With the proper care, your marble or granite worktop will stay new-looking for years. Stone is one of the easiest surfaces to maintain. And granite, being 7 on the Mohs hardness scale of 1 to 10, is virtually unscratchable. (A stainless steel knife blade is a 6 on the scale.)



Steps:

1. Blot up spills immediately, before they penetrate the granite surface.

2. Clean granite worktops with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (available in hardware stores or from a stone dealer), or mild dishwashing liquid and warm water.

3. Use a soft, clean cloth to clean the granite worktop. Rinse after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft, clean cloth.

4. Remove a stain on worktop, basing the method on the type of stain. Mix a cup of flour, 1-2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid with water to make a thick paste. Put it on the stain, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit overnight.

5. Scrape away the mixture with a wooden utensil and rinse. If the stain is oil-based (e.g. grease, oil, milk), use hydrogen peroxide in the paste instead of dishwashing liquid - or try ammonia on it.

6. Try a mixture of 12 percent hydrogen peroxide mixed with a couple drops of ammonia for an organic stain (e.g. coffee, tea, fruit).

7. Use a lacquer thinner or acetone to remove ink or marker stains from darker stone. On light-colored granite worktops, use hydrogen peroxide to these stains. This also works for wine stains.

8. Mix molding plaster and pure bleach into a paste and spread over a wine, ink or other non-oil stain. Leave on for 30 minutes, then remove and rinse.

9. Paste a mix of molding plaster and water over an oil-based or fat-based stain. Mold it into a bird's-nest shape and allow to stand for 3 hours. Remove and rinse.

10. Reseal the worktops every year or two years. Check with the installer for recommendations. Use a non-toxic sealer on food preparation areas.

11. Consider using a new disinfectant cleaner made specifically for granite.

12. Call your professional stone supplier, installer, or restoration specialist for problems that appear too difficult to treat.