Home And Family

As you begin to consider your options for your kitchen or bathroom remodel you might be looking at New Braunfels granite countertops in a whole new way. These types of countertops have become increasingly popular among new home builders and decorators as a way of not only increasing the value of a home but also adding to its style. Granite is one of the hardest stones to be found on the planet. In fact, it is so hard that it takes a diamond polisher smooth out the rough edges. Don’t believe how hard it is? Try cutting it with a knife and you might just end up with a broken knife! But just because it is a hard and durable surface doesn’t mean it can’t incur the wrath of kitchen stains. Even the most clean conscious of chefs are going to make a mess at some point. However, just because you make a stain on a granite countertop doesn’t mean you can’t clean it up.

Actually you’ll find that Rockville granite countertops are in some way easier to keep clean than typical tile or Formica tops. Just like marble and other natural stones, granite is a porous material. This is why it might appear to stain quickly but it’s also the main reason why it’s so easy to clean up. All you have to do is find a way to reverse the staining process. If the stone absorbs the stain then you just need to reabsorb it into a different material. This is where the idea of a poultice comes into play.

Anyone familiar with old-school medicine knows what a poultice is. This is a combination of materials placed on a wound to effectively absorb the bacteria. The same process occurs with the right poultice on a granite countertop: you’ll literally be sucking out the stain! The best poultice to use for granite countertop is a powdered whiting and hydrogen peroxide solution or a chemical reducing agent. The type of poultice you pick depends on the stain you’re dealing with.

Most stains breakdown as either oil-based, organic, metal, ink or biological. Once you determine the type of stain you’ll know best the type of agent to use. All of these poultice materials can be found in any hardware store. All you have to do is ask.

To begin the removal process you want to wet the area that has been staying with distilled water. This water will fill up the pores around the stain and act as a fence for the poultice. Often you’ll find the poultice mix and a powdered form. What you’ll want to do is turn that powder into a thick paste by adding water. It should have the same consistency of peanut butter and not be running. You want to apply the poultice just to the stained area keeping in mind that you’ll be lifting that stain and you don’t want to life the color that hasn’t been staying.

You’ll then want to cover the poultice with plastic like of food wrap take the plastic down to seal up all the edges. You could also poke holes in the plastic to help the poultice dry choose the ultimate goal. It’s essential that you let your cleaning poultice dry completely. This is the process that will lift the stain. If you remove the poultice while it’s still wet you’ll defeat the purpose. Once you’ve taken away the poultice just rinse the area with distilled water and dry with a cloth.

This might seem like a lot of work for a stain but in reality it’s a very small effort that will keep your granite countertops looking like new for years to come!