Stone is easy to live with once you know a few rules. Here is what to clean with, what never to use, what you can put on each surface and how to fix the most common stains.
Five rules for every countertop
01
Wipe spills right away
Wine, coffee, oil and citrus do almost all their damage in the first minutes.
02
Warm water and mild soap
A drop of dish soap in warm water and a soft microfiber cloth is all daily cleaning needs.
03
Board under the knife
Cutting on stone dulls knives and can scratch softer stones.
04
Trivet under the heat
Sudden heat can crack stone or scorch quartz. A trivet costs less than a repair.
05
Never stand or sit on it
Overhangs and seams are not built to hold a person's weight.
Quick check
Is it OK on my countertop?
Pick your stone and look up anything: hot pans, red wine, bleach, an air fryer. You will see right away if it is fine, needs care, or should be avoided.
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Avoid
Bleach or ammonia
Breaks down the sealer on natural stone. On quartz, only diluted and rinsed. Ultra-compact handles it fine.
Avoid
Glass cleaner, vinegar or citrus sprays
Most all-purpose sprays are too acidic or alkaline for natural stone. Use a cleaner labeled pH-neutral and safe for stone.
Avoid
Disinfecting wipes every day
Fine once in a while. Daily use wears the sealer on natural stone. For germs, hot soapy water works well.
Avoid
Scouring powder, steel wool, magic eraser
Scratches polished surfaces and dulls the finish. Use a plastic scraper for stuck-on food.
Avoid
Standing or sitting on the counter
Overhangs and seams can crack under a person's weight. Use a step ladder.
With care
Hot pan straight from the stove
Natural stone handles heat but can crack from sudden temperature change. Quartz resin can scorch. Always use a trivet.
With care
Slow cooker, air fryer, griddle
Long, steady heat is harder on stone than a quick hot pan. Put a cutting board or trivet underneath.
With care
Cutting directly on the counter
Granite and quartzite will not scratch easily but will dull your knives. Marble, quartz and soapstone can scratch.
With care
Lemon, lime, vinegar, tomato
Acids etch marble (a dull, light spot) in seconds. Some quartzites contain calcite too. Wipe quickly on every stone.
With care
Red wine, coffee, tea
Can stain porous stone if left sitting. Wipe at once. Red wine is also acidic on marble.
With care
Cooking oil, butter, grease
Oil soaks into unsealed natural stone and leaves a dark spot. Wipe with soapy water right away.
With care
Nail polish, hair dye, makeup
Use a tray in the bathroom. Dyes stain; remover and perfume can dull polished marble.
With care
Dragging cast iron or ceramics
Grit under a heavy pot acts like sandpaper. Lift instead of sliding.
OK
Mild dish soap and warm water
The safest daily cleaner for every stone. Dry with a soft cloth to avoid water spots.
OK
Direct sun (outdoor kitchen)
Quartz can yellow and fade under Florida sun. Granite, quartzite and ultra-compact are the best outdoor choices.
Care by stone
Granite
Hard, heat-tolerant and forgiving. With a good sealer it is one of the easiest stones to live with.
Most common mistake
Cleaning with all-purpose sprays every day. They slowly strip the sealer and the stone starts absorbing stains.
Daily cleaning
Wipe with warm water and a few drops of dish soap.
Dry with a microfiber cloth for a streak-free shine.
Sealing
Most granites need sealing every 1 to 2 years. Some very dense dark granites (like Absolute Black) rarely need it. Do the water drop test below to know for sure.
Safe to use
pH-neutral cleaner made for natural stone
Mild dish soap
Microfiber cloths and soft sponges
Stone sealer (impregnating) every 1–2 years
Never use
Bleach, ammonia, vinegar, lemon-based cleaners
Glass cleaner and degreasers
Scouring powder and steel wool
Marble
The most elegant and the most delicate. Marble will develop a patina over time; many owners love that, others prefer quartz.
Most common mistake
Confusing etching with a stain. Etching is a dull, lighter spot where acid touched the stone; it needs polishing, not a stain remover.
Daily cleaning
Wipe with warm water and a pH-neutral stone cleaner.
Dry right away; standing water can leave rings.
Sealing
Seal every 6 to 12 months. Sealing protects against stains, but it does not stop etching: acids react with the stone itself.
Safe to use
pH-neutral cleaner for marble
Coasters under glasses and bottles
Trays for oils, vinegars and cosmetics
Stone sealer every 6–12 months
Never use
Anything acidic: lemon, vinegar, wine, tomato, soda
Bleach, ammonia and all-purpose sprays
Abrasive pads and powders
Quartzite
A natural stone with the look of marble and strength close to granite. Some slabs are softer than others, so ask us about yours.
Most common mistake
Assuming it is indestructible. Some 'soft quartzites' contain calcite and can etch like marble.
Daily cleaning
Warm water and mild dish soap or a stone cleaner.
Dry with a soft cloth.
Sealing
Seal at installation and every 1 to 2 years. Quartzite is often more porous than people expect.
Safe to use
pH-neutral stone cleaner
Mild dish soap
Stone sealer every 1–2 years
Never use
Bleach, ammonia and acidic cleaners
Abrasive powders and pads
Quartz
Engineered from crushed quartz and resin. No sealing, very stain resistant, but the resin does not like heat or strong chemicals.
Most common mistake
Setting a hot pan or an air fryer directly on it. Heat can leave a permanent yellow or white scorch mark.
Daily cleaning
Warm water and mild dish soap, or a non-abrasive surface cleaner.
For dried food, a plastic scraper.
Sealing
Never needs sealing. Sealers can actually leave a film on quartz.
