The kids are back to school, now how do I clean these filthy countertops?

The house has been a mess all summer and I want to be sure I don't use the wrong products to clean up my natural stone counter tops. I talked to our stone providers and got their advise.

Quartz:

Maintaining quartz natural stone counter tops by Cambria®, Silestone® and others is easy. Simply wash with a soft cotton cloth and warm water. Use a mild soap if desired.Do not expose quartz counter tops to abrasive or strong alkaline products. Also avoid acid or free radical cleaners. Various chemicals are corrosive so be aware of potential damages to your surface. We recommend that you do not use bleach, oven cleaners, Comet®, SoftScrub®, SOS®, or products with pumice to clean your surface. In addition, do not use abrasive or harsh scrub pads.One of the wonderful benefits of quartz is that you never need to seal it. Do not apply any sealers, penetrants or topical treatments to quartz counter tops. Such products will cause the gloss to appear dull or inconsistent.

Granite:

Maintaining granite natural stone counter tops is easy.  A gentle cleanser like Murphy's® Oil Soap, Granite Gold© or mild dish washing liquid is recommended. Do not use harsh chemical such as bleach. It is okay to use a synthetic scrubbing pad to clean your granite counter.  To prevent your granite from absorbing stains wipe up spills immediately and use a soft cloth to dry the surface.Granite is a natural stone so it does have some vulnerability. The contractor or installer of your granite counter top will seal the surface after installation. Sealer protects the surface of the stone from discoloration. It is recommended that your reseal your stone every 10-12 months and this is a very simple process.  Spray bottles of sealant are available at your local hardware store.

Susan Lawson is the Business Development Manager for Guedes Construction and the Community Network Coordinator for the non-profit organization Soldiers’ Angels.

She can be reached via email for Guedes at susan@guedesconstruction.com or for volunteering and information on how to support our military through Soldiers’ Angels email Susan at ctlca26@gmail.com