Keep Your Counters in Top Shape With These Tips
New parents often joke that babies do not come with an instruction manual. Homes do not either, and knowing how to care for your materials matters.
Earlier this year we shared tips for countertops, flooring and cabinets. With holiday cooking season here, let's focus on countertops, since the kitchen is where you will spend much of your time.
Marble
Marble is beautiful and elegant but scratches and stains easily, so it is not usually recommended for kitchens. If you have marble, protect it during use and clean it with a pH-neutral stone cleaner or mild soap and water and a nonabrasive cloth.
Granite
Granite should be resealed once or twice a year to perform its best. Because it is porous, wipe up spills quickly.
- Daily cleaning: a damp microfiber cloth with mild dish soap or a granite-specific cleaner.
- Oil-based stains: a paste of baking soda and water.
- Water-based stains: hydrogen peroxide.
Leave the paste overnight, rinse and repeat if needed.
Quartz
Quartz is highly resistant to scratches, stains and scorching, but it is not heatproof, so always use trivets under hot pots and pans. It is nonporous and never needs sealing. Clean with a quartz-safe cleaner and dry with a microfiber cloth. Learn more in Countertop Corner: Quartz Edition.
Tips for Any Countertop
- Use coasters to protect from moisture.
- Choose nonabrasive cleaners.
- Always use a cutting board.
- Dry counters with microfiber cloths.
- Test any new cleaner in a hidden spot first to avoid discoloration.
Ready for New Countertops?
Well-kept counters will serve your holiday gatherings for years. If it is time for an upgrade, compare options in our countertop materials guide, then call Tracy Tesmer Design and Remodeling at 678-450-1700 or contact us online.











