A normal person spends most of their time in the kitchen either cooking, having a meal, or cleaning counters. Your home’s stone countertops may survive for many years if you maintain them properly. However, many individuals, unfortunately, develop unhealthy habits while using their countertops that are terrible for the stone.
If not properly maintained, countertops composed of granite, marble, quartz, or other materials may deteriorate with time. Although you might be unaware of it, there are likely several ways you unintentionally damage your house countertops. It’s essential to be aware of the poor behaviors that might result in damaged countertops and fix them to avoid any expensive blunders to avoid.
Adding Unnecessary Weight
Some homeowners are tempted to sit or stand on their countertops to reach high shelves, we highly advise against doing so. Because stone countertops are so heavy, a sturdy cabinet base must be used as their whole underneath support. The countertop surface might experience strong strain from the additional weight of humans or large things, which can cause cracks or other breakdowns.
Stone fractures often occur near unsupported joints or edges, where the countertop is more vulnerable to damage from heavy objects. Any attempt to mend the stone may be more expensive than you’d like to spend because these fractures can be quite difficult to cure.
Putting heavy weight on your countertops sometimes might not cause any obvious damage. But over time, it will cause significant harm and should be avoided.
Directly Placing Hot items on the Surface
One of the most popular advantages of stone countertops is the ability to withstand heat, such as granite, marble, and quartz. This quality should be taken into consideration, too, since these stone surfaces can still sustain damage from extremely hot objects like pots and pans.
Extreme heat from hot objects can cause the stone’s surface to discolor and erode any granite sealer that may have been applied. Due to temperature variations brought on by heat-generating equipment, it could leave burn scars or shatter the material.
Always provide a protective barrier between the hot object and your tabletop to prevent heat-related damage. Use trivets, tablecloths, cutting boards, towels, and potholders to protect your countertop from hot crockpots, toaster ovens, pans, and other cooking pots.
Use of Harsh Cleaners
Certain home cleaners, particularly bleach, vinegar, and ammonia, should not be used on counters made of natural stone. The countertop surface will be worn down and dulled by these cleaners, and the glossy aspect of the stone will be lost. Antibacterial wipes can also be harsh on stone, especially if left on the surface for an extended time.
Non-abrasive, non-acidic cleaning solution keeps your countertops streak-free. To maintain your countertops hygienic and in good condition, we advise washing them as soon as you’re done using them.
You should avoid wiping with sponges, scourers, or brushes with abrasive bristles and use the proper cleanser for granite or other stone surfaces. These kinds of cleaning equipment will only scratch your countertop. Choose a clean paper towel or a soft microfiber cloth instead.
Directly Cutting and Chopping on Countertops
Many surfaces made of natural stone, such as quartz, boast claims of being scratch-resistant. But rather than using a knife to cut directly on the countertop surface, we always advise utilizing a cutting board. Cutting directly on the surface can dull kitchen knives and put your countertops in danger of scratches.
Very few natural stone scratches might interfere with the countertop’s waterproof sealant. Over time, this increases the sensitivity of your counters to harm. It’s preferable to refrain from using any stoneware containing silica sand, in addition to constantly utilizing cutting boards. Even some cutting boards made of ceramic, marble, or pizza stones can cause scratches on the surface of your countertop.
Using Acidic Food on Liquid on Counters
Some countertops, particularly marble and granite, have a calcium carbonate chemical foundation, making them particularly vulnerable to acids. If not cleaned up quickly once, acidic foods and beverages, including vinegar, lemon juice, wine, and tomato sauce, can harm stone surfaces. These compounds, commonly referred to as etching, can result in discoloration and dull areas.
Regardless of how stain-resistant your stone countertops are, it is still advisable to exercise caution when working with anything acidic. Clean up any acidic spills as quickly as you can with water or the granite cleaner.
Allowing Water to Rest on Surface
By allowing water to remain on the surface for an excessive amount of time, you run the risk of unintentionally damaging your countertops. While you would not believe this might ruin your countertops, standing water can be damaging if not cleaned up correctly.
If left standing for a long time, pools of water, especially those made of hard, mineral-rich tap water, will develop a white crust and stain. Even less porous surfaces like granite and quartz can get water rings from wet glass or stains from spilled liquids.
Do not allow the water to sit and evaporate to prevent this. Instead, quickly clean up any spilled water and dry the surface with a soft towel. This will lessen the likelihood of further harm to the stone.
Using the same Area Frequently
While preparing meals in the kitchen, people form habits. Working in the same location every time might expose your counters to additional damage and wear. If you use that spot on the counter frequently, you can start to see etching, scratching, or other damage.
Consider moving around to different kitchen areas to prevent uneven damage to your stone counters. Additionally, always place something protective between the countertop surface and the items you set on it, if feasible.
Since countertops are intended to be utilized, many homeowners choose natural stone due to its robustness and lifespan. If you’re not cautious, there may be ways you’re unintentionally damaging your countertops, so you should stay away from these habits as much as you can. Visit rockdoctor.com for a comprehensive range of stone countertop cleaning solutions and additional information on properly caring for natural stone.
Read More: Can you Cut Directly on a Stone Countertop?
