Prep Your Kitchen For the Holidays!

The holidays are coming! This means lots of food, family, and fun times for all. 

But what if your granite countertops are looking a little drab? Over time, granite can lose its luster and shine, and stains from spaghetti sauce or drink rings can cause an ugly mess.

Since you’ll be doing the holiday hosting this year, you want your kitchen to look nice. So now is the perfect time to show your custom granite countertops a bit of love so they will shine for your guests. Let’s look at these granite cleaning tips!

Start with an Overall Cleaning

The first step is to simply remove everything sitting on your counters and give them a deep clean. You can use warm, soapy water or a specially-made granite cleaner. 

Make sure that whatever cleaner you choose is appropriate for use on granite. Acidic cleaners like vinegar can damage the stone or cause new staining. 

How to Fix Rough Spots

Over time, granite countertops can develop rough spots. Not only do these dull the shiny finish but also provide a safe haven for bacteria and debris to hang out  — which is not good for food preparation! 

Here’s one of our favorite granite cleaning tips: You can fix rough spots with epoxy resin or some other type of filler. After cleaning the rough or chipped area, spread a thin layer of resin on the rough patch, allowing it to fill in the holes, chips, or cracks. Use masking tape to limit the resin to only the areas you want to fill.

Wait for it to dry according to the instructions, which will usually be at least 24 hours. Remove the masking tape and remove any excess filler with a razor blade. Buff the surface with sandpaper to ensure complete smoothness. 

Dealing with Stains

One of the downsides to granite is that it can get stained rather easily. Dark acidic liquids like spaghetti sauce, red wine, and grape juice will stain and damage a countertop if left for too long. Even water can sometimes leave traces. 

One of our top granite cleaning tips is to immediately clean up spills to avoid stains. But don’t worry if you already have some. There are tricks that can remove or minimize the appearance of stains.

Oily stains can be removed or minimized with a poultice of baking soda mixed with dish soap. Leave it on the stain overnight and wash it away in the morning. Hydrogen peroxide can work for ink stains or organic stains from foods like coffee or wine. 

Sealing the Stone

After you’ve gone to all this work, it would be a shame for your custom granite countertops to get stained again quickly. But with holiday hosting, there are a lot of people that will be in and out of your kitchen, so spills are hard to keep up on. 

Thus, you should give your counters a layer of protection that will help keep spills from staining until you get a chance to clean them up. Paint a thin layer of granite sealant over the counter with a paintbrush or soft cloth. Allow it to dry and buff away the excess for a beautiful, smooth, protected finish!



Professional Help

Of course, if you’re ready for a full renovation or need professional help sprucing up your counters for holiday hosting, don’t hesitate to reach out! Here at Planet Stone, we are experts in custom granite countertops and can make sure you have the beautiful kitchen you deserve!