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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Joanne Dorin | Posted under Home Improvement
Importance Of Granite Countertops
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Stains too are unlikely to be a problem, as granite is such a hard and dense stone that it is very resistant to absorbing stains. If you do manage to stain your granite countertops, simply scrub with one part white vinegar to two parts warm or hot water. Though it is unlikely that your granite countertops will stain, it can happen. For really tough stains, try letting the affected area soak in straight white vinegar overnight. This should help leech the stain out of the granite. Though it is not recommended by most granite countertops manufacturers, one may carefully apply concentrated bleach to very difficult stains. You should probably keep an eye on such a bleach application though, as you can't be certain that the bleach will not affect the color of the granite in some way. Most granite countertops manufacturers recommend a kind of silicone sealing treatment to add protection from stains. This type of protective sealant is usually applied when the granite countertops are first installed, as well as once again each year. There are differing views as to the effectiveness of such granite sealing treatments. Where some feel it's worth the added peace of mind, others feel that sealing granite is rather unnecessary. While many proponents of the granite sealing treatments argue that it helps protect food preparation areas, others point out that simply washing the surface regularly will keep it perfectly clean. For regular cleaning, dish soap and warm water are all one needs to clean their granite countertops. For extra disinfecting cleansing, use a vinegar and water solution; again, the mixture being about one part white vinegar to two parts warm or hot water. You can use the vinegar and water cleanser every day to kill germs, or just every week or so. Vinegar is a powerful disinfectant and is perfectly capable of keeping food areas safe and clean. Though there are several granite countertop cleansers on the market, it is questionable whether these products are any more effective. At the same time, the vast majority of the commercially prepared granite cleaners are not going to be non-toxic, as are soap, water and vinegar. If one is really concerned about the sanitary conditions of the countertop on which food is prepared, it seems to me that avoidance of harmful chemicals being used on food preparation areas would be just as important as keeping the area clean of food residue. Unless you have a rare stain or other granite cleaning problem, I see no reason why sticking to natural cleaners would be a problem. Granite countertops are wonderful because of the warm, earthy tone they give a room, but also for their lasting durability. Regular washing with soapy water and the occaissional vinegar will keep your granite countertops beautiful for years to come. About The Author: Joanne is an author of Decorz.com. If you're looking for more countertops & decorating ideas for your home and garden visit http://www.decorz.com. |
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