Keep Your Stone Countertops Looking New

Posted on March 11, 2021July 16, 2021

If you’ve just completed a kitchen remodel or a new build, we know you want to keep your kitchen looking perfect for as long as possible! The good news? Stone countertops, like quartz and granite, are very durable! So, with little effort and upkeep it is possible for your countertops to stay looking wonderful for years and years.

To help you out, here are four easy tips to follow to keep your countertops looking new!

1. Watch Out for Heat

Quartz and granite are among the most durable countertop options on the market today, but that doesn’t mean they are indestructible. While both are heat resistant, unfortunately they are not heatproof. This means that they can be damaged when exposed to high temperatures. At C and C Stoneworks, we recommend never placing hot pans directly on your countertop. To keep your countertops looking new, always use hot pads or trivets, instead of placing hot items directly on your countertop surface.

2. Don’t Sit on Your Countertops

As we mentioned before, quartz and granite are very durable! But they can be prone to damage when you place a lot of weight and pressure on them. Sitting on your countertop edges can cause cracking and leave you with a piece that you have to replace to restore the look of your countertops. To ensure this doesn’t happen, don’t sit or stand on your countertops, and remind you children of the same!

3. Use a Cutting Board

Some people make the mistake of treating their stone countertops like a cutting board. While chopping an onion for a quick party dip on your countertop once in a while is fine, you shouldn’t make a habit out of this. Certain foods contain acids that can damage or even stain your countertops, especially grapefruits, lemons or limes. Additionally, due to the tough nature of your countertops, they can even dull your knives. To protect both your knives and your countertops, we recommend always using a cutting board.

4. Quick Clean Ups Go A Long Way

As you may know, stone countertops are pretty low maintenance. A simple wipe down of your countertops each day can keep stains, bacteria and spills from penetrating the countertop seal and seeping into the natural pores of your stone. Regular cleaning also prevents your countertops from getting foggy! Remember, you don’t need fancy cleaning products. Just warm water and a mild detergent is enough to do the job.

Following these few easy tips can help you love your countertops for many years to come! If you have any questions about stone countertop maintenance, give C and C Stoneworks a call today!

How to Properly Sanitize Your Granite Countertops

Posted on February 17, 2021July 16, 2021

Now, more than ever, folks are concerned with sanitizing and disinfecting surfaces within their homes! It is imperative to many to keep every space in their home clean and disinfected. It is no surprise that studies have shown that the kitchen may be the dirtiest room in the home. This is due to the fact that it can harbor bacteria from food preparation, food waste and more.

You use your kitchen countertops every day, so it’s important to clean them properly and regularly. Here are a few tips on how to keep your countertops sparkling clean – and free of harmful bacteria.

1. Keep Granite Countertops Properly Sealed
Although granite is a durable surface, it is a porous natural stone that needs to be sealed. If unsealed or weakly sealed, your granite countertops can absorb oils and other liquids that could cause stains and lead to countertops that are prone to harboring bacteria, mold and mildew. If you are unsure about the status of your granites seal, leave a few drops of water on the surface. If it beads up, rest assured that your granite countertops are securely sealed. If the water is soaked into the stone, it’s time to contact C and C Stoneworks to have your countertops resealed.

2. Immediately Clean Up Spills
One way to prevent bacteria on your countertop surface, is to clean up spills as soon as they occur. If you let spills and food residue linger on your countertop, you’ll end up having more bacteria hang around than a simple cleaning can tackle. Clean spills immediately and you will have less countertop disinfecting to do on a regular basis.

3. Keep Countertops Dry
Mold, bacteria and fungus thrive in moist environments. Take extra precaution when cleaning your countertops and be sure to dry them with a clean cloth after washes.

How to Sanitize Granite Countertops
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using warm, soapy water to clean your countertops before and after food preparation. Mild dishwashing soap has antibacterial properties, which makes it ideal to use for disinfecting granite countertops. Do not use bleach, Clorox, or ammonia because these harsh cleaners will dull the surface of the countertop over time.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, contact C and C Stoneworks today!

