Stone counters are the tops – most prospective homeowners dream of granite, marble or composite countertops. They are lovely to behold, pleasing to touch and relatively easy to maintain. Depending on the type of stone countertop you have, there are few methods you’ll want to do to clean it up:

General Cleaning for All Stone Countertops

Treat your stone countertop like a living thing. It will oxidize and age gracefully if you treat it right. Use a pH balanced cleaner at all times. A mild detergent mixed with a little water and a nonabrasive cloth or scrubber work best for most jobs.

How to Clean Soapstone

For soapstone, use the mild detergent solution. Wipe it down with mineral oil every few weeks for the first year and then use mineral oil once every two months after that. If you get small scratches, use a bit of sandpaper to buff it out.

How to Clean Composite Stone Tile

Composite is kind of a grab bag of different stones and is usually treated to be pretty durable. They’ll often have different finishes. For matte finishes, use a little baking soda and water. For satin finishes, use a couple drops of all purpose cleaner. For high gloss finishes, use a solution of white vinegar and water. You can also use a little bit of bleach and water on matte finishes to kill bacteria.

How to Clean Slate

Use the mild detergent. For tough stains and soap scum, a little bit of ammonia and water goes a long way.

How to Clean Marble, Limestone and Granite

Use the mild detergent solution. Avoid vinegar and other acidic cleaners at all costs. If you have a tough stain, look for a poultice from a stone dealer.

For water stains, the poultice the stone dealer will give you is going to be a highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide. Don’t confuse this for the stuff you get in the brown bottle in the pharmacy. What you need is 30% or more Hydrogen Peroxide Solution, which you can get at some beauty salons. I also recommend a Daily Granite Cleaner.

She said she would’ve rocked my world, but I took her for granite.

Photo by avidtile.