Minnesota Valley Granite Myths

Myths about GRANITE


Radon	While granite and other natural stones may contain minute traces of radon, in terms of building materials, radon emissions from concrete, cement and gypsum should be of greater concern: "Radon is a naturally occurring gas generated by the decay of trace amounts of uranium found in the earth's crust throughout the world. It is an unstable gas that quickly breaks down and dissipates in the air." A full report is available at Marble Institute of America's web site at www.marble-institute.com

Bacteria	Granite continues to be used and approved in food and medical applications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has no records of granite harboring bacteria, and has no reports of people becoming ill from bacteria in granite. With regular cleaning, granite is far less likely to support bacteria than butcher block or even laminate materials with top-mounted sinks. This claim has also been tested by the Hospitality Industry. Their article can be found at www.hi-tm.com under "Publications and Reports."

Granite is Higher Priced than Solid Surface Materials	With increased technology in the stone processing industry, granite now is available for the same price as artificial, manmade solid surface materials, and granite offers a wider variety of colors and patterns to choose from.

Granite Cannot Be Repaired	Granite can be re-finished and, in cases of chipping or breaking, can be repaired with colored epoxies that can take a polish.

Granite is Hard to Maintain	Granite is very easy to maintain. Clean with a neutral soap and water, wipe off film with a solution of vinegar and water, and on occasion, from one to every five years, additional impregnators can be applied.

Caring for your Granite Product


Cleaning	Clean the countertop daily with a soft white cloth and a neutral cleaner or household detergent such as Dove. Household cleaning products include Windex, Lysol Disinfectant and 409 can be used, but may leave a film. A solution of vinagar and water works great to remove streaking, smudges, and body oil. Granite countertops are generally sealed at the time of fabrication. Resealing is up to the individual. Manufacturers of impregnators recommend countertops be resealed from 1 to every 4 years, or longer, depending on the application, the sensitivity of the individual, and the type of stone. Granite impregnators, cleaners and disinfectants are available at our office. Spills should be wiped up immediately. Blot the spill with a clean paper towel. If the countertop stains, a poultice may need to be applied. Use the flat side of a razor blade for removing stuck on tape residue, dried paint, glue, dried food, etc. Use #0000 or finer steel wool to remove dried water spots, smudges, hazy areas, and for general cleaning to bring out the shine. Do not use the steel wool wet. Use a pencil eraser to remove aluminum trails.

Don'ts	Do not use acid based cleaners such as rust removers, sterling silver clearners, etc., on countertop, or place rags saturated with acid based clearners on countertop. Do not use cleaners containing Hydroflouric Acid. Do not use strong abrasive cleaners such as Comet or SoftScrub. Do not leave spills on countertop for prolonged periods of time.