As a homeowner, we want our space to look the best it possibly can. And one focal area that sees a lot of action is our granite or other natural stone. Durability is one reason homeowners choose natural stone for their kitchens and bathrooms, but the greatest appeal is often the sheer beauty of the material. Maintaining that luster and shine requires a bit of effort, but being able to enjoy the unique character of natural stone makes it all worthwhile. So, I have a few steps on how you can achieve gorgeous shine AND how to maintain it!

Step 1: Clean Often

Even if your surface appears clean, the safest bet is to clean after every meal prep. Even the smallest particle could have a detrimental effect on your natural stone. And make sure to avoid common, everyday household cleaners. They can damage granite counters and other natural stone surfaces like floors by breaking down the protective seal, leading to costly repair or replacement. Instead, use stone care products like Granite Gold® - they’re from a family of third-generation stone care experts with more than 50 years’ experience of manufacturing, installing and restoring stone surfaces. Plus, they’re safe on food-prep surfaces, non-toxic and non-acidic, biodegradable, and do not contain phosphates or ammonia. Granite Gold Daily Cleaner® quickly removes all types of spills and soils and leaves a fresh citrus scent.

Step 2: Seal Frequently

The truth is, you can’t over-seal natural stone surfaces. Frequently sealing granite countertops and all other natural stone surfaces maintains maximum surface protection, penetrating stone surfaces to provide superior, long-lasting resistance to staining, etching and soil build-up.

The protective seal is a critical component of natural stone because it prevents harmful substances such as acidic coffee, juice or wine from staining and etching the surface. Granite Gold Sealer® is easy to apply, just spray and wipe and it creates that much needed protective seal.

And here’s a tip to know if you need to re-seal your stone: 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!

Step 3: Polish Regularly

Using Granite Gold Polish® provides two great benefits. First, polishing after cleaning will bring out stone’s natural beauty. And secondly, it will reinforce the protective seal and provide ongoing protection against water spots and fingerprints - something that is quite common in my household with my two boys!

Bonus!

And here’s something new to make stone care even easier! Say you have some guests on the way and you’re short on time....reach for Granite Gold Clean & Shine®. It provides the cleaning power of Granite Gold Daily Cleaner® and the luster from Granite Gold Polish®, in one easy-to-use formula.

You can find Granite Gold at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and Walmart. You can also check the Store Locator at GraniteGold.com!

So now that you’re armed with these easy steps, you won't have to worry about losing the beautiful luster on your granite or other natural stone counters!

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