Granite countertops are one of the most popular countertops in the world. They are loved by millions as they have many attractive qualities. They are durable, beautiful, and don’t require a lot of maintenance.

While the pieces don’t need a lot of maintenance, it doesn’t mean you should ignore them. You need to give them some attention for them to last for a long time. Some of the ways of maintaining them include:

Seal the surfaces

When you seal the surfaces you prevent the surfaces from absorbing water and stains that might get on them. When you are sealing them, always use a high-quality sealant. The sealant should be long lasting, high quality, and deep penetrating.

As you might have guessed, this sealant doesn’t come cheap; therefore, you should be ready to part with a substantial amount of money. In addition to using a high-quality product, also ensure that the product is applied by an experienced and certified professional.

Regularly clean the surfaces

You need to clean the surfaces on a regular basis to prevent the liquids from getting deep into the surfaces and staining the countertops. When cleaning the surfaces, use pH neutral cleansers and a soft piece of cloth.

As rule of thumb avoid harsh scrubbers and cleansers. While the stone is tough, acidic sponges and cleansers have been shown to scratch and wear out the sealant; therefore, you should avoid using them.

For a long-lasting countertop use pH neutral soap when doing the cleaning. You should steer clear of vinegar, Windex or any other materials that might cause damage.

When cleaning the countertops, use warm water all the time. The water ensures that you have an easy time getting rid of even the tough materials that might be lodged on the surface.

When there is an accidental spill, you should get rid of it immediately. You should then go ahead and dry it using a dry dishcloth. This is to ensure that no moisture seeps into the pores of the stone.

Watch what you put on the countertops

It’s true the countertops are tough but this doesn’t mean that you can put anything on them. You should never put hot pots or pans on the countertops. This is because the materials expose the countertops to extreme temperatures that they can’t handle.

What is the consequence of this? The countertops have huge dents and change their color. In some cases, they start coming apart after getting weak.

If you have to put hot materials on the units, always use a coaster that will not only protect the surfaces from the extreme temperature, they also protect the surfaces from liquids and other sources of moisture.

Disinfect the countertops

Cleaning the kitchen countertops isn’t enough—you also need to disinfect them. The cool thing is that there are plenty of ways of going about it. One of the ways is wiping them thoroughly using water, a rag, and a gentle cleaner.

Are there oil marks on your countertops? You should use baking soda and water. It’s common to make oil-based liquid spills especially when you are cooking. The most common spills are milk and grease.

For you to remove these, make a paste of baking soda and water. You should then slather the paste on the oil marks and let the paste sit for a few hours or even overnight.

Water-based marks might seem harmless but they aren’t. When you don’t remove the liquids fast enough, they are bound to quickly penetrate the surface and if they are colored, they will definitely stain the surface.

For you to remove them and also disinfect the surface you should make a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. After applying it on the affected areas, let it sit for a few hours then remove it.

According to granite companies Durham, the countertop repels bacteria naturally but if you want to give the surfaces a perfect disinfection, you should use water and 91% isopropyl.

You should make a solution up with a 50/50 ratio then spray it on the countertops. Let it sit there for at least five minutes then rinse it with a dry, clean, soft dishcloth.