Figuring out the best way to clean a granite countertop that you’ve sunk a great deal of money into can keep one up nights! Well, put your mind at rest. We know exactly what you need to do to keep that investment in peak condition â?? without costing you an arm and a leg! So read on to learn the best way to clean a granite countertop.

Despite the seemingly hundreds of products claiming to be the best way to clean a granite countertop, the truly best (and cheapest!) way is right in your home! Just grab that bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol and you’re halfway to the cleanest, shiniest, and, yes, best way to clean a granite countertop.

Many cleaning supply retailers may claim the best way to clean a granite countertop employs the use of harsh chemicals. Not so! To clean any kind of stone product, it’s smart to use a product with a neutral pH. Cleaners that contain acidic ingredients, including vinegar, can cause scratching and even deep etches.

Alcohol, on the other hand, with a pH of around 7.0, is one of two ingredients needed for the best way to clean a granite countertop. The other? Good, old-fashioned liquid dishwashing detergent.

When you add a few drops of say, Dawn dishwashing detergent to a quarter-cup of alcohol, then fill the rest of a quart-size spray bottle with water, you’ve got yourself the best way to clean a granite countertop for only a few, measly cents. Compare that to the $5 or $6 you’ll pay for those expensive (and potentially damaging) products that you’ve mistakenly thought to be the best way to clean a granite countertop.

Other things to keep in mind for the best way to clean a granite countertop include maintenance and prevention. Maintain your beautiful stone by blotting spills immediately and then deep cleaning weekly with your homemade alcohol/dish soap solution.

Prevent damaging your stone by avoiding placing anything acidic directly on it, which includes tomatoes, oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruit. The juices of these food products are particularly damaging.

Now that you know the best way to clean a granite countertop, relax! So don’t let it keep you up nights any longer. You’re empowered! You’ve got the best way to clean a granite countertop under control now. So for heaven’s sake â?? get some sleep!

Carlo Morelli writes for OnlineTips.Org, where you can read tips on ceramic tiling, metal roofing and other home/garden topics

The Greeks were the first to use stones to make homes. The procedure of acquiring natural stone has not changed much since then. In modern days too big blocks of stone are cut from the mines and then sold in thin pieces or slabs. After buying these slabs, they are polished and shaped according to usage. For the granite stone too this process is followed.

Over the years the main method has remained the same but to perform the steps the type of machineries used has changed drastically. Science has transformed the old machines into much more effective and time saving types. Three basic machines are used in granite fabrication. These are saws, polishers and routers.

Saws
Block saw or gang saw cuts the stone blocks into slabs. Nowadays diamond wire saw is used for cutting. The machine has a wire and on the wire a commercial diamond is fixed. Diamond itself is the hardest stone. So it makes the job much quicker. Then a bridge saw is used to give the slabs proper size.

Polishers
Polishers are used to make the surface of the granite smooth. Polishers make the surface of the granite mirror like. An abrasive material is attached with the rotating pads of the polisher. The surface of the material varies according to purpose. The smoothness of the polishing increases with the fineness of the abrasive material.

Routers
Routers are used to create designs on the slab surface. There are various edges that are used in the router to create different designs. Router has a spinning blade fixed with diamonds to cut and create the required designs.

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Homeowners who are seeking to increase value to their homes enjoy the durability and easy maintenance when upgrading to granite countertops. Granite is the most durable of all stones, second only to diamonds. Granite, being created from molten rock, can withstand the heat from a hot pot without a trivet. The hardness of the surface is excellent for handling dough and confectionery. While durable and low maintenance, however, they are not impervious to damage.

Properly installed granite countertops should last a lifetime, one justification for the higher costs associated with the material and installation. The granite suppler should provide personalized instructions for care with each slab, since all granite is made up of many different minerals. Even if two different stone slabs come from the same part of the world, there will be variances in the granite that require different kinds of attention.

Proper care ensures the longevity and beauty expected from this premium product. In addition to the polished finish, it’s possible to get a â??honedâ? or flat finish. Although a honed finish can be very attractive, it is not recommended for kitchen use. Over time, everyday use will tend to lend a polish to some areas, and the additional necessary sealers will distract from the beauty of the surface. A polished finish is easiest to maintain with regular care that includes proper cleaning and the use of sealers to prevent staining.

