MARBLELIFE® Granite Countertop Gloss Conditioner

Description

How to Polish Granite Countertops,

The Full True Story

MARBLELIFE offers over 25 years of experience and knowledge as the world’s leader in natural stone care, as well as the products that we have found work best. Through our knowledge, service and products, we are pleased to share with you how to easily take the best care possible of your granite and quartz.

There is a distinct difference between polishing granite and conditioning it. Polishing is not applying a product to your stone. Polishing is the use of hard abrasives, friction and heat in varying degrees of coarseness. This is somewhat like placing stones in a rock tumbler to polish them. Since granite is so hard, this takes a great deal of effort. It also provides plenty of room for damaging both the granite and yourself. Truly polishing granite and quartz is best left to the professionals, however, there is hope for the do it yourselfers.

The good news for the do it yourselfer, is that in the vast majority of time granite and quartz do not actually need polishing. Most often it’s a residue that has built up over time, that has created a dull appearance to your granite. The use of common store quality granite products, common cleaning products, build-up from dish soap and the oils that have not been removed contribute to a residue causing the dull appearance. This can be resolved by simply removing the residue and revealing the granite’s real natural beauty.[/content_half]

Removing residue from granite and quartz is quite easy.  A high quality granite cleaner like MARBLELIFE Granite & Quartz Countertop Cleaner can remove the residue, leaving your granite or quartz once again looking its beautiful, natural, clear self.  Most people are absolutely amazed in how well this actually works.  After all, one would think that when using a popular granite cleaner, there shouldn’t be a residue.  Unfortunately, this just typically is not the case.

After doing the deep cleaning process detailed on the MARBLELIFE Granite & Quartz Countertop Cleaner page, you may still feel that your granite needs some help.  Or you may simply wish to do everything you can, to get your granite countertop looking its best.  This is time for MARBLELIFE Granite Countertop Gloss Conditioner.  This is an appearance product which helps provide a more wet look and deeper, richer color.  It’s easy to use and has no odor.

Be prepared, because some granite is dense enough that it will not take a gloss conditioner.  You can easily determine this by trying MARBLELIFE Granite Countertop Gloss Conditioner to see if it makes a noticeable difference.  If it does you found the best solution for enhancing the appearance of your granite or quartz.  If there is no noticeable difference, then you can resolve to the fact that there is no safe product for your granite that will enhance the appearance beyond a good cleaning or a professional’s service.

Below are listed some benefits of this Marblelife Granite Countertop Gloss Conditioner:

PLEASE NOTE:  This product is for use on countertop and wall surfaces only, and not floor, shower or stair surfaces.  If used on surface that is walked on, it may cause the surface to become too slippery and could result in a slip and fall hazard.  Please enjoy this product responsibly.

About Granite Countertops & Vanities

They are Beautiful and resilient.  These are two of the biggest reasons behind the popularity of granite and quartz in kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities.  These beautifully natural surfaces resist scratches and burns and don’t easily stain.  Many granite surfaces can however be stained by common things like red wine, red sports drink, coffee, bar-b-Que sauce, ketchup, mustard, and makeup just to name a few.

Granite has pores which are very small pits and holes that can trap oils, food and bacteria and allow in materials that can result in a stain.  Keeping these pores clean is the primary objective in caring for granite countertops and vanities.

Imagine a large piece of white coral, too large to pick up.  This is kind of what granite looks like under a microscope.  Picture rubbing old dark bacon grease on the piece of coral and working it in over a long period of time.  Now try to clean the grease out of the coral.  Since this is an analogy of your kitchen granite countertop a pressure washer is out of the question.  You also can use harmful solvents.  Again, keep in mind that this is the same surface that you prepare food on.

This analogy is a good picture of what you are up against in cleaning granite countertops.  What’s worse is what happens to the grease after it’s been there for months or more.  The answer is that it becomes rancid and gives off an odor.  It also harbors bacteria that are now living in the rancid grease.  This is the biggest reason why you want a high quality granite cleaner and not the common big name or store bought stuff.  Also the trapped dark grease had made the once white coral look dull and dark.

