Caring for Your Countertops
Cleaning countertops is something that people think about but don't want to do. It's much easier than you think, and you can see that more in our butcher block countertop cleaning blog. Granite and marble countertops are very low maintenance when it comes to upkeep, so you don't need to stress about damaging or ruining them. All you need are rags, soap, and a little elbow grease; let's get into it!
Cleaning Granite
The first step to cleaning any countertop or generic surface is wiping it down to remove any leftover food or residue. Use a warm, damp rag and mild dish soap to clean the granite. Once you've washed the entire surface, rinse out your rag and wipe down the counter without soap. Unlike butcher block countertops, you should not use vinegar to clean granite counters.
Stick to soap and water. If you have tough stains you'd like to remove, make a small mixture of water and baking soda. Using a cloth or a toothbrush, apply the paste to the stained area and let it sit for ten minutes. Unless it's a very tough or old stain, this should do the job.
For best results, you may want to clean your granite countertops with soap and water everyday. This whole process takes less than twenty minutes, so feel free to repeat it as often as you think necessary.
Cleaning Marble
Even though marble is simple to clean, you want to make sure that you do it carefully, since it can be pretty expensive. Stay away from vinegar and other acidic "DIY" house cleaning products. The cleaning process itself is very quick and easy. You guessed it; wipe down your countertop before you begin the cleaning process. Repeat the same process as you would for granite and take a damp cloth with mild soap to clean the marble. Rinse thoroughly and dry with paper towels.
If you've managed to stain your marble countertop with food products like coffee, fruit, or wine, grab some hydrogen peroxide and a couple drops of ammonia. Pour this solution over the stained area, and make sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards. Buff it dry with a fluffy towel. For an in-depth guide to cleaning all types of stains on marble counters, visit Bob Vila's blog. Like any other countertop, washing your marble countertop everyday is the best option to having a cleaner kitchen.
If you don't want to spend your Saturday cleaning your countertops, then don't worry about it. You've Got Maids will happily come into your home with their green cleaning products and ensure that your marble and granite counters are sparkling clean. All you have to do is click the button below to get your free cleaning estimate today.