Care for a polished finish begins with daily attention to what is placed on the surface. Granite countertops are hard and can withstand a falling can of soup, but the polished surface is a bit more delicate. Never use the granite as a cutting surface, always use a cutting board. Avoid allowing acidic foods such as lemon juice, vinegar and soft drinks to be left on the surface for any amount of time, as they can etch the surface. Another thing that removes the polished shine are harsh cleaning products or abrasive cleansers (liquid or powder). To clean the surface without leaving streaks, use only a small amount of warm water with a ph balanced dishwashing liquid.

Although granite is extremely hard, some of the minerals in it may be very soft. The existence of different minerals is what makes the granite easy to scratch, be chipped or break along the grain. In order to protect the surface, it is recommended to avoid dragging pots, pans or appliances across the stone. Scooting something across the countertop that has even a grain of sugar under it will scratch the polished surface. Scratches allow stains to mar an otherwise beautiful surface.

Once a year, a penetrating sealant should be applied. Regular polishing will keep the finish gleaming. Use a penetrating sealant recommended by the supplier or the home builder. Avoid using a stone sealer that will not penetrate the stone, as it will create a cloudy surface that will have to be removed by stripping the entire countertop, using harsh solvents. Remember, the glossy shine isn’t caused by a coating on the surface, but by expert polishing using diamond polishing tools.

If there is minor damage to a granite countertop, it can be resolved by the homeowner. If a pot or pan leaves a grey or black mark on the surface, it can be polished out using fine steel wool. If a glue-like substance is stuck on the countertop, it is possible to scrape it off with a credit card or single sided razor blade. Small marks made during the removal can be polished out with a fine steel wool. If the granite is chipped or cracked, a professional should be called in to perform invisible repairs.

In addition to its strength, granite is a very beautiful stone that adds color and warmth to any kitchen. With just a little care to protect their beauty and utility, granite countertops will last a lifetime.

Granite Countertops provides detailed information on granite kitchen and tile countertops, advice on installing and cleaning granite countertops, information on price and locations to purchase discount granite counter tops, and more. Granite Countertops is the sister site of Kitchen Sinks Web.

Office buildings have many types of flooring and growing in popularity are stone floors. Stone floors give buildings a classic and upscale image. Popular choices in flooring these days are natural surfaces including marble, slate, granite, and terrazzo. As more and more buildings are installing stone floors there is a growing need for cleaning contractors who have the experience and knowledge to take care of these valued surfaces properly. Learning the tricks of stone floor care can lead to extra income and profit for your cleaning company.

Before expanding into the area of stone floor care make sure that you understand the differences in the types of flooring and how to design a maintenance program to keep stone floors looking their best. It helps to develop a relationship with a distributor that has quality products and can help you with technical support.

The first step in any floor maintenance program is finding out what type of stone you’re dealing with. Stone floors are broken down into one of two categories: stone that contains calcium and those that do not contain calcium. It is important to note that acids will attack and etch stone that contains calcium.

If the floor is not coated on the surface, a simple test can determine what type of stone you are dealing with. Place a drop of hydrochloric acid in an inconspicuous area and watch the reaction. If the acid fizzes the stone contains calcium. If there is no reaction, the stone is most likely granite, slate, sandstone or some type of ceramic that has been designed to look like natural stone.

Your second step is to decide what type of results you want with your floor program. Do you want a polished surface, a slip resistant floor or a floor program that is easy to manage? Any stone floor program should also take into account the type of surface – polished, honed or textured. Also, remember that stone is a product of nature and should be admired for its inconsistencies. The imperfections of stone create random patterns, which is what makes natural stone so desirable.

When looking at how you should maintain stone floors, both calcium containing and non-calcium containing stone floors should be maintained in identical ways except when it comes to re-polishing. A marble floor develops wear patterns faster as marble is a softer stone. You can polish marble, limestone and terrazzo effectively with superfine abrasives you mix with potassium oxalate or oxalic acid. These are typical compounds available in various ready to use formulas.

Granite floors, on the other hand, are acid resistant requiring granite to be polished mechanically using superfine abrasives. The re-polishing of granite is a slow process as compared to re-polishing a marble floor.

At times the floor will have been so neglected it may need restoration. A properly restored stone floor will have no lippage (where one edge of a stone is higher than adjacent edges, giving the stone a ragged appearance), will look better and be easier to clean. The restoration process is best handled by professionals. Improved technology has made the restoration process faster and with a restored floor maintenance costs will go down while the overall appearance of the floor will go up.

Stone itself has a porosity factor (materials can pass through it) and some stones absorb stains faster than other types of stone. A high quality impregnator can help prevent stains from passing through and being absorbed into the stone. Impregnators can be water resistant, or water, grease and oil resistant. The specific impregnator to use will depend on your specific situation.