Safe to use
Mild dish soap
Non-abrasive cleaner
Isopropyl alcohol on a cloth for ink or marker
Never use
Direct heat: hot pans, slow cookers, air fryers
Oven cleaner, drain cleaner, paint strippers
Bleach and high-pH cleaners (except diluted and rinsed)
Permanent outdoor sun
Ultra-compact
Sintered surfaces made at very high heat and pressure. The toughest option for heat, stains, scratches and sun.
Most common mistake
Hitting an edge with a heavy pot or cast iron. The surface is very hard, but edges can chip on impact.
Daily cleaning
Water and soap or any household cleaner.
Dry with a microfiber cloth.
Sealing
Never needs sealing.
Safe to use
Most household cleaners, including diluted bleach
Cream cleaners for stubborn marks
Plastic scraper for stuck-on food
Never use
Hydrofluoric acid and products that contain it
Hard impacts on edges and corners
Soapstone
Soft, warm to the touch and almost impossible to stain. It darkens over time and scratches easily, but scratches can be sanded out.
Most common mistake
Expecting it to stay the original light grey. Soapstone naturally darkens where it is used.
Daily cleaning
Warm water and mild dish soap.
Sealing
Does not need sealing. Mineral oil is optional and only changes the color, not the protection.
Safe to use
Mineral oil every few weeks at first for an even dark patina
Fine sandpaper (220) or a sanding sponge for light scratches
Never use
Cutting directly on the surface
Dragging pots and dishes
Does my stone need sealing? The water drop test
Takes 15 minutes and works on granite, marble and quartzite.
1Pour a small puddle of water (about 3 inches wide) in a spot you use a lot, near the sink or stove.
2Wait 15 minutes.
3Wipe it up and look at the stone.
The stone darkened under the water: it is absorbing. Time to re-seal.
No dark mark, or only after 30 minutes or more: your sealer is still working.
Stain removal guide
Most stains on natural stone come out with a poultice: a paste that pulls the stain back out of the stone as it dries.
Always test in a hidden spot first. Never mix bleach and ammonia. On quartz, use only mild soap or isopropyl alcohol. If a stain does not move after two tries, call us before it sets further.
Oil and grease
A dark, often round spot, darker in the center.
Mix baking soda and water into a paste as thick as peanut butter.
Spread it about ¼ inch thick over the stain, a little wider than the stain.
Cover with plastic wrap, tape the edges, poke a few small holes.
Let it dry 24–48 hours, then scrape off with a plastic scraper and rinse.
Repeat up to 3 times. Works on granite, marble, quartzite and soapstone.
Coffee, tea, wine, fruit (organic stains)
Pink, brown or beige marks, often where a cup or glass sat.
Light stones: mix baking soda with 12% hydrogen peroxide (hair-salon strength) into a paste.
Apply, cover and let dry as with the oil poultice.
Dark stones: use acetone instead of peroxide, since peroxide can lighten dark stone.
On marble, a dull spot that remains after the stain is gone is etching, not stain.
Water spots and hard-water rings
White rings or cloudy areas around the sink and faucet.
Dry the area every day around the sink.
Buff lightly with a dry microfiber cloth.
For heavy buildup on granite or quartz, a stone-safe hard-water remover.
Do not use vinegar or CLR on natural stone: they etch it.
Etching on marble
A dull, lighter spot that you can feel is less smooth. Not a stain.
Light etching: a marble polishing powder rubbed in with a damp cloth.
Deep or large areas: professional honing and polishing.
We can re-polish marble on site. Call us before trying sandpaper.
Ink, marker, rust
Blue, black or orange-brown marks.
Quartz and ultra-compact: isopropyl alcohol on a soft cloth.
Light natural stone: peroxide poultice. Dark natural stone: acetone on a cloth.
Rust: needs a special rust poultice. Call us.
Rust often comes from metal cans or planters left on the stone.
Questions we hear all the time
How often do I need to seal my countertop?
Granite and quartzite every 1 to 2 years, marble every 6 to 12 months. Quartz, ultra-compact and soapstone never need sealing. The water drop test tells you when it is time.
Can I seal it myself?
Yes. Clean and dry the stone, apply an impregnating stone sealer with a cloth, let it sit as the label says (usually 5–15 minutes), then wipe off all the excess. We also offer re-seal visits.
Can I put a hot pan on granite?
Granite will usually survive it, but a sudden temperature change can crack it, especially near a seam or sink cutout. We always recommend a trivet. On quartz, never.
Is granite or quartz better for a kitchen in Florida?
Both are excellent indoors. For outdoor kitchens and lanais with direct sun, choose granite, quartzite or ultra-compact; quartz can fade or yellow in UV light.
Does natural stone hold bacteria?
A sealed stone countertop is as hygienic as other kitchen surfaces. Clean with hot soapy water; you do not need harsh disinfectants every day.
What is the difference between a stain and etching?
A stain is darker and is something absorbed into the stone. Etching is a dull, lighter spot where acid reacted with the stone's surface. Stains need a poultice; etching needs polishing.
Can a chip or crack be repaired?
Yes, most chips can be filled with color-matched resin and polished so they are barely visible. Small cracks can be stabilized. Call us with a photo.
Why is the caulk around my sink turning dark?
Silicone around undermount sinks wears with time and can grow mildew. Replacing it every few years keeps water out of the cabinet. We can do it during a maintenance visit.
Can I sit on my island overhang?
No. Overhangs are supported for leaning and normal use, not for a person's weight. A crack from sitting is not covered by warranty.
Does the warranty cover stains?
Our workmanship warranty covers fabrication and installation. Stains, etching and heat damage come from use and are not covered, but most can be fixed. Ask us about maintenance.
Need a re-seal, polish or repair?
We take care of what we install and the stone you already have: re-sealing, marble polishing, chip repair and new sink caulk.
