Marble & granite counters

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/remove-water-spots-marble-countertops-90254.html

Good old fashion baking soda and apple cider vinegar. And I use straight vinegar to clean it off regularly - it smells but my candles and chlorox cleaned sink keep the kitchen smelling fresh.

There are lots of granite cleaners that should help. Once you clean it get a really good sealer so it doesn’t happen again

And invest in lots of coasters and make everyone use them.

Marble, granite, and stone do NOT like having acidic (ie: citrus-based) cleaners used on them. Citrus or vinegar will actually cause “etching” on granite countertops. Not a good thing. Granite countertops also don’t like it when you use something like Windex on them because it strips the “seal” off of the stone.

If you are trying to remove an old stain, create a dense paste of more baking soda and less water. Then place the paste over the stain, allowing it to function for a few minutes. After that wipe off the baking soda paste. If it is needed you can repeat the procedure until the stain vanishes.

Apparently there are some very nice countertop/granite cleaners out there that do a great job…but $7.00 for a 12-ounce bottle? YOU can do better than that! :-)

After researching several homemade options out there…I discovered they all had the same basic ingredients…just in varying amounts. Some had a LOT of alcohol in them…some very little. I think the following “recipe” has a good balance of the ingredients, based on the information I read.

Homemade Granite Cleaner, 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol (or cheap vodka), 3 drops of Dawn or other dish soap (Castile soap would also be a good alternative if you prefer), Water, 5-10 drops essential oil (optional – to help mask the alcohol smell).

Put the rubbing alcohol or vodka into a 16 oz spray bottle. Add the dish soap, essential oil and fill up the rest of the bottle with water.

Now give it a few shakes….THEN give it a try! It should give your countertops a nice, clean shine. Works on appliances too! All at a FRACTION of the price of the store-bought stuff.

Marble is basically compressed limestone. Any acidic cleaners will etch, dull and stain the surface, including vinegar, citrus cleaners, and lime/calcium cleaners.

If you are trying to remove an old stain, create a dense paste of more baking soda and less water. Then place the paste over the stain, allowing it to function for a few minutes. After that wipe off the baking soda paste. If it is needed you can repeat the procedure until the stain vanishes.

If the stain is persistent and is still there you can try removing it with ammonia solution. Make the area of the stain damp with 10% ammonia, diluted in water. Ammonia is knows as a base solution, so it is suitable for removing stains from marble.

The final stage of the stain removal us rinsing. Rinse the solution from your marble well to eliminate any residue, left from the cleaning ingredients on it.

I advise to use gloves when removing the stain with ammonia. They will protect your hands. Ventilate the room, in which you use ammonia for removing stains, because it is toxic.

6 simple steps to seal granite and all other natural stone *****

A damaged protective seal leaves granite and other natural stone surfaces susceptible to costly repair and replacement, and the coming holiday is a perfect time to make sure your stone is protected.

Whether it’s a countertop, floor, shower wall or vanity. Sealing frequently will maintain maximum surface protection for resistance against staining, etching and soil build-up.

I’m often asked how often natural stone should be sealed. Some in the industry will say once a year; others maybe twice annually. The reality is you can never over-seal your stone. Frequent sealing provides constant protection against oil-based stains such as salad dressing, cooking oil or vegetable oil. When they come into contact with unsealed natural stone, the oils can penetrate the pores and leave unsightly reminders. The same is true for water-based stains such as tea, wine or coffee.

So, to answer the question on how frequently you should be sealing granite countertops or other natural stone surfaces, our advice is to determine whether you need to reseal. Here’s how you can do that:

Pour water (about 3 inches in diameter) on the surface in several locations and let it sit for 30 minutes. If you see a dark mark or ring, the water is penetrating the stone and it’s time to reseal.

If it’s time to reseal or you’re sealing for the first time, you can have a professional restoration specialist handle the job for you – a pretty big price tag can come with that. Some do-it-yourself stone sealers require protective gear because of the toxicity.

In six simple steps, here’s how to seal granite and all other natural stone for about 10 percent of the cost of having a pro come do it for you or having to dress like your local hazardous waste team:

1.Make sure you thoroughly clean the surface with a safe-on-stone granite cleaner…..

2.Spray the granite sealer on the surface in a 3-foot section…..

3.Immediately wipe into stone with a lint-free cloth. Do not allow sealer to dry on the surface – it will cause hazing…..

4.Buff dry with a lint-free cloth…..

5.For maximum protection, repeat the process 2-3 times…..

6.Wait 24 hours for sealer to cure before using a granite polish to add shine and luster…..

Once complete, you’ll have the added confidence knowing the pain-free effort you put into protecting your stone.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Granite-Gold-24-oz-Countertop-Liquid-Sealer-GG0036/204845004?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cG%7c0%7cG-BASE-PLA-D28I-Cleaning%7c&gclid=CJvcxP_49tACFdgagQodtwgK5g&gclsrc=aw.ds ;

https://www.walmart.com/ip/17209070?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227016742016&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=48112370912&wl4=pla-96448667072&wl5=9040531&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=17209070&wl13=&veh=sem

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/weiman-reg-granite-stone-complete-care-kit/1017999745?skuId=17999745&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_cleaning_&product_id=17999745&adpos=1o4&creative=43742633029&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CK6_jbz59tACFdccgQodIMcC6w

Never had a problem on my marble counters - but thanks.