Do It Yourself Granite Countertop Care

If you are one of the millions of American homeowners enjoying granite countertops in your kitchen, then you know how beautiful, durable, and hardy this natural stone surface can be. However, as strong as granite is, it can still become dull and scratchy over time if it is not taken care of properly.

You really don't have to hire a professional to keep your investment in countertops looking top-notch; here are some tips and guidelines for do-it-yourself granite countertop care.

Get Your Countertop Off to a Good Start

If your new countertop hasn't been sealed, sealing it yourself is a great place to start. Granite sealing compounds are easy to apply for DIY homeowners, providing you have the right type of tool. You will want to obtain a good wet stone polisher or buffer specifically designed for the maintenance of granite. There are plenty of high quality hand models available on the market that can be found on the internet.

When sealing the countertop, simply spray on the sealant and work it in using a power buffing with the right kind of pad. Granite is tough, but it's not completely impervious to stressors: sealing will help it to better withstand the effects of foods, stains, chemicals, liquids, and dirt.

Keep It Looking Brand New

Many people mistakenly assume that regular cleaning products are perfectly OK to use on their granite countertops. Not so! Highly polished stone such as granite is a natural organic material that requires special care: contact with cleaning chemicals and their accompanying alkalis and acids is actually harmful to the surface and will hurt it rather than help it.

To avoid dullness, only use specialized cleaners designed specifically for granite countertops: it will make a huge difference.

Refurbishing Your Countertop

Remember that orbital hand buffer that you used to apply the sealant? This tool can also be used for performing some serious buffing once a year or so. DIY homeowners shouldn't be afraid to buff their granite countertops: it is relatively simple and, if the right tools are used, perfectly safe. If you have deep scratches, using abrasive pads with diamond particles is extremely effective.

After the surface is perfectly cleaned, you'll want to gently grind away at the surface of the countertop using fine-grained abrasive pads if necessary. If buffing is all that is needed, a crystallized spray coupled with buffing pads will do the trick: followed by a treatment with a sealant again.

Do it yourself granite countertop care saves a ton of money and will keep your countertops looking like brand new for as long as you live in your home.

About the Author:
Applied Diamond Tools (http://www.toolocity.com/stonepolishersgrinders.aspx/) We distribute different types of wet stone polisher and grinders. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Tags: wet stone polisher

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