Stone Care & Maintenance

Simply using these tips will ensure that your counter tops will retain their beauty for a lifetime. Cleaning your granite surfaces is very simple and easy; mild soap and warm water is recommended for daily use. Dry with a soft cloth to remove water spots, or you can purchase a daily stone cleaner that will leave your counter tops clean and streak free. A common home made cleaner will work just as good or better:

Homemade Granite Cleaner in Spray Bottle 1/4 teaspoon of liquid dish soap 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol 2 1/2 cups of water

About Natural Stone

Granite is a mined, natural stone composed of different minerals such as quartz, feldspar and mica. The process of these minerals being combined to form a solid stone offers a naturally beautiful counter top that is heat, stain and scratch resistant. However, due to the natural combination of these minerals, granite is also know to have pores, pits, fissures and veins which are all a part of the natural characteristic of granite and add to the incomparable beauty of natural stone.

Honed /Textured Granite: Please understand that HONED finishes can require more daily maintenance than some polished surfaces. With honed finishes, you may see metal marks, finger prints and other signs of daily use on darker honed material whereas lighter colors tend to hide or show less use. Most of these marks can be easily removed with little effort and proper cleaning products.

Staining

While Granite is highly stain resistant, substances such as oils, grease, acidic juices/wines and products that contain these substances can stain or darken your granite if not wiped up in a timely manner. Wiping spills will prevent potential stains from setting. Staining is very unlikely, but if it should occur, there are different options to remove the stain completely.

Scratching & Chipping

Under normal use Granite should not scratch or chip. It is safe to occasionally cut and slice on your counter tops. However, we recommend using a cutting board to keep from dulling your cutlery. Dragging very heavy objects, such as a tool box with dirt, grit or sand on its bottom may cause the granite to scratch.

If chipping occurs, it is normally on a straight polished or at your undermount sink edge. Chips can be repaired and polished out to return the surface to its prior finish.

Heat Resistance

Pots and Pans taken directly from your oven or stove top can be placed directly onto your granite counter tops. However, we still recommend the use of trivets or mats under hot dishes and place mats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that may scratch the surface. Other counter tops such as quartz are not as heat resistant.

Marble is a highly porous material that will stain, scratch, etch, chip and crack if not taken care of properly. Even properly taken care of marble tops will show use and these instances can, and probably will, occur. These materials are not recommended for kitchens and are better suited for vanities, tub decks and fireplaces or areas with low activity.

Do’s and Don’ts

• DO clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone cleaner

• DO clean and dry the surface after using soap and water

• Soak up spills in timely manner

• DO protect surfaces with non-slip mats on counter tops surfaces with coasters, trivets or placements

• DO use a razor blade to remove hard or tough build-up on your granite, such as glue or syrup.

• DON’T use straight vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing high levels of acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces

• DON’T use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners on any stone surface

• DON’T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleaners or soft cleansers

• DON’T mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.

• DON’T ever mix chemicals together unless directions specifically instruct you to do so.

If you begin to notice water spots darkening your granite, this is an indication that it needs to be re-sealed. Test your granite by leaving an ounce of water on your granite for an hour.

Quartz Counters-Care and Maintenance

Quartz is easy to maintain. It is a non-porous material that is highly resistant to stain, scratches and heat. However, it is not stain, scratch, or heat proof. Following the proper care and maintenance recommended by your professional Quartz distributor or installer will help keep your Quartz surface beautiful for many years to come.

Routine Care & Maintenance

Simply clean with soap and water on a regular basis to keep the lustrous gloss and radiant sheen. Use warm water and a damp cloth with a small amount of non-abrasive cleaner that does not contain bleach.

Although Quartz is resistant to stains, spills should be cleaned as soon as possible. Liquid spills from fruits, vegetables, or other foods should be wiped up and cleaned with soap and water.

Preventing Damages

Heat

Quartz is designed to be resistant to heat and can withstand exposure to normal cooking environment for brief periods of time without being damaged. Although Quartz withstands heat better than most surfacing materials on the market, all surfacing materials, including stone, can be damaged by extreme temperature changes, whether prolonged or sudden. Trivets and hot pads should be used when placing hot skillets, pans, crockpots or other heat generating kitchenware on the surface. Do not place hot pans, skillets, or crock-pots directly over a seam for an extended period of time as this can “pop” your seam apart.

