Clean granite with a soft
white cloth and a neutral cleaner or household detergent such as Dove. Household cleaning products including Windex, Lysol Disinfectant and 409 can be
used, but may leave a film. A solution of vinegar and water (1:10 vinegar to water) works great
to remove streaking, smudges, and body oil on granite.
Spills should be wiped up
immediately. Blot the spill with a clean paper towel. If the countertop stains,
a poultice may need to be applied. See the Stain Removal guidelines that
follow. Use the flat side of a razor blade for removing stuck on tape residue,
dried paint, glue, dried food, etc.
Use #0000 or finer steel wool to
remove dried water spots, smudges, hazy areas, and for general cleaning to
bring out the shine. Do not use the steel wool wet. Use a pencil eraser to
remove aluminum trails.
Cleaning Tips For Other Natural Stone
Marble, limestone, travertine,
soapstone and onyx should be cleaned using products specifically designed for
natural stone.Always test products in a
small, inconspicuous area first to see how it reacts with the stone.Using household cleaning products on these
stones will damage them.
Sealing Granite and Other Natural Stones
Granite countertops are generally
sealed at the time of fabrication. Resealing is up to the individual. Manufacturers
of impregnators recommend countertops to be resealed from yearly to every 4
years, or longer, depending on the application, the sensitivity of the
individual, and the type of stone. Granite impregnators, cleaners and
disinfectants are available for purchase at our showrooms.
Stones like marble, limestone,
travertine and soapstone need to be sealed more often within the first 6 months
to year of installation.Use a Porous
Plus or Seal and Enhance for better protection.Contact your installer for more detailed information relating to your
specific stone.
For more detailed information on how
to seal your natural stone, please contact your fabricator or Stone Holding.
Don'ts
- Do not use acid-based
cleaners such as rust removers, sterling silver cleaners, etc., and do not place
rags saturated with acid based cleaners on the countertop
- Do not use any cleaners containing Hydrofluoric Acid
- Do not use strong abrasive cleaners such as Comet or SoftScrub
- Do not leave spills on the countertop for prolonged periods of
time.
Stains
If you have stained your stone,
don't worry. Because stone is porous, you can sometimes remove the stain by
reversing the staining process. Stains should be treated as soon as possible.
As time goes by, it becomes increasingly difficult to remove the stain;
however, attempts to remove stains should not precede stain identification.
Using the appropriate removal technique is important to achieve the desired
results. You must ask questions to determine what the stain is:
What is the color?
Where is it located?
How long has it been there?
Is it associated with main traffic areas?
Are plants near the stain? Etc...
Once the stain has been identified,
the best method of removal can be determined.
If you re-absorb the stain into a
medium, you can remove it from the stone. The typical medium is called a
poultice. Miracle Sealant's Poultice Plus Powder, clays, corn starch and
diatomaceous earth are usually the best. Many stains are so deeply imbedded
that a chemical solution will need to be added to the poultice to dilute and/or
react with the stain. Test patches will need to be performed, and in many cases
it will take several tests. The process can be simple: Mix Poultice Plus Powder
with distilled water, or the chemical you have selected, to make a paste-like
substance with a consistency similar to peanut butter. Apply the paste to the
stain and do not let any excess drip or spill onto adjacent clean areas. The
paste should be applied approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, overlapping the
stain by 1/2 to 1 inch. Cover the area with plastic wrap and secure the edges
down with non-marking tape. The poultice must dry completely. Drying time is
usually 24 to 48 hours, depending on the type of poultice being used. As the
poultice dries, it will pull the stain from the area into the paste. Remove the
poultice using cotton balls, paper towels, or a fabric. If the stain has
improved, re-apply the poultice. Multiple applications may be required.
Please Note:
Some chemicals necessary for stain removal will remove the finish on polished
marble, limestone, terrazzo and travertine. As a result, repolishing with
abrasives or polishing compounds may be necessary.
Stain Removal Procedure Guide
Always test a small area to ensure
the desired result.
Typical Stains:
ORGANIC: Coffee, Tea, Tobacco, Food,
Cosmetics, Plant, Food
INORGANIC: Rust, Iron, Bronze, Steel, Metal
BIOLOGICAL: Mildew, Mold, Fungus, Algae
OIL BASE: Grease, Cooking Oil, Food Stains, Tar, Body Oil
INK: Ball Point Pen or Magic Marker
Challenge: Iron Stains Solution: Clean with one of the following:
Naval Jelly
MiraSeal Liquid Poultice
Ammonium Oxalate
Oxalic Acid
Grout Concrete Film Remover
Challenge: Ink Stains Solution: Poultice with one of the following:
MiraSeal Liquid Poultice
MiraSeal Mira Strip
For light colors: Bleach or Hydrogen Peroxide
For dark colors: Acetone or Lacquer Thinner
Challenge: Oil Based Stains Solution: Clean with one of the following:
MiraSeal Mira Clean #1
MiraSeal Tile & Grout Cleaner
MiraSeal Liquid Poultice
MiraSeal Mira Strip
Bleach
Household Detergent
Ammonia
Mineral Spirits
Follow with a
poultice of one of the following:
Mineral Spirits
MiraSeal Mira Strip
Methyl Chloride
Challenge: Organic Stains Solution: Clean with one of the following:
MiraSeal Mira Clean #1
MiraSeal Tile & Grout Cleaner
MiraSeal Liquid Poultice
35% Hydrogen Peroxide. Pour directly on the stain and
then add a few drops of ammonia. Leave on until the bubbling stops.
Poultice using the
same methods as suggested for an Oil Based Stain.
Challenge: Copper Stains Solution: Poultice with one of the following:
Ammonia Chloride
Ammonia Hydroxide
Challenge: Biological Stains Solution: Clean with one of the following:
MiraSeal Mira Clean #1
MiraSeal Tile & Grout Cleaner
MiraSeal Liquid Poultice
Diluted Ammonia
Bleach
Challenge: Crystallization Coatings Solution: Rehone the surface with Abrasives
Challenge: Grout and Thin Set residue Solution: If it is Cementitious: Clean with MiraSeal GCFR
On polished surfaces: Not recommended
On honed surfaces: Dilute to a ratio of 5 to 1
On flamed or textured surfaces: Dilute to a ratio of 3
to 1
If it is Epoxy: Clean with MiraSeal
Epoxy Grout Film Remover, undiluted on all surfaces.
