How Do You Fix Stained Granite Countertops?

How Do You Fix Stained Granite Countertops?

Do you know what’s worse than cracked countertops? Permanent stains! They’re ugly, they’re a nightmare to get rid of and they don’t always go away. So, if your granite countertops are stained and you want to freshen them up, then try out these tips.

Use Baking Soda

Baking soda is the answer to all of the problems related to stains. It is a miracle ingredient that can be found in your kitchen. If you see a light food or oil stain that isn’t being removed by your normal cleaner, then don’t worry, because baking soda is here to save the day.

All you need to remove the stain is a teaspoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of vinegar, and a toothbrush. Pour the vinegar on top of the baking soda sitting on the surface of the countertop and you will see a fizzing reaction occur immediately on contact. This fizz is basically what’s going to get rid of the stain.

Once the fizzing starts, grab your damp toothbrush and rub it over the stain. You will see that the stain will disappear almost immediately and your kitchen countertops will be spotless. This hack works great for granite countertops especially, because there’s no chance of damage, so that’s a huge plus, and not to mention, it’s inexpensive.

Lemon Juice Is Your Best Friend

If you don’t have vinegar or baking soda on hand, but have lemons, then that’s also going to help get rid of those pesky food stains. You only need a lemon for this. Cut the lemon in half. If you have it on hand, then baking soda will help a lot. Dip the lemon in baking soda and then rub it on the granite countertop stain. You will see a slight fizzing reaction, but it won’t be as vigorous as vinegar.

Lemon is a natural cleaning and bleaching agent that’s used to clean stains and it will work wonders on your countertops too. You can also mix in some lemon juice with your regular countertop cleaner and that’s going to be a great combination to clean your countertops and prevent stains it will lead to a freshly smelling countertop too.

So, it’s great if you are worried about smelly countertops. Lemon is also quite gentle as compared to other harsh chemicals and it won’t damage your precious granite countertops. Try this hack out on your countertops if you have a stain that’s bothering you, and you’ll see the results for yourself.

What To Do For Dried Food Stains?

Sometimes, water and food stains aren’t the problem, rather the dried food crusts are. They can be pretty ugly to look at and if you’re not quick enough then it can lead to permanent stains. So, if you have some dried-up food that’s crusting up, then you’ll need two things.

A plastic or metal scraper and a toothbrush. If you’re using a metal scraper, then be extremely careful, because you don’t want to accidentally scratch your countertops. So, a plastic scraper is a better option. Use the scraper around the dried-up food crumbs and get it loose. One to two scrapes should be enough to get rid of the food crumbs.

Now that that’s gone, you’re going to have to do something about the stain left behind. Well, that’s easy too. All you need is a bit of detergent, and with a wet toothbrush, scrub the surface where the stain is. The toothbrush is a much gentler tool to use than a scrubber because you don’t want to damage your granite countertops. Use a back-and-forth motion with your toothbrush and use a wet washcloth to wipe away the stain. Your countertops will be as good as new.

Amazing Cleaner For Oil Stains

Oil stains can also be a huge pain in the neck because they aren’t cleaned as easily. Well, there is an easy fix for them and you will be blown away by the results. Oil is slippery and emollient, so you’re going to need something that’s going to dissolve the oil and get rid of that slick feeling. You can use dish soap for this because that’s literally what makes the dishes clean and free from that yucky oily feeling and it can do the same for your granite, marble, and quartz countertops Rockville.

All you need is a bit of detergent and drop it right on top of the stain. Now, if you want to guarantee that the stain is gone for good in the first go, then you will need some baking soda, lemon, or vinegar. These are oil repellents and they’re going to get rid of the stain in no time. Take a toothbrush run it under cold water and start scrubbing. You will see that the stain is gone almost at once and so is the slippery and oily film.

Water And Detergent

This is something that can be used every day for cleaning, but it’s also a preventative measure to avoid stains in the future. Use water and detergent as your countertop cleaner and that’s going to keep the surfaces neat and clean and you won’t have to spend a lot on specialty cleaners for your countertops.

Use Hydrogen Peroxide

If the stains are old and are not going away with the above-mentioned hacks, then it’s time to pull out the big guns. Hydrogen peroxide is a pretty harsh chemical, but it can get rid of stains in the blink of an eye. The trick here is to use it sparingly so that it doesn’t damage or discolor your countertops because hydrogen peroxide tends to do this. Mix a couple of teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in your daily countertop cleaner and stains will be history.

