Cleaning Tips for 6 Types of Stone Countertops

Concrete

Concrete countertops are made with a mixture of finely crushed stone, sand, cement, and water formed in a mold. A sealed countertop results in an acid, heat, and scratch-resistant surface that should be cleaned with gentle ingredients:

• Daily cleaning: One of the most harmful elements to concrete countertops is acid. For daily cleaning, mix 1 teaspoon of dish detergent in 4 cups of water in a spray bottle. Wipe the counters after cooking or food preparation. Never use harsh, abrasive cleaners or scrubbing pads. Avoid distilled white vinegar as a cleaner.  
• Hard water: Mineral deposits from hard water will cause problems on concrete surfaces. Consider adding a water softening system or a water conditioner to your cleaning water.
• Etching: Concrete counters are affected by strong acids, like lemon juice, which can dissolve and cause etched spots of carbonate deposits. These spots cannot be removed without buffing or grinding away the damage and resealing the surface. Hire a professional to grind and patch damage.
• Discoloration: Stains from foods like coffee or mustard can usually be removed easily with chlorine bleach. Dip a cotton ball or white paper towel in the bleach. Apply directly to the stain and weigh down with a heavy glass bowl. Allow the bleach to work for five to 10 minutes, and then rinse well with plain, cool water. Do not leave the bleach on the stain for longer than ten minutes or damage to the sealant can occur.
• Oil penetration: If oils have penetrated the concrete sealant and stained the concrete, you'll need a solvent and something to absorb the oil. A good homemade cleaner for concrete oil stains is mixing baking soda and acetone (fingernail polish remover) to form a thick paste with the consistency of peanut butter. Spread the mixture 1/4 inch thick over the stain and cover with plastic wrap. Tape down the edges of the plastic wrap for 24 hours. Remove the plastic wrap, dry completely, then wipe away. Repeat as needed to draw out all of the oil. The concrete will need to be resealed to prevent further staining.

Granite

Granite is one of the most desirable one-of-a-kind stone countertops. The stone is naturally anti-bacterial and the proper sealant makes it easy to care for using these tips:

• Daily cleaning: Keep a granite countertop shiny by cleaning it daily with a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and 4 cups of water in a spray bottle. After food preparation, spritz and wipe counters with a soft, microfiber cloth. Allow​ it to air dry.
• Avoid harsh cleaners: Do not use foaming bathroom cleaners, vinegar, or lemon juice to clean granite because these ingredients can dull the stone's finish.
• Use a cutting board: Trivets and cutting boards prevent scratches from sharp objects and gritty items.
• Stain removal: Use a stone poultice to remove tough stains on granite, like red wine or beet juice. Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a thick paste with the consistency of peanut butter. Spread the mixture about 1/4 inch thick over the stain and cover with plastic wrap. Tape down the edges of the plastic wrap to hold it in place for 24 hours. Remove the plastic wrap, allow the mixture to dry completely, and wipe it away. Repeat as needed until the stain is gone. Reseal the cleaned area to prevent further staining.
• Sealing: Follow your installer's guidelines on resealing granite countertops as recommended.

Limestone

Limestone countertops are popular because they give the expensive look of marble at a much more affordable price. Most limestone is white or off-white with random, naturally occurring patterns in the stone. However, limestone is porous, discolors easily, scratches, and requires more care than other types of stone. Use these tips:

• Daily cleaning: Never use harsh or acidic cleaners on limestone countertops. Opt for a commercial limestone cleaner or dish detergent and warm water. Clean daily after food preparation with a soft cloth. Skip sponges or scrubbers that may scratch the finish.
• Stains: Since limestone is softer and more porous than other stones, it is particularly susceptible to stains from darkly colored and acidic foods like red wine, black tea, and coffee. Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a thick paste. Apply liberally and cover with plastic wrap for 24 hours. Wipe away and reseal the area.
• Scratches: For light scratches that are not deep, lightly buff them with 0000-grade fine steel wool or a bit of car polishing compound. Always reseal the area after cleaning.
• Burns: Limestone has good heat resistance but still be aware of excessive heat that can burn or scorch the stone.

Marble

Professional chefs treasure marble countertops for their cool surface temperature perfect for creating pastry. Marble is quite porous and easily stains and scratches. Sealing will help with stains but acidic foods will etch marble very quickly. Follow these cleaning tips:

• Daily cleaning: The key to keeping marble looking great is prevention. Wipe up food and drink spills as soon as possible. Wipe down marble countertops daily with mild dish detergent and warm water using a soft cloth–skip the scrubbing sponges as well. Never use vinegar, glass cleaners with ammonia, or any harsh cleaner to clean marble.
• Stains: Remove food stains or rust marks left by metals using a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Apply liberally and allow to dry before wiping away. Repeat as needed. Many stains gradually fade over time.
• Scratches and etching: Remove scratches with a marble polishing powder. Follow the product instructions carefully and use the lightest scrubbing touch to prevent damage. Reseal after polishing.
• Sealing: Reseal every three to six months to help prevent staining.

Quartz

While quartz is a naturally occurring mineral found in many stones, quartz countertops are not a solid slab. A quartz countertop is an engineered stone, a mix of 93% random-sized quartz crystals with 7% resins and colored pigment to form a slab.

Quartz countertops are nonporous and do not need to be sealed. However, the color of the quartz countertop will fade if exposed for long periods to harsh, direct sunlight. Avoid placing scorching hot items directly on the quartz surface which can mar the resin.

• Daily cleaning: Quartz is one of the easiest stone countertops to care for since it is not affected by acidic foods and does not scratch easily. Clean the countertop daily using a glass cleaner or any non-abrasive household cleaner, but stay away from abrasive, scouring pads.
• Stains: Quartz does not stain easily. Use a plastic putty knife to remove dried paint or nail polish. However, permanent ink is difficult to remove so always protect the surface when using Sharpies.

Soapstone

Soapstone is another easy-care stone countertop that is nonporous, repels most stains, and is heat resistant. The downside of soapstone is that it is not as hard as some other stones, and the countertops can be easily scratched and chipped if hit with a heavy object.

• Daily cleaning: Use any household cleaner and water. It is best to avoid scouring powders and pads.
• Stains: Since soapstone is nonporous, food and acids do not stain the surface.
• Scratches and spots: Rubbing the area with mineral oil will help hide scratches, discoloration, and hard water spots.
• Oiling: Freshly quarried soapstone is light gray. The stone becomes darker as it is exposed to water and oils. Enrich the color of a soapstone countertop by rubbing it with mineral oil.