15

Nov

6 Steps On How To Polish Granite Countertops

Polished granite gives your kitchen a sleek, subtle look. Unfortunately, polished countertops are expensive hence not many homeowners can afford them. Luckily, you can install rough countertops then polish them later on. Interested in learning how to polish granite countertops? Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Clean the countertops

Everything begins here as you can’t polish dirty countertops. Thankfully, cleaning the countertops is easy. You need warm water and a mild detergent. Mix the two, then apply them on the surfaces using a soft cloth.

Once you are done with cleaning, dry the surfaces with a microfiber cloth. You should never leave the surfaces wet or damp as you put the surfaces at the risk of staining.

Step 2: Make or buy the polish.

You can get the polish in two ways: you can make it or buy it. To make the polish, get a small bowl, baking soda, warm water, and fork. Mix 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water until you get a smooth thick paste. Ensure the paste is smooth before using it.

If you aren’t a dab hand at DIY projects or you don’t want to go through the trouble of making your own polish, buy the polish from your local retail store. When making the purchase, ensure the polish is suitable for granite. As a rule of thumb, avoid general-purpose polishing products as they have been shown to damage granite.

Step 3: Apply polish.

Once you have your polish, your next step should be to apply the polish on your countertops. Place a thin, even coating of the paste on the surfaces. If using baking soda paste, place small dollops of it across the countertops using a spoon.

If using retail granite polish, spray it lightly over your countertops and let it sit there for at least 2 minutes.

Step 4: Buff the countertops

After applying the polish, use a clean, soft cloth and work the polish into the granite. Start from one corner and work your way evenly over the countertop. Rub the polish into the countertops in small circles, making sure you buff the edges as well.

You should note that you should always use a soft cloth for buffing as using a more abrasive cloth will scratch the granite and damage it.

Step 6: Wipe off excess polish

It’s normal to have an excess polish, and the excess streaks can easily ruin the polished surface’s appearance. To remove the excess polish, use a soft cloth and dampen it lightly with warm water.

Use the cloth to wipe down your countertop and eliminate any remaining baking soda paste or retail granite polish.

If you find excess water on the countertops after wiping it down, dry it off using another cloth.

In most cases, your countertops will polish up nicely, but if your countertops have deep scratches, the above remedies won’t get the work done. In such a case, you have no way out other than to hire a professional to polish the surfaces for you.

The professionals use specialized tools, and they can either wet or dry polish the countertops.

Tips on retaining the shine

Polishing the countertops isn’t enough—you need to take care of them to retain the shine. How do you do this? Here are tips for doing it:

Clean spills as soon as they happen: Leaving liquids on the countertops for a long time causes the granite to develop dark, shadow-like marks that mess with the countertops’ look.

You should note that even bright-colored beverages can stain the countertops, so don’t take any risk. As soon as there are spills on the countertops, get rid of them. When wiping the spills, use a soft cloth as a rough one will damage them.

Buff the countertops: To create a nice shine and temporarily reduce the staining risk, buff the countertops with cooking oil. To do it, apply cooking oil to a clean cloth, then make circular motions across the surface. For best results, granite contractors Potomac recommend you do this periodically, such as daily or once a week.

It doesn’t matter the type of oil you use. You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, or even avocado oil. It’s all up to you.

27

Feb

How To Polish Granite Countertops

Granite is one of the toughest materials in the market. Unfortunately, with time, it succumbs to scratches and etching. Dull spots also start showing giving the countertops an ugly appeal.

When this happens, you don’t have to replace the granite countertops. Work with granite experts and polish the countertops and restore the factory shine.

For you to do it effectively you should religiously follow a set of steps that include:

Clean the countertops

You can’t polish the countertops while they are still dirty, so you should start with cleaning them. Mix warm water and mild soap and use it to get rid of any spills and stains. Take caution not to use harsh chemicals on the countertops. Avoid products containing ammonia, bleach, lime, vinegar, lemon, and glass cleaners.

Get the granite polish

You can get the polish in two ways: you can make your own or buy already made polish from your local home improvement and kitchen stores. When purchasing the polish, avoid general-purpose polishing products as they have been proven to damage the countertops.

When it comes to making your polish, there are plenty of recipes you can follow. Regardless of the one you follow, ensure that the polish you make isn’t too acidic.

To make your granite polish, begin with three cups of warm water then add ¼ cup of baking soda.

Apply the solution

If your countertops are dull due to superficial scratches and light etching, you can restore the original countertop shine using granite polishing powder.

Make a paste by mixing the polishing powder with water then apply the polishing solution using a soft cloth. If using retail granite polish, spray it lightly on the countertops and let it sit for 2-3 minutes.

You should then buff the countertops with the polish using small, circular motions. Use a very soft cloth to do it as a more abrasive material will scratch the granite.

Once you are done, wipe off the polish with a damp cloth to get a streak-free finish. It’s normal to have excess water on the countertops after wiping the countertops down. If this happens, use another cloth to dry it off.

In most cases, your granite will polish nicely even when you do it by yourself, but if the countertop is profoundly scratched or damaged, the home remedies might not work. In such a case, contact a home restoration professional to professionally polish the countertops so that they look as good as new.

Professionals use wet or dry polishing techniques together with specialty tools. These tools cause irreversible damage, so you should only ensure professionals use them.

Tips on how to preserve your granite countertops

To reduce the frequency you polish the countertops, you should observe a set of tips that include:

  • Clean the spills immediately to prevent marks and stains from coming about. If you leave liquids on the surface for a long time, they cause dark, shadowy marks that give the countertops a cheap, ugly look.
  • Buff the countertops with cooking oil. This will make the countertops shiny and stain-resistant. Apply some cooking oil to the cloth and wipe it across the granite countertop surfaces. When doing it, apply gentle pressure. This will give the granite a nice shine, which also reduces the chances of stains coming about.
  • Although it’s tough and durable, granite is easily damaged when you cut directly on it. To protect it, always use a cutting board. You also shouldn’t leave any sharp objects lying around.
  • Place hot pans, pots, hair straighteners, and curling irons on an insulated mat. This is to protect the surfaces from getting burnt. It also prevents micro-scratches from coming about. According to granite installers Rockville, using an insulated mat also prevents the sealant from eroding quickly.
  • To prevent chemical damage, avoid keeping any cosmetics on the countertops. This is because most of the cosmetic products contain chemicals that can tarnish the countertops and break the sealer. Just like with hot products, place the cosmetics on a mat or tray. You can also lock them in a cabinet.
  • Keep the countertops sealed to protect the stone from everyday use. For peace of mind, do a bead test once in a while to confirm that the sealer is working optimally. Pour a few water drops on the countertops. If beads form, it shows that the seal is working properly. On the other hand, if the water drops get absorbed by the countertops, you should re-seal the countertops.