Stone Care
Stone is a natural product and simple care and maintenance will keep it looking beautiful. Here are some recommendations for care and cleaning of your stone product.
Natural Stones
Granite & Marble
Cleaning Procedures & Recommendations
Keeping your stone free from dust and dry, sandy soil will minimize the scratches and wear-patterns that can develop from everyday use of some natural stone, such as marble, limestone and sandstone. Sweep or dust all natural stone surfaces regularly to remove loose soil and dust. Clean your natural stone on a regular basis with fresh warm water and a clean, non-abrasive cloth or sponge. In addition, using a neutral cleaner especially formulated for natural stone will help remove soils that normal dusting leaves behind. Cleaning natural stone with a "stone soap" or other cleaners containing petroleum or an animal fat base may change the appearance of your stone. These cleaners may darken natural stone, especially if the stone is unsealed, and over time create a waxy buildup and turn yellow.
WHAT TO DO WHEN A SPILL OCCURS
No matter how careful you are, spills are going to happen. A quick response and the right solutions can keep spills from damaging your stone.
Liquid Spills - Blot away the excess with a clean, dry, white cloth; turning the cloth frequently.
Oily Stains - If you identify the stain as having an oil base (from foods like salad and cooking oils, butter, or some cosmetics) you may be able to remove the stain using a poultice.
Vomit/Pet Urine - Vomit or pet urine may contain a very high level of acidity. Blot the area with a clean, white cloth. Attempt to neutralize the acid from the vomit or urine rinsing with warm water. Wipe dry with a clean cloth. If the stain remains, contact a professional cleaner.
Etch Marks - Substances that are highly acidic, such as orange juice, coffee, vinegar, wine, tomato products, mustard and most soft drinks, will "etch" most calcareous material stone (e.g., marble, limestone and travertine), whether the stone is sealed or unsealed. Although sealing will allow you time to wipe up the spill, it cannot stop the chemical reaction that may leave a dull area or etch mark in the stone.In addition, highly alkaline cleaners, not specifically formulated for natural stone, may contain ingredients that will etch your stone. That's why selecting the correct cleaning products is so important to the lifetime beauty of your natural stone. Professional refinishing is the best way to permanently remove etch marks and restore your natural stone's even finish.
Do & Dont's
- DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices.
- DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes or cookware.
- DO use place mats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that may scratch your stone's surface.
- DO dust countertops, islands, vanities frequently.
- DO blot up spills immediately to minimize permanent damage to the stone.
- DO clean surfaces by wiping with clean water or spraying with countertop cleaner, then wiping dry with a clean cloth.
- DON'T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners.
- DON'T use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub and tile cleaners.
- DON'T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
- DON'T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for natural stone.
Sealing Your Stone
Natural stone has been formed over millions of years but improper care can ruin nature's beauty. Although we usually think of stone as "hard”, it is a porous material that can absorb spills and stains if left untreated. Sealing your stone with a quality sealer will prevent most spills from damaging your investment. Once sealed properly, your stone is protected against everyday dirt and spills. Proper cleaning will help the sealer last longer and keep your stone protected without damaging your stone's natural beauty. Once sealed on the installation, you can re-seal the countertop as often as every six months up to once every two years depending on how often you use the countertop. It is recommended to seal the countertop once a year.
When applying granite sealers, please refer to specific manufacturers instructions. When using Stone Care International Sealer do the following:
- Always test first in a small area for desired results before applying to entire surface.
- Remove any topical waxes or stains before sealing.
- For maximum protection, surface should be dry for 6-12 hours before sealing.
- Clean the surface thoroughly.
- Cover surrounding areas that are not intended to be sealed.
- Liberally spray the entire surface until it is wet (outer edge may dry quicker).
- When surface begins to dry within 3-5 minutes, wet the surface again with the sealer (this will allow the sealer to properly penetrate and cure).
