Use a Soft Cloth: Wipe down the surface daily with a soft cloth or sponge to remove crumbs and debris.

PH Neutral Cleaner: (such as Easy Oxy by MB Stone Care). These products are effective without being harsh on the marble. For deep cleaning, NSI recommends using MB-2 by MB Stone Cleaner, which is an alkaline cleaner. Avoid abrasive pads or harsh chemicals that can dull the finish and remove applied sealant.

Impregnating Sealer: Granites typically need to have sealer reapplied every 3-5 years. This process should be completed with an impregnating stone sealer (Tenax Proseal, Tenax Ager, etc.) to allow for a molecular bond. Our company recommends using Tenax sealer products as a countertop sealant and all of our granite countertops we install come pre-treated with this sealer.

Not sure if your counters are due for another treatment?: You can absolutely test your countertops to see if they need to be retreated with countertop sealer. To do this, just take a few drops of water and drop it on your countertop. If the water beads up on the surface (like rain on a windshield treated with Rain-X) then you’re good to go, but if it starts to absorb into the countertop, then it’s time for another application of sealer.

Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Do not use bleach, ammonia, or abrasive cleaners. These can damage the sealant or finish.

Cutting Boards: Always use cutting boards when preparing food; direct knife contact can scratch the granite.

Heat Resistance: Granite is very heat resistance, but it is recommended that you use trivets and pads when putting anything hot directly out of the oven or off the stove onto the countertop. The countertop is naturally cool to the touch, and when a hot glass baking dish or pot comes into contact with the stone, countertops’ natural fissures can potentially open up from the stone expanding from heat. Nothing is guaranteed and not all granite slabs have lots of natural fissures, but overall it’s a good preventative measure.

Chips: Restoration companies specialize in things like countertop chip repairs. If you are able to save the piece that chipped out, a it will allow for the most concealed fix, otherwise a color matched glue will be used to fill in the void. Once filled, the area is ground down smooth and refinished (if needed).

Scratches: Naturally scratches will happen to your countertops depending on how well they are used. These can be top polished smooth, although it is a labor intensive process. Finishes like leathered and honed will do a much better job of hiding these blemishes.