Granite is one of the most preferred countertop for kitchen and work areas on account of its durability and resistance to heat. Its rich look lends a sophisticated appeal that is hard to deny. The desire for this addition of style and panache to your kitchen with granite countertops has exploded tenfold with the availability of a variety of different designs to match different types of décor. However, maintenance is an important issue in order to preserve its lustrous gleam. Environmental conscious citizens, who point to a greener approach for maintenance, opt for the environment friendly over other options.
Never use chemical cleaners
Granite countertops are durable and tough but being made a natural stone the countertop is porous and thus it is best not to use cleaners containing cruel chemicals. Furthermore, do not use cleaners that contain alkalies or acids, such as glass cleaners, bathroom cleaners, bleach, degreasers, ammonia or tub and tile cleaners on the stone as they would affect the shine of the stone and also lead to damage. The acid content in these cleaners tends to eat away the stone causing irreparable damage to it. Using these chemical formulations often causes damage to the granite polish, thereby making it look scoured and dull.
Using water is always the best option
Granite is a natural stone and hence can be best maintained with a cleaner with neutral pH. Water being non alkaline, non acidic and with a balanced pH, is voted as the best cleaner for granite countertops. Being eco friendly and easily available, it is an efficient cleaning agent for any type of household cleaning. Water and a sponge are enough to combat any spills and debris on your working counter areas. It is hygienic too and keeps your area neat. If the area looks too greasy and mucky use warm to hot water, depending on the amount of grease and grime around, to clean the area appropriately. You can attach a water sprayer and keep in handy for quick light spray over the countertop after every use daily. If need be you can add vegetable glycerin and a few drops of any eco-friendly dishwashing soap for added cleaning and polishing.
Using steam-cleaners
Currently a very eco-friendly mode of cleaning in the form of hand steamer cleaners are available in the market. With no cleaning agent but water alone, it is a healthy as well as hygienic option and eco friendly too. All you have to do is put plain water in it, and it steams off grease, dirt and grime from the kitchen tops involving no extra mess or scouring around. The other stone cleaners that are available in the market rank very low on the green scale of environmentally conscious options and are also quite expensive when compared with steam cleaners. As the leftover dirt contains no debris of ammonia or bleach, it is polluting the environment much less than any detergent based cleaners freely available around us.
Using alcohol with neutral pH
As an environmental-friendly cleaner, the isopropyl rubbing alcohol, which has a neutral pH is an ideal way to keep your granite top squeaky clean. It is readily available and unfussy. You can also add the alcohol to dishwashing soaps or detergents and add it to a cup of plain water for an added effect. Apply it on a wet sponge and rub it all along the countertop. Then take a dry cloth and buff away the moist counter to get that hygienic gleaming look back in action. This mode of cleaning can be done on a weekly basis for best results.
Buff and polish
Cleaning with warm water and then buffing with a soft cloth are all that you need to do to keep your granite countertop looking like new for many many years. In addition, it is best advised not to use any abrasive cleaners or cloth for wiping the top. Use cloth that is soft with microfibers that will not scour the top while polishing. Old cotton or linen shirt or cloth pieces can be retrieved and recycled for this purpose too. But here it is necessary to note that the cloth should have no stitches on them, nor buttons, zip corners or anything sharp and metallic that can cause the stone to be scratched. For best results, feel it on your skin for softness before you use it for buffing the top.
Above all, handle with care!
Natural stones like granite are as sensitive as your skin. Treat it gently and the results are always stunning. Use coasters always, be it under warm vessels, glasses with fruit juice or wines or other metal containers. Try to be careful to keep the countertop off wine, fruit juices, fizzy drinks, tomato sauce, alcohol spills. However, if spilled, immediately clean it with water and soft cloth to minimize permanent damage to the stone. Place coasters under hot china dishes or metal cookware to avoid scratch marks. Re-sealing every year with the help of professional or personal help is a beneficial initiative for both the counter top and your hygiene. It is an effortless method, and is readily available at most hardware stores.