- After 30 minutes, wipe off excess sealer from the surface with a clean and dry white terry cloth towel.
- If excess dries on the surface, spray more sealer onto the surface and wipe off immediately with a clean dry terry cloth towel.
- For quality curing results, keep surface dry for 24-48 hours after application. 48 hours is best.
Soapstone
Soapstone 202
Taking care of soapstone is pretty easy. Remember, it is impenetrable. Nothing can get down into this stone! So several options exist.
Option one: Don't do anything. Time will make this grayish blue stone slowly darken from regular use. It will gain a natural patina darkened color over time. If a mark gets on the stone you don't like, either rub it out with dry paper towel and lots of muscle or use a little piece of light grit (300-400) sandpaper. The sanded stone will return to its original gray-blue color.
Option two: Use standard mineral oil that's purchased in a pharmacy. Rub it onto the stone (not too much so that it remains looking wet). Rub off any excess. This will darken all the stone tenfold to almost a black color. Over time, the mineral oil will need to be re-applied (every 4-8 weeks) to keep all the countertops uniform in color as the oil will evaporate. If time goes by and you wish to return the color of the countertop to the original grayish blue, you can use a lot of sandpaper and a few hours of time. Have a friend help and use an electric flat sander.
Option three: Stone sealers will work with slightly limited effect on soapstone compared to granite. Remember - Nothing can get down into soapstone - Stone sealers are made as a rule to penetrate Granite and Marble - not soapstone. They can't get down into soapstone like they with marble and granite. There are two types of sealers. One which will change the color of the soapstone to look like it was oiled. Once it dries (1-2 hours) it will keep the stone looking dark and oiled for up to three years or more. Another type of sealer will leave the soapstones natural color unchanged (gray-blue) and will protect the stone from changing color at all. It should be re-applied every year or so. If either sealer is scratched through, you may wish to re-apply some more to that area.
Scratches: The size of the scratch will determine how to repair it. The deeper the scratch, the lower number grit sand paper you'll want to start with. 80 grit sandpaper is pretty rough and will sand quite a lot of soapstone quickly. As the scratch is sanded out, you will want to graduate to a higher grit sand paper (220) - then higher to (300-400) for a finish that will basically match the original grit finish. After sanding is complete, top off the repaired area with a little mineral oil or sealer.
Engineered Stones
Caesarstone Quartz
Product Care
Its hard, nonporous surface makes CaesarStone simple to clean. In most cases, soap and water or a mild detergent is all that is required to maintain its luster. If required, a non-abrasive cleanser such as Soft Scrub, Bleach Gel or Comet Bleach Gel can be used along with a green scrub pad such as Scotch-Brite. Do not hesitate to apply the necessary pressure needed to rub out any marks. Adhered materials like food, gum, nail polish, or dried paint can be scraped away with a sharp blade; metal marks left by the blade can be removed with Soft Scrub, any bleach gel cleaner, and a Scotch-Brite pad. Thoroughly rinse the surface with clean water to remove residue. While CaesarStone does not ordinarily require sealants or waxes to maintain its luster, occasional cleansing with Soft Scrub or a bleach gel cleaner will keep the quartz surfacing looking its best.
Cambria Quartz
Product Care
Caring for your Cambria product is easy. Simply wipe with warm water and a pH neutral, non-abrasive cleaner and a clear water rinse. That’s it! Cambria surfaces are virtually maintenance free. No sealing, buffing, polishing or reconditioning are required.
Documents
Our Clients may download and use these documents for personal information only. For further information or any special request, please contact us: (301) 441-3500.
Care & Maintenance
Customer Checklist
Stone Disclaimer
What to expect from countertop installation
Product Disclaimer for Cambria
Technical DataSheet for Caesartone
Thank you for choosing Masterpieces.Masterpieces In Granite & Marble Inc.
5112-B Sunnyside Ave
Beltsville MD 20705
Phone: (301) 441-3500
Fax: (301) 441-8866
