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Care and Cleaning Your Natural Stone Surface
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Avoiding Stains
Marble, granite and limestone are durable, long-lasting natural materials. Although they require minimal maintenance, there are some things you should understand about their care. Here are some tips that will keep your stone looking new and beautiful for years to come. Most stones are porous and readily absorb liquids and moisture. Limestones and marbles are much more absorbent than granites, but all stones will absorb liquids to varying degrees. To avoid stains, the best strategy is to avoid prolonged contact between the surface and the liquid. Wipe spills up quickly and always use coasters under glasses. Many common foods and beverages contain weak acids that can alter the polish of the surface if left for too long. This is especially true with calcareous stones such as marble and limestone. Coffee, tea, orange juice, red wine, vinegar, food grease and some fruits can leave stains, so be more attentive when handling these. Also, try to avoid placing hot pots and pans directly on the stone surface. The heat from the pan can condense the air in and around the stone which may draw minerals and dirt into the counter and leave a ring stain. Use trivets or hot plates to protect the surface.
Sealing and Protecting
To further help prevent the introduction of stains, a stone sealer is highly recommended. We seal all the counters produced at Granite Design Works during production and again after the installation. This initial sealer coating should be effective for 6 months to a year. After that, periodic re-sealing is encouraged. Good natural stone sealers are available here, so feel free to contact us if you have any questions. In some cases where extra protection is required, a penetrating sealer, such as Stone Tech's Impregnator Pro, can be used along with a high quality marble paste wax or non-yellowing automotive paste wax.
Care and Cleaning
General cleaning can be done with soap and warm water. Glass cleaners such as Windex can also be used. Avoid using any cleaners which contain abrasives or acids (like orange cleaners or Ajax) as these may etch the finish. For bathtub areas and showers where soap scum buildup is an issue, use a non-acidic soap scum remover, or make a solution of ½ cup ammonia with 1 gallon of water. Frequent use of the ammonia mixture may dull the polish, so use it sparingly. Remember that keeping the stone surface clean is the best way to avoid stains and maintain the beauty.
Stain Removal Tips
Blot any spills with a paper towel immediately. Don't wipe the area, it will spread the spill. Flush the area with plain water and mild soap and rinse several times. Dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth. Repeat as necessary. If the stain persists, there are some other things you can try.
Identifying the type of stain on the stone surface is the key to removing it. If you don't know what caused the stain, try to determine what caused it. Where is the stain located? Is it near a plant, food service area, an area where cosmetics are used? What color is it? What is the shape or pattern? What goes on in the area around the stain? Try these solutions as a first step toward removing different types of stains.
1. Oil-based - (grease, tar, cooking oil, milk, cosmetics) An oil-based stain will darken the stone and normally must be chemically dissolved so the source of the stain can be flushed or rinsed away. Clean gently with a soft, liquid cleanser with bleach OR a household detergent OR ammonia OR mineral spirits OR acetone. Never mix chemicals together as they can create potentially lethal gasses.
2. Biological - (algae, mildew, lichens, moss, fungi) Clean with diluted (1/2 cup in a gallon of water) ammonia OR bleach OR hydrogen peroxide. Never mix bleach and ammonia! This combination will produce a toxic, lethal gas.
3. Ink - (magic marker, pen, ink) Clean with bleach OR hydrogen peroxide (on light colored stone only!) OR lacquer thinner OR acetone (dark stones only!)
4. Organic - (coffee, tea, fruit, tobacco, paper, food, urine, leaves, bark) May cause pinkish-brown stain and may disappear after the source of the stain has been removed. Outdoors, with the stain source removed, normal sun and rain action will generally bleach out the stains. Indoors, clean with 12% hydrogen peroxide (hair bleaching strength) and a few drops of ammonia.
5. Metal - (iron, rust, copper, bronze) Iron or rust stains are orange to brown in color and follow the shape of the staining object, such as nails, bolts, screws, cans, flower pots, metal furniture. Copper and bronze stains appear as green or muddy brown and result from the action of moisture on nearby or embedded bronze, copper or brass items. Metal stains must be removed with a poultice. This should be done by a professional, as most poultices will etch the surface and require re-polishing. Deep, rusty stains are extremely difficult to remove and the stone may be permanently stained.
6. Water Spots and Rings - These are surface accumulations of hard water on granite. You can buff them with 0000 steel wool (available at most hardware stores). Marble and limestone may etch with steel wool. Test and inconspicuous area first.
If you have tried some of these techniques without success or if you have deep scratches in the surface, please contact us to see what other things can be done.