If you have invested in a brand new granite work surface, you’ve gone for a beautiful and long-lasting choice. If you’re thinking about whether granite is for you, well, the good news is that there are many advantages coming your way if you decide to go down that route.

For instance, granite is:

• Durable and long-lasting
• Extremely strong
• Highly scratch resistant
• Highly stain resistant
• Highly heat resistant
• Available in countless different colours, patterns, and finishes
• Easy to look after, simply requiring periodic sealing to ensure it stays in the best condition possible

Whilst granite isn’t zero maintenance in need, unlike quartz, it isn’t the biggest headache in the world to look after – simply seal it at least annually, clean regularly, avoid harsh chemical cleaners and scouring pads, and you’re good to go!

Of course, every granite surface in the world needs to be cleaned, in order to keep it hygienic and to avoid damage, and granite is no different. How do you clean granite? Quite simply!

Follow these tips and your new granite work surface will be looking as good as new for much longer than you might have thought.

Avoid harsh chemical cleaning products – Anything with bleach or ammonia needs to be put on the back burner, in fact it needs to be avoided like the literal plague! Whilst granite is extremely strong, repeated use of chemicals will weaken it over time and cause damage, which is going to be irreparable. The answer is to use only warm, soapy water, which will more than do the trick.

Avoid harsh scouring pads or cleaning cloths – Anything which could mark or scratch the surface should be avoided. Yes, granite is very scratch resistant, but if you are constantly scrubbing harsh cleaning pads over the surface, then some damage will occur. Again, stick to the basic things, such as a soft, damp cloth to clean it, and a dry, soft cloth to dry it/buff it.

Wipe up spillages as soon as they happen – Granite is very stain resistant, but some spillages will damage if they are left to absorb. Granite is a porous stone, so it is going to soak up liquids and other spillages quite quickly. To answer this, simply wipe up anything you spill as soon as it happens, and don’t just leave it sat there. This means that you have much less chance of a stain happening. Of course, this is also where that at least annual sealing needs to come into action, because this will form a barrier between the outside world, and your precious work surface.

And that’s it! Seriously, that is all you really need to know about cleaning a granite work surface. There are no major tricks or tips, and there is nothing particularly difficult about it. Granite is one of the most natural stones on the market, and nature doesn’t need complicated cleaning processes, it just needs basic things to keep it looking fantastic, just as Mother Nature intended in the beginning.

Remember to shop around for your work surface, in order to get the best deal. You will find granite is very widely available, so a little careful shopping here could save you serious cash in the long run too. When picking your colour, also remember to check it out in person, in the showroom.