Avoid Spoiling Your Granite Countertop With 5 Things
Granite countertop is one of the popular choices due to their durability and designs. Investing in a natural stone for your countertop can be expensive, but it can last longer if you maintain it properly.
Proper maintenance is always needed to keep your granite countertop in top condition. Besides that, there are things you need to avoid before it damages your countertop, which you wouldn’t want to happen.
There are a few things that will affect the longevity of your countertop. If you are wondering what things you should avoid, we will discuss it in this article to help keep your granite countertop in good condition.
Video Credit: Albany County Fasteners
1. Leaving Spills On Your Granite Countertop
Accidents do happen. No matter how careful you are, it is really unavoidable if you spill something oily or acidic all over your granite countertop. The most important thing is how you hander the situation after it occurs.
Bear in mind that the least you want to do is leave the spills remaining on your countertop. If you leave it, it will etch your granite’s seal and stain your countertop. So you would want to avoid that happening.
So, if you spill anything on your countertop, ensure that you clean it up immediately. Ensure that you are using a mild recommended cleanser or hot, soapy water to clean your countertop; it will look all good.
2. Working With Raw Meat On Your Granite Countertop
You may find your granite countertop smooth, and with it well-sealed, it can keep bacteria off your countertop. By now, you may think you want to work on it as it is clean and bacterial-resistant.
Well, you will want to rethink it. It is fine if you are using flour, but putting raw meat on your granite countertop may be a bad idea. Raw meat definitely won’t hurt your countertop, but what is left behind might do something worse.
Raw meat can bring bacterial infection to your countertop, and it might end up on another food item which will affect your health. Besides that, people tend to feel the need to use harsh disinfectants after placing the raw meat on the countertop, and these disinfectants may not be appropriate for your granite countertop. You will end up doing more damage to the sealant.
The common cleansers you get from the grocery can dull, damage the sealant, and even discolor the granite. So why not just use a cutting board instead of placing the raw meat on the countertop?
3. Using Hot Pots And Pans On Your Granite Countertop
After cooking a lovely meal, the next thing you will do is place your hot pots and pan on top of the countertop. It is the nearest place your hand takes you. One of the benefits of the granite countertop is heat-resistant, but you may want to reconsider placing your hot pots and pans on it.
A granite countertop can resist the heat of hot pots and pans without melting or cracking it. But it can only resist it for a brief period, or it will get damaged. You will still want to place a protective barrier in between.
What will happen if you continuously put hot pots and pans on top of the granite countertop? It can weaken the sealant, and your granite will start to lose face and get dull. Sealants are to prevent stains and other damage, so make sure you have potholders nearby to place your hot pots and pans.
4. Sitting Or Standing On The Granite Countertop
You may be wondering who will be sitting or standing on a countertop. But you will find this scenario familiar, you have some appliance store in the upper kitchen cabinet, and you can’t reach it. The nearest thing you can step on to reach the top is to stand on the countertop. Or maybe you are waiting for your food to be cooked, and the next thing you do is to sit on the countertop. Isn’t this familiar?
Granite can crack under excessive weight, which you wouldn’t want. So avoid climbing or sitting on your granite countertop. Grab a step ladder or sturdy stool to grab the things you need from the upper kitchen cabinet.
5. Using Acidic Materials on Granite Countertop
Not all kinds of materials are suitable to use on granite countertops. You may find some stains on the countertop, and consider getting rid of them. Vinegar came into your mind as it is a strong solution and will ensure that the stain can be cleaned off.
There is nothing wrong with your intention, but how you execute, it is totally wrong. You can’t use acidic material on your granite countertop. So acidic materials such as soft drinks, citrus fruit, and vinegar should be kept off the countertop. This includes soaps containing ammonia.
Vinegar can eliminate the stain remains on your granite countertop, but it will weaken your granite countertop. You will find that your countertop will get dull in no time. Just use some basic dish soap to clean your countertop.
