Taking proper care of natural stone countertops may not be a top priority for most homeowners and, in general, we think that’s a good thing. Most natural stone counters don’t need constant care—they do have some qualities, whether they be natural to the stone or the installer added a sealer, that make them resistant to staining, for example. However, every countertop needs to be cleaned. Thankfully, there are a few simple recipes you can use to make effective cleaners for your natural stone counters. Let’s talk about them.
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The first thing to remember about making your own cleaner is that different stones have different properties which means not all stones like the same liquids or chemicals. For example, vinegar-based cleaners and natural stones don’t get along very well, so they should not be asked to interact.
For some natural stones, like granite, a damp sponge is often enough to clean small messes, but to cut through grease on a granite countertop try this recipe:
- ¼ cup rubbing alcohol
- 3-5 drops liquid dish soap
- 1½ cups distilled water
- Optional: 5-10 drops essential oils to limit the strong smell of the alcohol.
- Mix the alcohol, dish soap, and essential oils in a spray bottle and swirl together, then add the water and shake to mix.
For best results use a microfiber cloth to clean and wipe down the counters.
Marble has the reputation of a persnickety stone, sometimes demanding a high level of maintenance. Thankfully, you almost certainly have the necessary ingredient to keep your marble counters polished and elegant because it is simply 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap or 1-1½ tablespoons of grated organic bar soap and 1 quart of warm water. Mix the soap and water thoroughly and lightly mist the solution and the stone top and wipe it clean with a soft, lint-free cloth. Then, use a second cloth to buff the stone dry.
Now, let’s talk about quartz counters. If you have an engineered stone countertop, you likely enjoy its inherently low level of maintenance, but how can you clean it? Simply use a mild dish soap and a soft rag or sponge. Dip the rag into a warm water and soap mix, take the sponge and gently but firmly wipe down the counter. If anything dries on the counter, a simple putty knife can be used to scrape it off.
Let’s finish this post with simple care instructions for soapstone. Soapstone is wonderful for your inner master chef because it’s a nonporous stone (which means it resists staining), it resists heat so it will not crack when exposed to heat, and it is a non-stick material. All the foregoing explains why the stone is so easy to clean. Simply add a few drops of dish soap to a bucket of water, working it until suds form. Then wet a sponge or soft cloth and thoroughly wipe the surface. Rinse out the cloth or sponge with plain water and wipe away any left-over suds. The surface can either be allowed to air dry or you can wipe it with a soft towel.
As you can see, maintaining your natural stone countertops doesn’t have to be a laborious nor time-consuming process. Simply knowing how to perform the occasional cleaning will help the stone retain its luster for a long time to come.