Cleaning Tips for a Germ-Free Kitchen

Posted on May 8, 2020July 16, 2021

With everything going on in the world right now, sanitation and cleaning are at the top of everyone’s mind. Not to mention, it’s also spring, which means a lot of folks are getting into the spring-cleaning mood! So, here are a few kitchen cleaning tips that will help keep your family healthy, your home germ-free, and bring that sparkle and shine back to your kitchen!

1. Cleanse and Clear Your Countertops
Start by decluttering your kitchen countertops. Put away any small appliances, kitchen utensils and décor. You can put those back later, but you will get a much more effective clean if these items aren’t in the way when you wipe down your countertops. After removing everything, give your countertops and backsplash a deep clean using a soft microfiber cloth, mild liquid soap and warm water. If soap scum is an issue in your kitchen, be sure to use a non-acidic soap scum remover. For more difficult stains, use a non-abrasive soft bristled brush and scrub lightly. Be sure to towel dry in order to prevent spotting and prevent the countertop from absorbing any of the leftover liquids.
Tip! If you’re looking for a way to make sure that your stone countertops always look beautiful and are well maintained, check out our stone sealer available for purchase on our website! This sealer can be used on any stone surface. It penetrates deep in the stone to provide a great seal and food-safe barrier from spills and spotting!

2. Make Your Appliances Shine
After you’ve cleaned your countertops, you don’t want to ruin all of your hard work by placing dirty appliance back on them. Give small appliances a good wipe down to remove any leftover food or dust that has accumulated over time. Make sure to clean your larger appliances too, like the stove, oven and refrigerator. If you have enough time, consider scrubbing your burners and cleaning out refrigerator drawers.

3. Floors and Final Touches
Finally, make sure to vacuum and mop your kitchen floors to complete your kitchen cleaning! Also, here are few more small areas in your kitchen you may want to clean too.

Wipe down bar stools, tables and chairs.
Dust light fixtures.
Wipe down cabinets, doors and switch plates.
Clean trash cans and recycling bins.

If you have any questions about the best way to clean your stone kitchen countertops, contact us at C and C Stoneworks! Or, if deep cleaning your kitchen has made you wish for an update, we can make your dreams come true! Give us a call today.

Kitchen countertops are the most important work surfaces in your home. They are custom-made and fabricated to withstand regular cleaning, food prep, daily use, and so much more! But, despite the durability of even the toughest, top-quality stones damages can still happen over time if you are not careful. Many homeowners are unaware of a few things, that they often do every day, that can potentially affect their countertops in the long run.

1. Hot Pots and Pans
Yes, we said it! Hot pots and pans can damage your countertops. It is true that certain countertop stones like granite and quarts can withstand high temperatures. But we strongly advise homeowners to use placemats, hot pads, or trivets. Remember, that the better care you take of your countertops, the longer they will last. In some situations, placing hot pans directly on the stone without protection can result in discoloration, burn marks or cracking.

2. Cutting and Chopping
Even if you have invested in one of the most durable and long-lasting countertop surfaces, like granite, that doesn’t mean you should abuse them more than other surfaces. We see people slicing, cutting, dicing and chopping directly on their countertops. Although this is okay most of the time, why increase the chances of damaging your counter AND your knives? We recommend using cutting boards.

3. Water Build Up
If your countertops are sealed, water build up shouldn’t be an issue. Right? Wrong! Sealing countertops only prevents liquids from seeping through and staining the stone. But, when you leave spills on your countertops for too long, you increase the chance of damage. Pools of liquid can cause white crusty build up when left on the stone. We recommend always wiping up any spills and drying your countertops off after cleaning.Take care of your countertop investment! Remember that although granite and quartz countertops are durable, they aren’t indestructible. Be mindful of how you care for your countertops, and they will remain beautiful for many, many years to come. If you have more questions about how to care for your countertops, contact C and C Stoneworks in Greenville, NC today! Also, check out our blog “How to Keep Your Countertops Looking New” for more tips and tricks!

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Category: Maintenance