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Granite Maintenance 

Granite is extremely tough, but not indestructable, so our granite cleaner, care and maintenance guide below will help to maintain its beauty. As with all natural materials, some of the aesthetic appeal comes from the variations of colour, veins and markings. Within any particular type of granite and any slight imperfections or brecciations are normal and give each piece its individuality. The suitability of granite (or a particular type of granite) for use in a specific project can be advised by your granite fabricator. Whilst the following information is given in good faith, as a general guide to granite maintenance , it cannot be specific for each individual application. If you require further information or have any questions about granite care and maintenance, feel free to contact us today. 
DO NOT: 
 
Drag heavy appliances across the worktop or use knives/choppers directly on the granite surface. 
Significant scratches are extremely difficult to deal with. 
Use any cleaning medium which is abrasive, acidic or highly caustic: dulling (or worse) of the finish may result. 
Leave liquid spillages sitting on the surface for long periods; fruit juices, oils and detergents can have a detrimental effect on the worktop sealer if left in contact for extended periods. 
Use worktops as a workbench or stand on them for access (to replace lights for example); it is dangerous for you and bad for the granite. 
Leave hot or greasy pans sitting on the surface. 
DO: 
 
Wipe up spillages immediately with a clean cloth. 
Dry up water splashes; leaving water spillages to dry naturally (for example, around taps) could, over time, lead to unsightly limescale deposits especially in hard-water areas. 
Use a chopping board to prevent damage to the worktops (its also kinder to your knives) 
Use a trivet (pan stand) to support hot pans. 
After use, wipe down the surfaces with a clean damp cloth, a little soap in the wiping water may be desirable but frequent washing with copious amounts of water is not recommended. 
Maintenance: 
 
If theese practices are followed there should be no necessity for significant maintenance works; however, to maintain the shine on polished surfaces and aid the water-repellent characteristics, the occasional application of a combined cleaner, sealer orpolish would be beneficial.  
 
(For example Akemi Triple Effect is an easily used spray-on/wipe off product for polished granite maintenance and is food-safe). Where surfaces are a honed finish, products such as Lithofin MN-Stainstop are suitable. 

Natural Stones & Marble Care and Maintenance 

Natural stones and marble countertops are made from a beautiful and durable material but will benefit from care and maintenance. Marble-type material is reasonably tough, however, a little care and maintenance will help to maintain its beauty. As with all natural materials, some of the decorative appeal comes from the variations of colour, veins and markings within any particular type of stone. Any slight imperfections are normal and give each piece its uniqueness. The suitability of marble etc (or a particular type of marble) for use in a specific project can be advised by your fabricator. Some marble countertops are highly figured, veined and filled, so have a reduced mechanical strength; again, talk to the fabricator about their use in particular situations. The following information on natural stone and marble care is a general guide, it can't be specific for each individual application. 
DO NOT: 
 
Drag heavy appliances across the surface or use knives/choppers directly upon it. 
Use any cleaning medium which is abrasive, acidic or caustic: dulling (or worse) of the finish will result. i.e. Viakal limescale remover. 
Leave liquid spillages on the surface for long periods; fruit juices, oils, detergents and make-up can have a detrimental effect on the sealer or the material itself if left in contact for extended periods. 
Use surfaces as a workbench or stand on them for access (to replace light bulbs for example); it is dangerous for you and bad for the stone. 
Leave hot or greasy items sitting on the surface. 
DO: 
 
Wipe up spillages immediately with a clean cloth. 
Dry up water splashes; leaving water spillages to dry naturally (for example, around taps) could, over time, lead to unsightly limescale deposits especially in hard-water areas. 
Protect the surface from chemicals (such as hair dye), make-up, oils, creams, alcohol and the like. 
Use a trivet (pan stand) to support hot items. 
After use, wipe down the surfaces with a clean damp cloth, a little soap in the wiping water may be desirable but frequent washing with copious amounts of water is not recommended. 
Maintenance: 
 
If the 'Good Housekeeping Practices' are followed there should be no necessity for major maintenance works; however, to retain the shine on polished surfaces and assist the water-repellent characteristics, the occasional application of a combined cleaner/sealer/polish will be beneficial. (For example 'Akemi Triple Effect' is an easily used spray-on/wipe off product for polished marble maintenance and is food-safe). Where surfaces are to a honed finish, products such as 'Lithofin MN-Stainstop' are suitable. For specific applications it may be beneficial to consult the sealant manufacturer. 

Caring for Quartz / Engineered Stone 

Routine Care: N.B. This is a good generalisation of care and maintenance of quartz surfaces according to Granite Unlimited. For specific care and maintenance instructions to individual quartz manufacturers it is advisable to refer to the manufactures own web site for their own specific care and maintenance instructions. Quartz countertop surfaces are very easy to maintain and with simple care, will retain their lustre and beauty for many years. For routine cleaning of your quartz countertops, use a damp cloth or paper towel and, if necessary, a small amount of mild soap. Once clean, rinse and dry surface thoroughly. Specialised products can be used to further assist with routine care and maintenance. 
Chemicals To Avoid 
 
Avoid exposing any quartz surface to chemicals and solvents, especially strong oven cleaners, paint removers or furniture stripper containing triclorethane, or methylene chloride. Keep nail polish remover, bleach or cleansers that contain bleach, bluing, permanent markers, and acidic substances, or inks, and oil soaps away from quartz. While casual exposure to alkaline materials will not damage quartz, highly alkaline (high-pH) cleansers are not recommended when cleaning quartz. If any of the substances listed above come into contact with quartz worktops, rinse the exposed surface immediately and thoroughly with water. 
Removing Difficult Spills 
 
Even though quartz resists permanent staining when exposed to liquids (such as wine, vinegar, tea, lemon juice and soda) or fruits and vegetables, wipe up spills as soon as possible Jif Bathroom cleaner has been discovered to be very good for this, the one in the atomiser (not the harsh abrasive cream cleaner from old). For stubborn or dried spills, use a non-abrasive cleaning pad such as a white 3M Scotch-Brite scrub pad combined with a small amount of mild soap or specialized stone cleaner. 
Preventing Heat and Other Damage 
 
Quartz is heat resistant and can withstand limited exposure to normal cooking temperatures from pots, pans and dishes, without being damaged. Although quartz is more heat resistant than many other surfaces, it is still subject to potential damage when exposed to sudden and extreme temperature changes. For this reason, we recommend the use of trivets, whenever possible. Galaxy is also scratch resistant, but not scratch proof. Therefore, when using a knife, a cutting board is always recommended. 
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