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S t o n e M
a i n t e n a n c e M a r b l e C a r e I n s t r u c t i
o n s Suggested Maintenance Products Listed and link
below to amazon.com
MARBLE, LIMESTONE AND TRAVERTINE CARE The beautiful polished finish on your new marble top is fragile. We
want that to last for a long time. For regular cleaning and care we recommend DuPont StoneTech Professional Revitalizer Cleaner and Protector (Revitalizer). Revitalizer
is a daily use cleaner. It has an antibacterial component and a sealer component - the same sealer we use
on your stone. Every time you clean, you are protecting the top with a fluorocarbon based sealer that is
food service safe. Wipe tops down before you clean with liquid cleaners to eliminate all particles that
can scratch the finish. Lift off dirt when you clean using a soft cloth. Do not scrub.
. Do not use anything abrasive or acidic on your marble . If the Revitalizer is not
available, mild neutral antibacterial cleaners are recommended. Mild dish soap like Joy or Dial mixed
with very warm water and a soft cloth is for cleanup after food preparation. Make sure you rinse all the
soap off the tops before you completely dry the tops off with a soft cloth. For more stubborn cleanup
Acetone and Bleach both work well on soft stones to remove sticky stuff and topical stains (surface stains like sharpie
ink, newsprint or tough jelly stains) but should be used conservatively. Use caution. Both
of these strong chemicals can cause damage to adjacent surfaces. Do not leave bleach on the stone long
enough for it to dry out. Honed materials are a little more forgiving than polished finishes.
Often we see as the honed marble installation ages it forms a patina, leaving all the little variations and the
wear patterns to become part of the aging process. It even gets smoother and may begin to
shine where you use it regularly. Honed marble is a living finish. It is always changing.
Marble will give you years of service while you enjoy the constantly changing natural patina. Some
customers like to keep the marble looking fresh and new. To that end, we include our starter kit,.
The kit includes one bottle of Revitalizer for cleaning and sealing and one 400 grit diamond hand pad.
Revitalizer is a super easy to use spray and wipe cleaner/sealer to be used with a soft cloth or paper towel.
The diamond pad is used to repair honed marble that has been acid etched or scratched. To repair
the face of your marble top generously wet the area to be refinished and lightly rub with the pad in a circular motion always
adjusting your pattern. Rub until the water turns milky white. This is the marble being
abraded and it should not take very long before the scratch or rough area disappears. When the repair is
completed dry the area off and use the Revitalizer liquid cleaner to clean up and reseal. You can order
additional bottles of Revitalizer by contacting Jeffress Stone Co at 410-488-9105. Marble is the preferred
surface for bread makers and chocoloateers all around the world. We hope you enjoy your beautiful natural
marble for many years to come. PRECAUTIONS FOR MARBLE
LIMESTONE AND TRAVERTINE Wipe up spills as they occur, especially acidic foods and oils. Always use
a cutting board for food preparation. All heavy glass and metal appliances should have soft protective feet installed before
use on the soft stones to avoid scratches. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or
dull the stone surface. Some acid foods include oranges, limes, lemons, tomatoes, vinegar and meat.
Use coasters under drinks, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus. Alcohol evaporates
into a heavy gas that builds up, then flows over the lip and down to the countertop and it burns the marble slightly leaving
a mild ripple like impression. Do not place very hot items directly on the stone surface.
Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under any objects that can scratch the surface.
Never use ammonia, alcohol or acidic cleaners. Avoid Orange cleaners, Simple Green, 409, glass cleaners
and oven spray cleaners (all highly acidic). Never leave rusty metal objects in direct
contact with the marble. Protect your marble from oil containers, especially olive oil. Olive
oil can over time eventually seep past the sealer and this stain is difficult if not impossible to get out.
G r a n i t e C
a r e I n s t r u c t i o n s The beautiful polished finish
on your granite tops is very durable. We can use razor blade scrapers, steel wool and acetone on this surface
without any chance of damage. You can slide your plates and kitchen appliances across the tops and never
worry about a scratch. To keep the bright finish bright, always clean the granite with very warm soapy
water and rinse thoroughly. You should rub it down completely with a soft cloth to dry and eliminate streaks.
Use Dial or Joy or equivalent mild dish soap and very warm water for a thorough disinfecting clean.
To scrub, use a washcloth or sponge even with the 3M scratchy green side and it will not scratch granite.
Rinse and dry off with a paper or kitchen towel. Windex and 409 are great for
quick cleanup and will not hurt the stone. Bleach is great for controlling bacteria and getting surface
stains cleaned up and will not hurt granite. If you get paint or marker stain or even finger nail
polish on the stone you can use Acetone for tough cleanup. If you get glue or something very tough stuck
to the face of the stone you can also use a single edge razor blade or steel wool to scrape it off. Steel
wool can even brighten the polish. Steel wool leaves behind steel fibers that can rust when wet.
Make sure when using steel wool to clean up carefully to avoid rusty stains from the steel wool fibers that scatter.
If you see the granite discolors from contact with water or oil, it needs to be sealed. Call us
at 410-488-9105 and we will schedule an appointment for re-sealing. Honed granite can be treated
much like the polished granite with a few exceptions. The surface of honed granite is slightly abrasive.
Avoid razor blade or steel wool on honed granite. It will leave a shine or burnish markings that
are hard to get off the stone. Aluminum and some other metal pots and pans can leave a hard to remove
metal deposit on the face of the honed tops if you slide then across the surface. Some honed stones are
oiled or sealed with color enhancing sealer. Oiled stone is restored with 400 grit sandpaper and mineral
oil. Rub down the tops with the 400 grit wet paper and clean the debris. Wipe down
the tops with mineral oil taking the time to really spread it out very thin, wait overnight, then take a wet rag and wipe
it all down again, and it is ready for your next several months. Color enhancing sealer is topical, meaning
on the surface. Be careful not to scratch the surface as much as practical. The sealer
is the softer surface, and it will wear. Clean and care for this surface using the marble care instructions
to maximize the life of the sealer. Our experience is the sealer lasts two to three years before your tops
need resealing. We offer sealer service/replacement for your “honed and enhanced” granite.
PRECAUTIONS FOR GRANITE Do not leave oil or oil containers on your granite overnight. Containers like
the clay or porcelain type olive oil containers should not be stored directly on stone because they leak. Always use a coaster
under these if you leave them on the countertop. Olive oil may leach through even the best sealers if
left on the stone for long periods and those oil stains are difficult if not impossible to get out. Never
leave rusty metal objects on the stone. Even on well sealed stone, iron stains are extremely difficult
to get off. Always avoid abrasive cleaners. Abrasive cleaners will scratch or dull the
surface over time. Do not use your countertops as a backer when hammering (it happens). Beating
on the stone with a hammer can shock load the stone and cause cracks. Do not climb on the stone, especially
at the sink cutout. This is the weakest location and can crack under the weight of an adult.
Currently the products listed are linked to amazon.com
where you can buy/ordered to your house.
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