If you are asking, are granite countertops maintenance-free? You must lead a busy life so you are looking for countertops that don’t need a lot of attention. Although granite doesn’t need a lot of care, you need to pay some attention to it. Some of the things you need to do to keep it in good shape include:

Clean the countertops

This is the most important thing you need to do to the countertops. While it’s vital you clean the counters, the cool thing is you don’t have to be fancy about it. Simply clean the surfaces with a damp piece of cloth and soap and you are good to go. For better results, use a cleaner specially designed for granite surfaces.

When you are in the store making the purchase, pay close attention to the finer details and ensure the cleaner has a neutral pH, and it’s designed for granite.

Regardless of how dirty the countertops are, never use vinegar, ammonia, or any other acidic cleaners, as they will remove the countertop sealant putting the countertops at the risk of staining.

Get rid of spills as soon as they happen

Spills happen in unprecedented ways. You might be taking your breakfast then coffee accidentally spills on your countertop surfaces. When this happens, move with haste and remove the spills before they get to the inner layers where they get hard to remove.

You might argue that as long as you have sealed the countertops you have nothing to worry about, but this isn’t the case. Granite is naturally porous and leaving any liquid on it for a substantial amount of time the liquid is bound to get to the inner layers and stain the surfaces.

So as mentioned, to prevent this from happening, get rid of the spills as soon as they come about.

Remove stains as soon as possible

Even with the best care, stains can happen. For example, cooking oil might have got to the inner layers of the countertops. When you notice these stains, don’t put off removing them. Instead, remove them immediately. The good thing is you don’t have to hire a professional to help you with the stain removal as there are plenty of home tricks you can use.

One of the most effective ways is mixing baking soda and water to make a creamy paste. You should then use a soft cloth or sponge to rub the paste on the stained area then rinse it thoroughly with water. Don’t despair when the stain doesn’t come off on the first try. Sometimes the stains might be too deep in the countertop layers and you have to repeat the process a few times to completely remove them.

If you have applied the above paste and still the stain won’t come out, consider applying this paste on the stained spot and leave it there. You should then cover the area with plastic wrap and tape the edges with tape.

Keep everything in place until the paste dries after which you should remove the plastic wrap, wipe away the paste with a soft cloth then rinse the spot with water.

Reseal the countertops

At the time of installation, granite countertop installers NC seal the surfaces but this isn’t enough to keep the countertops stain proof. To reduce the chances of the countertops staining, you need to reseal the surfaces at least once a year. You can do the sealing by yourself or hire a contractor to help you out.

For best results, use a high-quality sealant specially designed for granite.