Cleaning and Maintaining Stone Countertops and Flooring

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Many homeowners opt for natural stone countertops, flooring or pavers as a way to add elegance to their homes. What they might not bargain for, however, is the unique maintenance stone requires to keep it looking new. Slate Floors and Countertops Stone floors and countertops, like these made of natural slate, can be low-maintenance surfaces. Photo courtesy of El Dorado Stone. “Homeowners are always asking how to care for their stone surfaces,” says Lenny Sciarrino, a San Diego, Calif.-based stone fabricator with more than 15 years experience in the business and a keen interest in stone maintenance. Stone countertops are one of the top requested features for home remodels, and Sciarrino says 43 percent of countertops in the United States will be made of stone by 2009. The increased popularity has fueled demand for products that make cleaning stone a snap. For this reason, Sciarrino teamed up with his cousin and fellow stone contractor, Lenny Pellegrino, in 2003 to create Granite Gold, a line of stone maintenance and cleaning products. The goal, he says, is to help consumers preserve their investment by informing them about the proper ways to care for natural stone. When to Seal Stone If you’re installing stone as a floor or countertop surface, many contractors will recommend that you seal the stone to maintain its original color and protect it from dirt, grease and stains. “Stones have varying degrees of stain resistance, and you can test which stones need a sealer by placing a few drops of water on the unsealed surface and see if it soaks in,” Sciarrino says. Wait about 20 minutes, and if the water soaks in instead of beading up, be sure to seal it with an impregnating sealer. He recommends using a food-safe penetrating sealer on countertops. According to the Marble Institute of America, granite has built-in stain resistance and doesn’t necessarily need to be sealed, but sealing these surfaces can help boost Specialized stone care products make cleaning stone countertops and flooring a breeze. Photo courtesy of Granite Gold. the resistance and buy time when serious spills occur. Travertine, in particular, benefits from a good sealer because even the smallest amount of acidic foods, such as lemon juice, orange juice or vinegar, will etch the surface and leave a dull mark. Slate, in comparison, is naturally more stain-resistant, yet using a sealer will help protect it from tougher stains like soy sauce and red wine. Sealers also help to intensify the colors and natural beauty of slate. Aqua Mix, Cerama Seal and Miracle Sealants are a few companies that make high-quality sealers for stone floors and countertops. Sealers often need to be reapplied every year or two to keep the stone protected, so read the label and talk to your stone care professional. Stone Cleaning Tips Once the stone is sealed, the type of stone you have will determine the care and maintenance program you need. Natural stone can be classified into two categories, according to the Marble Institute of America. Siliceous stone, which is composed of silica or quartz-like elements, is very durable and easy-to-clean with a mild acidic solution. Examples of siliceous stone include granite, slate, sandstone, quartzite, brownstone and bluestone. Calcareous stone, made primarily of calcium carbonate, is sensitive to acidic cleaning products. These stones include marble, limestone, travertine and onyx.

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