Scratches

Quartz’s durable surface is designed to withstand normal use. While it is resistant to scratches, cuts, and chipping, cutting directly on the quartz surface should be avoided. Using cutting boards and taking care not to drop or move heavy objects on the surface will help to ensure long-lasting beauty.

Chemicals

Avoid exposing Quartz to any strong chemicals and solvents. It is important to note that some of these chemicals and solvents can be found in household items like paint removers, paint and stain strippers that contain trichlorethane or methylene chloride, nail polish removers, bleach, furniture cleaners, oil soaps, permanent markers or inks, and chemicals with high alkaline/PH levels (oven cleaners, drain openers, etc.). Avoid using cleaning products that contain oils, powders or abrasives.

Chemicals to Avoid

The below list of chemicals should be avoided with Quartz; however, the below list is not a complete list, and there may be other chemicals not listed here that may damage Quartz. The effect of any chemical usage on Quartz is ultimately dependent on the type of chemical, the length of exposure, and the degree of concentration.

• Oil soaps, bluing agents, dyes, stains, paint thinner or strippers.
• Solvents such as acetone, nail polish, lacquer thinner, or bleach (short-term exposure is acceptable for purpose of cleaning difficult stains-based on removing and rinsing applied area within 5 minutes).
• Chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene or methylene chloride  Benzene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (M.E.K.)
• Concentrated acids such as hydrocyanic acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid.
• Chemicals with high alkaline/PH levels (pH > 10)

**If any of the substance listed come into contact with Quartz, rinse with plenty of water and follow routine cleaning procedures immediately.

Recommended Cleaners

• Simple Green
• 10x Stone Polish
• Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean
• Mild Soap and Water
• Denatured Alcohol
• Hopes Surface cleaner
• Rock Doctor cleaner

Please refer to your specific manufacturer’s care and maintenance information if you have any further questions.

Formica ® laminates do not easily scratch or chip and will withstand normal wear and tear. They are also stain resistant therefore the best cleaning agent for laminate surfaces is clean water and mild detergent. It is also recommended that you rinse detergent off with a clean, damp cloth and polish the surface dry with a soft cloth.

Streaks

Streaky marks sometimes show on dark colours and gloss surfaces. After cleaning use a glass cleaning product such as Mr Muscle Surface & Glass or Ajax Spray ‘n’ Wipe glass cleaners.

Grease

Clean, hot soapy water will deal with greasy marks. If needed, dab, wait and wipe away. Finish off with a glass cleaner.

Spills

With some accidental spills you must take prompt action. Wipe off beetroot and berry juices, first aid preparations, concentrated bleach, dishwasher detergents and artificial dyes or hair colouring immediately. Acid based ceramic cleaners, oven cleaner and limescale removers must not be used as they can cause permanent staining. Any spillage or splashes of these cleaners must be washed off the laminate surface immediately. Specialty glue types such as Super Glue can also be removed immediately with acetone (nail polish remover).

Scratches

Formica laminates will withstand normal wear and tear but can be damaged by scratching or cutting with utensils, knives and unglazed pottery. Darker colours and gloss surfaces show scratches more readily than lighter colours. To minimise scratching, always place and lift objects from the surface. Never drag or slide them across the surface.

Stains

If a stain cannot be removed with Ajax Spray ‘n’ Wipe try methylated spirits or dab the stain with a diluted bleach mixture (1 part bleach to 8 parts water). Leave for 3 minutes then wash off with water and dry. Finish off with Ajax Spray ‘n’ Wipe. Please note that bleach may irreversibly damage the laminate surface. Always be careful on laminate joins and edges as these products can break down the adhesive used to bond your Formica laminate to the substrate.

Ink marks from felt-tip and ball-point pens can be removed with a suitable solvent such as methylated spirits or acetone on a clean cloth. Solvents such as methylated spirits and acetone are highly flammable. Use with proper caution.

After using a cleaner, the surface should be rinsed with clean water and polished dry with a soft cloth.

Avoid

• Don’t place appliances or pots straight from the oven/stove directly on to your Formica laminate surface.
• Avoid scourers and abrasives. They will damage the surface.
• Furniture polishes should not be used, as a build up of silicone wax on the surface may result in eventual discolouration and smear marks which can be very difficult to remove.
• Don’t cut directly on Formica laminate surfaces.
• Don’t place burning cigarettes on to Formica laminate surfaces.