Even though granite is a tough, durable, natural stone, you still have to do some basic maintenance if you want it to retain its beauty and value in your home. Here are some basic granite stone counter care tips and instructions to help you make the most of your granite countertops.

• Clean your counters regularly to avoid a build-up of grime or dirt.
• Use a natural oil-based cleaner and a synthetic scrubbing pad; do not use anything abrasive.
• Try not to put anything gritty on the counter; remove it carefully and immediately if you do.
• Clean up spills as soon as they happen. Light colored granite will stain more easily than a dark granite, so wipe up a spill immediately.
• To help prevent stains, re-seal your granite every 12 months using a granite sealer.
• Use a trivet for hot pots and pans. If your granite counter was resined with epoxy during manufacture, placing hot pans onto the surface could damage the epoxy beyond repair.
• DO NOT use ammonia based products, turpentine or scouring cleaners. Also avoid using rust removers or acid-based cleaners, and keep oven and drain cleaners off the granite countertops at all times.

Marble is a softer, more porous natural stone than granite, so it requires more care and maintenance to keep it looking beautiful and as good as new. Here are some basic care instructions and marble counter care tips to help you make the most of your marble surfaces.

• Seal your marble surface with a high quality sealer that is specifically designed for marble.
• Using a marble specific sealant can help prevent some stains and will make regular cleaning easier and more effective.
• Do not use an abrasive cleaner as marble can be scratched by grit.
• To clean your marble surface try using liquid dish soap and warm water. Rinse the soapy water and then dry the marble with a soft towel. Alternatively use only natural marble cleaners.
• DO NOT use acidic cleaners – they will damage the marble. Even liquids with a mild acidic content, such vinegar or lemon juice, can permanently damage your marble.
• Keep oven and drain cleaners off marble surfaces.

Silestone is the toughest surface material available. There is no need to worry about spills from coffee, wine, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, makeup, and many other common household products. Here are some basic care instructions to help you make the most of your Silestone surfaces.

• Silestone is one of the easiest surfaces to keep clean and maintain. In most cases, a wipe down with a dry cloth will remove the dirt.
• Do avoid using harsh chemical based cleaners.
• Use trivets when placing any hot items to avoid thermal shock.
• If your Silestone surface has a polished finish, use a mild household cleaner like Lysol or Windex.
• If you have a stubborn spill/stain, soak the area for several minutes with one of the above cleaners and vigorously wipe away with a non scratch cleaning pad.
• The Silestone Suede Series has a finish that requires more care & attention than other Silestone products. For daily cleaning use Countertop Magic™ and follow the instructions on the bottle.

Marblestone is more resistant to scratches and stains than natural marble, and because it is less porous, it is easier to maintain. Here are some basic care instructions to help you make the most of your Marblestone surfaces.

• Clean with a damp cloth or damp paper towel. Stubborn stains/spots can usually be removed with a little liquid detergent.
• For extremely difficult spots, you can use mild household cleaners like Formula 409. Be sure to rinse off all cleaner residue to avoid hazing the shine.
• Avoid using harsh chemical based cleaners or abrasive cleaners.
• Sealing Marblestone once a year is recommended – use any available marble specific sealer.
• DO NOT use acidic cleaners – they will damage the stone. Even liquids with a mild acidic content, such vinegar or lemon juice, can damage Marblestone. Rinse with water as soon as possible if you expose the stone to any of these products accidently.
• Use trivets when placing any hot items.
• Keep oven and drain cleaners off surfaces.