CARE INSTRUCTIONS

 
· Countertops
· Floors
· Tile and grout
· Natural stone
· Showers


 


             


 


 


 

Nothing Compares to the Elegance and Beauty of Natural Stone.

   It delivers both unmatched beauty and Practicality making it an investment you will never regret. However, once you have it, do you know how to take care of it?
   Nowadays, more and more "decorative" marbles are being used for their beauty and not their strength. These marbles are generally very prone to abrasion, vertical compactions, scratching and staining. 

   The main reason polished stone floors become dull is that we walk on them and "grind" in dust, sand, and other fine, gritty matter that abrades the finish. Although the scratching is very fine, it eventually covers the whole area so massively that light will no longer reflect off the surface. Therefore, maintenance is a key factor guaranteeing post-installation or post-restoration beauty appearance and logevity.
   For in-house maintenance, GRANITE MASTERS recommends a few simple rules in order to keep your floors, vanities, walls, counter tops, etc. Remaining in good  condition for long time:

 

Never use vinegar, acid, bleach, 409, windex or any product containing alquitran or ammonia to clean the stone. They poison the stone, kill the polish and damage the surface.

Use dry- mopping as often as you can. In reality the scratches come not from simply walking on the floor, but from the sand and grit lying between shoes and polished surfaces.

Use only trusted products designed for stone maintenance.  GRANITE MASTERS can recommend a wide variety of reputable products.

Tip: Keep mops, rags, sponges, dust mops and other supplies to clean the marble separate from other cleaning supplies. A mop used in a restroom may have acid from toilet bowl cleaners or urine in it. Both can have negative effects on polished stone floors.

 

ESSENTIAL CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR NATURAL STONE SURFACES


Cleaning Procedures & Recommendations (use crystal clean)


General Cleaning Clean stone surfaces with a neutral cleaner designated safe for natural stone. Used a clean mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. Don't use more than the recommended amount of any cleaning product. Too much may leave a film, causing streakes. Change rinse water frequently. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on your natural stone as these can etch the surface of the stone . Do not use scouring powers or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.

  Floor Surfaces (For newly installed/restored floors, refer to our Stone Care Tips for important instructions.) Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that can scartch a stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. .

Bath and Other Wet Areas   in the bath/shower or other wet areas, using a squeegee after each use can minimize soap scum.
Counter/Vanity Top Surface   Clean your countertops daily with a soft cloth (microfiber) or paper towel and residue free pH neutral cleaner designated safe for natural stone. Ask an expert at GRANITE MASTERS for product questions pertaining to their safety and usage with natural stone.

 

 

If Streaking Occurs
Buff the countertop with  a clean terry cloth or paper towel if streaking occurs.

Use a Good Stone Polish Occasionally
Applying a good stone polish to the surface of the countertop will help prevent staining and spotting.

 
 
Do's and Don'ts
 
  • Do dust mop f loor frequently.
  • Do clean surfaces with a neutral stone cleaner.
  • Do  thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing.
  • Do blot up spills immediately.
  • Do protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs counter tops surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats, particularly under those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface.
  • Don't use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on your natural stone.
  • Don't use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners.
  • Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
  • Don't mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.

Stain Treatment and Other Issues

If possible, immediately blot spills with a clean wet paper towel. If something has soaked into the stone and stained it, a poultice may need to be applied. you can contact us directly with GRANITE MASTERS  to provide you with detailed instructions on how to treat a hots of possible stains as well as resolve other issues.

Sealing

Many natural stones need to be resealed and a reapplication needs to be done periodically. Consult an expert with  GRANITE MASTERS for more information about when and how to apply sealer.

 


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