Caring for your countertops

Stone countertops are easy to live with once you know a few rules. Here's what every countertop needs, plus the extra care for each stone.

For every countertop

Wipe up spills right away, especially oil, wine, coffee and anything acidic like lemon juice or tomato sauce.
Clean with warm water and a little mild dish soap, then dry with a soft cloth.
Use a trivet under hot pans and appliances like slow cookers. Porcelain is the only exception.
Cut on a cutting board, not the countertop.
Don't stand or sit on your counters, and keep heavy weight off overhangs and the narrow strip in front of the sink.

What to avoid

Vinegar, lemon or citrus cleaners, bleach and ammonia on natural stone. They can etch the surface or wear down the sealer.
Scouring powder, steel wool and other abrasive pads on any countertop.
Harsh chemicals like oven cleaner and paint stripper. If one gets on the counter, rinse it off right away.

Care by stone

Granite

Natural stone

Day to day: Warm water and mild soap, or a cleaner made for granite.
Sealing: We seal granite at install with a 15-year sealer. To check it, put a few drops of water on the counter. If the stone darkens within a few minutes, call us about resealing.
Watch for: Acidic and harsh cleaners wear the sealer down faster.

Quartz

Engineered stone

Day to day: Warm water and mild soap. Quartz never needs sealing. For dried-on food, scrape gently with a plastic putty knife.
Heat: Hot pans and appliances can scorch or discolor the resin, so always use a trivet.
Watch for: Keep oven cleaner, bleach and other strong chemicals off it. Each brand has its own care guide, so check the one for your color.

Quartzite

Natural stone

Day to day: Care for it like granite: warm water and mild soap, sealed at install.
Watch for: Some stones sold as quartzite are softer and closer to marble. If yours is one of them, follow the marble tips below. We can tell you which yours is.

Marble

Natural stone

Day to day: A pH-neutral cleaner made for stone, or warm water with a little mild soap.
Etching: Acids like lemon juice, wine, vinegar and tomato sauce leave dull spots called etching. Sealing helps with stains but doesn't stop etching, so wipe spills right away and use coasters under glasses.
Over time: Marble develops a soft patina with use. Etching on polished marble can often be polished out, and a honed finish hides it better.

Porcelain

Manufactured slab

Day to day: Warm water and mild soap. Porcelain never needs sealing.
Heat: Hot pans can go right on it.
Watch for: Edges and corners can chip from a hard knock with a heavy pot. Use a cutting board, since porcelain is hard enough to dull your knives.

Soapstone

Natural stone

Day to day: Warm water and mild soap. Soapstone never needs sealing.
Oiling: Soapstone darkens where it gets wet or oily. Wiping on mineral oil every so often darkens it evenly, or you can leave it natural and let it change on its own.
Scratches: Light scratches can be rubbed out with fine sandpaper, then oiled.

For quartz and porcelain, the maker's care guide for your color comes first. Don't know which stone you have? Call us at (262) 391-1058 and we'll look it up from your job.

Still choosing a stone? See how each one handles heat, stains and daily use, side by side.

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