TBone2004

If any of you guys have a granite kitchen counter what do you do to maintain it - I hear you have to seal them? What do you clean them with to keep clean and dissenfected?

Anyone have Staron as their bathroom vanity counter? Same thing, what do you clean it with?

Moog-Type-S

For granite...depending on how porous the stone you selected is, you may or may not have to seal it. In general it is a good idea to seal granite, for easier maintenance.

Go to a local tile shop and purchase some granite sealer from them. It should be specific for granite. If your granite has any stains in the stone, make sure you remove them before you seal the granite. Use a poultice mix to remove imbedded granite stains.

bgsm1th

Also, consider taking a look at "manufactured stone" surfaces like Cambria or SileStone.
They look and cost about the same as Granite, but are less porous than Granite, so you don't have to worry about staining or sealing. Just spray some disinfectant down and wipe, just like regular counters...

They are also approved by the FDA for bacterial safety, which granite is NOT.

I used to work for Cambria, so feel free to ask any questions, I have answers.

ccannizz11

We have granite counters and I was told by a few different people that we didn't need to seal ours, and to avoid using abrasive cleaners on it. Other than that, everything else was fine to use.

Moog-Type-S

^^ I've had granite countertops for 4 years now...never sealed them, and have had zero problems. I use mild cleansers (non-abrasive) to clean the surface.

Mach30SiR

Same here, i usually reach for clorox spray cleaner for the germs, then wipe it off, followed up with simple green dilluted 30:1 to take care of any residue.

TBone2004

ok, cause on our old counter we used the antibacterial spray - forget who makes it - lysol maybe, like a 409 type thing. Like if I drop a chicken on the counter


So it sounds like those sprays should still be ok.

thanks guys

97Acura3.0CL

I used a sealer from OSH that is a top of the line sealant, you pour it on leave it for a bit and then wipe clean

I love my granite, especially since I did my kitchen all for only 300 bucks for the stone alone!! ( bought it at a auction, 100 a slab )

97Acura3.0CL

for desinfectants or something like that, we use those wipes with the orange smell, they work wonders!

hypertech

My understanding is that despite what manufactured stone companies would like you to believe, natural stone does not harbor bacteria. Haven't you ever been to an ice cream shop or candy shop that uses a marble or granite slab?

Our granite was sealed by the manufacturer, but it isn't hard to do. If you want to, just buy a bottle of sealer, wipe on then wipe off. Depending onteh product, you may to do a couple applications. If you can do Rain-X, you can seal stone.

As far as cleaning, we just wipe it down when we're done washing dishes or clena it with Clorox daily sanitizing spray. It comes in a light blus colored bottle and is pretty good at disinfecting just about everything.