The most important part of your stone floor care program will be the use of a quality stone soap. A high quality soap will clean and enrich the stone, which will make it more soil and stain resistant. This is not an area to be cutting costs!

Quarterly cleaning is recommended for commercial stone floors. This will not only remove any built in soil, but will also remove stone soap build-up. This is an important step as most stone soaps are non-rinse. Because of this dirt can build up in the grout lines, even when you are following a floor maintenance program. An intensive cleaning should also be used if you have an extremely dirty floor.

Other stone surfaces that may need extra care are countertops, vanities and vertical surfaces, such as pillars. A good relationship with a distributor of quality products will help you in deciding which chemicals you’ll need to use to clean these surfaces.

If you have buildings with stone floors, your first step is to develop a quality stone floor care program. Spending a little time and effort before beginning your stone floor program will save you headaches and keep the floor looking its best. Your customer will be happy and your bank account will grow!

Copyright 2006 The Janitorial Store

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of TheJanitorialStore.com, an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift. Read cleaning success stories from owners of cleaning companies at http://www.cleaning-success.com/

Now that you have taken the critical step in having these beautiful countertops installed it is now time to think of maintaining their beauty and honoring your investment. There are four tips on cleaning granite countertops in particular which are incredibly important to know, and this includes the understanding the surface of granite, cleaning solutions, frequency of cleaning and hazards

The Surface of Granite

Granite is natural stone that is hard in nature. In addition, it is not permeable which means that water and other liquids cannot penetrate it. Additionally, when cleaning granite countertops with certain chemicals, the countertop will be unaffected. However, it is important to stay away from chemicals that have the capability of burning or eroding.

Cleaning of Surfaces

When cleaning granite countertops, although the surface is durable, it is best to utilize products that are mild or neutral in nature; therefore products whose primary ingredients contain vegetable oil are highly recommended.

Also, it is permissible to use scrubbing pads that are made from synthetic materials. A good rule of thumb is to test clean products and pads on areas of the granite’s surface that are in out of the way places.

Frequency

The frequency of cleaning granite countertops is that of regular, and should be done on a daily basis. Being one of the easiest surfaces to maintain, maintenance is fairly straightforward.

This daily cleaning should be performed using lukewarm water that is clean. Wiping and drying of the granite counter top should be accomplished using a soft cloth. Also, in cleaning granite countertops, it is important to immediately wipe up and absorb spills that occur.

Hazards

To preserve your investment and maintain its beauty, it is important to remember key elements when cleaning granite countertops. Those elements include the use of the proper cleaning agent.

When removing dirt or residue proper cleaning products include neutrally based agents. These agents are defined as a being pH balanced. Following the cleaning of your granite top, the surface should be rinsed to make sure that any residue film is removed.

Products that are alkaline or contain acid should be avoided as they will mar the surface of the granite. These products include ingredients such as ammonia, citrus fruit (lemon, lime, etc.) and alkaline. Signs of harmful treatment to your countertop of granite include cloudiness of the surface and circular type ring markings.

Proper Granite Countertop Care

When thinking of granite countertop care one should blot up spills immediately before they can get into the surface and for this a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap or mild dishwashing liquid and warm water may be used. One should also use a soft and clean cloth for cleaning of the granite and this means rinsing after having washed with soap solutions and then drying with a soft and clean cloth.

When the granite countertop does get stained one may remove it based on the type of stain that it is. One should mix a cup of flour as well as a tablespoon or two of dishwashing liquid with water and make a thick paste which should be put on the stain and be covered with a plastic wrap and should be left overnight.

Later, one should scrape the mixture away using a wooden utensil and then rinse. For oil based stains such as grease, oil, and milk one may use hydrogen peroxide in the paste rather than the dishwashing liquid or even ammonia may be tried as a substitute. In fact, the mixture should be 12 percent hydrogen peroxide mixed with a few drops of ammonia in case the stain is organic such coffee, tea or fruits.

If the stain happens to be ink or a marker stain then one may use a lacquer thinner or acetone for removing, especially in the case of darker stones. For lighter colored granite countertop care one may use hydrogen peroxide and the same works just as well for wine stains. For removing the wine stains one may need to mix molding powder and pure bleach into a paste and then spread it over the wine stain, ink or other non-oil stain. It should remain on the stain for half an hour and then be removed and it should also be rinsed.

Another point that bears to be kept in mind for granite countertop care is that the counter top should be resealed each year or maximum, every second year. One should use non-toxic sealers on food preparation areas and the installer may be able to give additional tips regarding granite countertop care.