Sand The Surface

Sometimes, the stains can penetrate a bit deeper into the surface of the countertops, and removing them can be hard. This is where sanding the surface will help. You can use a slightly rough sandpaper to sand the surface of the stain and it will be removed almost immediately.

A huge advantage of using sandpaper is that you will also be getting rid of scratches at the same time, so it’s a win-win situation.

Call In The Professionals

If there are a lot of stains on your countertops and they’re getting quite old too, then you will need professional help to get rid of the stains completely. You can only spot so many stains. So, try to call in a professional contractor and have them look at your countertops.

Chances are that they will need to remove it and take it to a workshop where they can do extensive sanding and treatment to get rid of the stains. This is the only way to salvage the granite countertops if there are a lot of stains on them.

Conclusion

Granite is a very easy target for stains since it’s extremely porous and if you don’t seal it up, then they can be a problem. These tips will help you out. But if the stains are stubborn, have professionals to remove them or consult granite installers Potomac and replace the countertop.

4 Best Alternatives Of Marble Countertops

4 Best Alternatives Of Marble Countertops

Marble countertops are an amazing addition to your kitchen, but some people don’t want to install marble countertops, due to whatever reason. Maybe it’s too expensive for you, or you don’t want to look after marble too much, as it is a high maintenance stone. Well, here are some alternatives to marble countertops.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz is a great material for countertops. Quartz is literally defined as being the twin sister of marble. It is very hard to distinguish between the two, because they are so similar in color, pattern and feel. Quartz has the upper hand in comparison to marble, when it comes to strength, durability and maintenance.

Quartz, unlike marble, is a very strong material. It hardly breaks and the best thing about it is that, unlike most marble countertops where the tips and corners can easily crack and shatter, quartz can resist this and it is a great material to use for high human traffic in the kitchen. It is great with children and it can bear a lot of load.

Also, the maintenance and cleaning of quartz countertops is very easy. All you need is a simple washcloth and a simple cleaning solution, or it can be soap and water, and you can just wipe all of the stains and spills away. Cleaning a countertop has never been this easy, right? If you want to fool anyone into thinking that your quartz countertop is actually marble, then select a very muted and light color, similar to most marble colors. People will never know the difference.

Light Colored Granite Countertops

Granite is the stone of your dreams. A lot of people love granite as their countertop material, and you can even fake it to make the granite look like a marble countertop. All you have to do is, when selecting the color of granite, make sure you are going for muted and lighter colors, then it will be very easy to mimic an actual marble countertop.

Granite has similar veining and design as of marble and it’s so easy to replicate a granite slab to look like a marble slab. Granite is also more strong, durable and efficient than its marble counterpart.

Granite countertops last for years and they hardly ever need maintenance, aside from the fact that granite needs to be sealed because it is porous, in order to make it waterproof.

Other than this little task, you can get away with a light-colored granite, looking like a marble countertop. This option is best for people who have a good budget to spend on granite, because it is expensive, and those who want the durability of granite but the look of marble.

White Concrete Countertops

White concrete is also a great alternative to marble countertops. It is a very affordable choice to go for, if you want the look and luxury of marble, but not the hefty bill. White concrete is super strong, and it provides a touch of elegance and a smooth finish, just like a marble countertop would do. It also has the same veining design and it is almost impossible to spot a difference between marble and white concrete.

The best part about white concrete is that you can do it yourself very easily. You don’t need any professional countertop installer to do this task for you. If you are fond of doing things yourself, then this will be a great project to work on.

Neolith Countertops

Neolith is a slightly newer material in the countertop material, but it is a great choice. It is made up from a mixture of quartz, glass and porcelain to give it a slick and smooth finish. Neolith is the best of both worlds, because this material is lightweight and durable. It is also heat-resistant, which means you can put hot things on top of the countertop as well. it has a striking resemblance to white marble. The color range is also very wide. Neolith is becoming more and more popular among people now.

There you have it! Who says there is no alternative of marble countertops? You just have to be smart enough to do your research on it or you can also ask a countertop replacement Durham NC company.