed with a couple drops of ammonia.

Ink or Marker Stains: Use a lacquer thinner or acetone to remove ink or marker stains from darker stone. On light-colored granite, use hydrogen peroxide to remove these stains. This also works for wine stains.

You can also mix moulding plaster and pure bleach into a paste and spread over a wine, ink or other non-oil based stain. Leave on for 30 minutes, then remove and rinse.

Tips:

Call a professional for problems that appear too difficult to treat including the removal or repair of scratches in granite.

Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices.  Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface.

Warnings:

Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that could scratch the surface.

Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone. Strong detergents or corrosive liquids can dull the polished marble/granite surface and should not be used.

Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers, scouring powders, or 'soft' cleansers.

Do not mix cleaning products such as ammonia and bleach together - the result is toxic.