In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basic themes at play when it comes to caring for stone countertops and helping the avoid damage risks. Just a few basic areas of attention will prevent any such damage from occurring on your beautiful granite, marble, quartzite and quartz countertops.
At Creative Granite & Design, we’re proud to not only offer a wide selection of such stone countertop materials, but also expertise from our team on how to care for and maintain these materials to avoid damage risks of any kind. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll go over a few additional areas to consider down these lines, including several related to food preparation on your countertops.
No Cutting Board
As we’ve been over in part one of this series, stone countertops are strong and durable – to a realistic point. One such point is the direct use of knives and other potential surface etchers or scratchers during the cooking or food preparation process.
Some simply assume that because a stone feels hard to the touch, it can withstand regular blade cuts and other pressure from cutting or cooking utensils. But knives made from stainless steel will scratch even the strongest and most durable stones, often in ways that lead to significant damage that cannot be reversed. Always be sure to use a cutting board for such needs.
Other Food Prep Concerns
There are other food preparation concerns when it comes to maintaining your stone countertop surfaces, and most of these just trace back to common sense. We already talked about spills and acidic substances in part one, a significant area to keep in mind while cooking as well.
One other common area here is overuse of a single area on the counter. If you only ever prepare food on a single section of the counter, it may create uneven wear-and-tear and make certain parts of the surface look worn while others look new. If possible, try to vary up your locations for food prep.
Direct UV Rays
Over enough prolonged exposure, direct UV rays from the sun can damage the luster and color of a stone countertop. The occasional exposure is fine, but try to avoid long-term exposure if possible.
Cleaning Items
Finally, we went over harsh cleaning products and the damage they may pose to countertops in part one – but you also have to consider the cleaning items you use. In particular, don’t use heavy metal bristles or similarly abrasive tools for scrubbing or cleaning, as these can scratch and damage the surface. Only use soft cloth or sponge materials while cleaning.
For more on how to protect stone countertops from damage, or to learn about any of our high-end granite and other countertop surfaces, speak to the staff at Creative Granite & Design today.
