All natural stone is absorbent. Accent Granite always provides a protective sealant for our installations, however, that sealant will need to be reapplied at least once a year to maintain the beauty of the stone. Daily/weekly maintenance is the best way to keep your stone looking its best.

Do’s and Don’t’ for Proper Stone Care:

DO’S

Do use a coaster under all glasses.

Do blot up spills immediately, before they can penetrate the surface. Common foods or drinks that contain alcohol, citrus juices, vinegar, or even oil can etch the stone.

Do clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner or stone soap, available in hardware stores or from a stone dealer. You can also use mild dishwashing liquid and warm water. Rinse after washing and dray with a soft, clean cloth.

Do --- Just as a precaution, always use a trivet for hot items.

DON’TS

Don’t use abrasive cleaners or cleaners with ammonia—such as Windex.  Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids.

Don’t use too much cleaner or soap---which may leave a film and cause streaks.

Do not place hot items directly on stone surfaces.

To Make Your Own Cleaner:

Use a mixture of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, water and a drop or two of Dawn Dish liquid.  Isopropyl alcohol has a pH of 7.0 and is the main ingredient in many stone cleaners.

For more information on how to clean a particular stain, check out these websites:

www.pbase.com/weed30/cleaning_granite

www.findstone.com/staingran.htm

http://seismo.berkeley.edu/~jill/granite.htm

www.ehow.com