Dealing With Granite Stains
Granite slabs can give you a lot of things: added elegance, increased home value, improved style–and the pain of dealing with stains. Yes, that is part of granite kitchen ownership–maintenance and dealing with stains. And so, for a granite countertop owner, you should be aware of some strategies in dealing with stains should they occur.
Before we deal with stains per se, we know you already know this, but it needs mentioning: invest on proper granite sealing. Doing so will leave you less problems when dealing with stains while also ensuring that your granite slab would last. What this means is to get the best sealant that you can afford, don’t skimp on the scheduled sealing schedule, and get it done by people that know what they’re doing. Again, doing so would save you a lot of headache, while also ensuring your investment in a granite countertop is worth every penny.
As for the stains, some simple reminders:
For liquid stains, don’t spread them around. Get a paper towel or any absorbent material and place it on top of the stain and let it absorb it. No use spreading the stain to a larger surface are.
For solid stains or food spills, use a plastic spoon or spatula to avoid scratching the surface.
For mud stains, let it dry before taking it out.
Next is to rinse the area with water. If the granite slabs were properly sealed, this should take care of the stain. If not, the next thing to determine is the nature of the stain.
Organic stains. This can be coffee, tea, juice, or any other food items. This can usually be cleaned off by water and the constant application of stone cleaner. There are granite and marble cleaners out there in the market; it’s a good idea to have one in your shelf.
Oil-based stains. These could be harder to get out. One way to get rid of them is through a poultice (a mixture of absorbent materials and cleaning solution). The poultice should pull up the stain without harming the stone.
Your last recourse? Contact your granite fabricator. These usually have special cleaners for different stains and their experience can help a lot in removing those stains. If you are unsure of what to do, then it’s best to have the experts handle the stains. It’s not uncommon to have people damage the granite slabs when doing the stain removal themselves.
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