It’s that time of the year again when your friends and family will visit because they have selected you to host holiday events. You may have been busy getting your home ready but noticed that your beautiful stone countertops aren’t as gorgeous as they once were when you first purchased them.
So how can you make your stone countertops the show-stopping pieces they once were?
Here are some ways to get your granite or marble countertops back to beautiful and eye-catching for the holidays.
Clean Them
You may not have any problems with your stone countertops if you’re lucky. Instead, they may only need a little cleaning to make them look their best.
So, to bring your countertops back to life, consider creating a soapy solution using mild soap, such as dish detergent without lemons or other abrasive ingredients, and warm water. Use a small container or bucket to mix half a teaspoon of detergent with four cups of water. Then, spread the solution over the stone marble or granite countertops using a wet towel or sponge. Use a towel or sponge that isn’t abrasive so that you won’t scratch your countertops as you wipe them.
After completely wiping the surface of your countertops, rinse the soapy solution away with warm, clear water. Finish by using a dry microfiber towel to help remove the water. A microfiber towel can also help shine if your countertops are sealed.
Remove the Etching
Etching is when your stone countertops may look dull in certain places. For example, cutting acidic or abrasive items directly on the stone could be why there is an assortment of dull spots on your stone countertops. Additionally, etching from water rings may have also occurred when you allow condensation from cups or cans to drip onto your countertops.
Removing the etching may require the help of a professional. But if you think you can successfully do it without damaging your stone, you start by cleaning the area following the steps above. Once the area is dry, apply polishing powder and use a buffing tool. Next, wipe away the residue that forms with a clean rag. Finish up by applying a stone polishing compound to help shine your countertops.
Again, if buffing and polishing your countertops scares you, consider getting professional help.
Fill In the Cracks
Another way to restore your stone countertops is by filling in the cracks. Start by ensuring that the gaps you notice on your stone countertops aren’t fissures that are naturally caused when the stone is shaping in the ground. You can run your fingernails or a business card across the surface. If these items snag in the cracks, chances are, these aren’t natural, and you need to fill them.
You can do this by getting epoxy that is as close as possible to the color of your stone. Fill the cracks with epoxy. Any excess, wipe it away. Allow the epoxy to dry, which may take 24 hours. However, for best curing times, allow up to a week.
As with fixing etching, if you want to avoid filling in cracks yourself, reach out to your local stone restoration company for help.
Tips For Keeping Your Countertops Looking Great During the Holidays
After getting your countertops back in shape, the last thing you’ll want is for your family and other guests to turn them back into eyesores. So, here are a few ways to help protect your stone countertops while your friends and family are visiting.
Encourage the Use of Coasters
Although most of your guests may want to place their cups and cans down directly on your stone countertops, try encouraging them to use coasters. This will help minimize water rings that could form on your countertops, especially from soda or beer cans.
Avoid Using Knives Directly on The Surface
Marble and granite are very durable stones. But just because they are tough doesn’t mean you should use the surface to cut food. Not only may this scratch the surface of your stone countertops, but it could also dull your knives. So instead, use a cutting board to cut your meats, vegetable, or other items.
Use a Trivet for Hot Pans or Plates
Again, marble and granite can endure a lot. However, exposing your stone to unnecessary harsh treatment is not a good idea. Instead of putting a hot pan straight out of the oven directly onto the surface of your pans, consider using a trivet.
Minimize the Use of Acidic, Abrasive, or Harsh Items on Them
During the holidays, you may use much more vinegar, lemons, and other items with extremely high or low pH balances. In a rush to prepare your meals, you may handle such items directly on your stone countertops. Unfortunately, this is what causes etching.
To avoid having to restore your countertops prematurely, avoid using such items directly on the surface of your stone countertops. Instead, as with using knives, consider using a cutting board for these items. Also, if they come in contact with the surface, get such items up quickly to avoid dulling the surface of your stone countertops.
Need Professional Help?
If you need your stone countertops to look their best this holiday and don’t have the time to do them yourself, you can always count on your local stone restoration service such as Restore-A-Floor in Brighton to whip them back into shape. Our stone and tile floor restoration services includes countertop restoration as well as grout cleaning, tile cleaning, color sealing and more.
In a few days, we can have your countertops looking like new. So, call today to schedule an appointment to get your countertops beautiful for the holidays. Free Estimates