The reason we recommend our MARBLELIFE Granite Cleaner, Sealer and Gloss Conditioner is not just because it’s our brand, it is because after 25 years of servicing granite these are the best we can find.  We believe that you, your family and pets deserve a clean, safe and brilliant looking countertop to enjoy.  More than just selling products, we hope that we can help make your life just that much better.

About Quartz Countertops & Vanities

Granite and Quartz are very similar in that granite contains quartz along with feldspar and mica.  These are igneous rocks that were formed through the cooling of magma in the earth’s crust.  Most of our mountains are largely granite.  The difference in caring for these two comes largely when quartz is combined with man made synthetic materials as this now becomes a hybrid product, part natural and part man-made.  This makes a significant change in how to care for the two surfaces.

When quartz is combined with a synthetic material like in Silestone as a good brand example, the pores of the quartz are now filled with the synthetic material.  This means that granite sealers or granite polishes are of no benefit as the pores, they need to function and protect are no longer available.

Man-made quartz countertops are a great option for some and offer a more uniform appearance and are less likely to stain, though they are not stain-proof.  A good quartz cleaner is the best and only real product that you should need with quartz countertops.  MARBLELIFE Granite & Quartz Countertop Cleaner is the best cleaner for granite, natural quartz and man-made quartz materials.

Common Mistakes Cleaning Granite Countertops & Quartz

You may be surprised to learn that there are common mistakes that occur thousands of times a day by people caring for natural stone based on what a label said or someone has told them to do.  We know this because we are the ones that they call once the damage had been done and they need help.  We want you to have a pleasant experience with your granite countertop or quartz vanity and are happy to share these mistakes or misconceptions with you.

Though granite and quartz are not as easily damaged by mild acids like marble, they can still be damaged by the use of some acids.  Glass cleaners often contain ammonia this is not good for granite and many common household cleaners and multipurpose cleaners can be harmful for your granite surface.

Why do I need a fancy cleaner for my granite or quartz?  This is a frequent question.  The truth is that you can clean your granite with all kinds of common cleaners and home made products with what will seem like not a problem for some time, until you eventually notice the problem.  Don’t be fooled by this myth that popular cleaning products and home made products or just good old fashion dish soap are OK.

We have put together a section of common myths regarding household cleaning of sensitive surfaces called “Quick Tips” in our Homeowner university.  These are to help you avoid falling into these very common traps and eventually needing repairs.  Some that you will want to note regarding granite and quartz are the truth about vinegar, bleach, alcohol, dish soap, using only water, common cleaners and multipurpose products.

The Proper Care of Cleaning Granite & Quartz

Step 1 “Cleaning Granite” – Cleaning is the first and most important step in caring for Granite and Quartz.  Make sure to use a granite cleaner that is both safe to not damage your stone as well as one that will actually remove the oils that get trapped in the pores.  Additionally, your cleaner should not leave a residue.  MARBLELIFE’s cleaner is not the only product that is safe and effective. It’s just that over 25 years of worldwide service of natural stone, this is the best we have experienced and what we use.

Step 2 “Sealing Granite” – Sealing your granite or quartz is the second and next most important step in caring for your granite and quartz.  Sealing your granite or quartz provides both protection against stains and helps make step one cleaning easier for you.  Since harmful oils and some substances can stain your beautiful stone, it is important to use a very high quality sealer.

A high quality granite countertop sealer should help keep out damaging oils and substances that would otherwise stain your beautiful countertop or vanity top.  By applying a granite sealer you also help make daily cleaning quicker and easier.  Sealing your granite or quartz should be done in most cases annually and in high use / high traffic areas, maybe twice a year.  MARBLELIFE Granite Countertop Sealer is an extremely high quality sealer that makes sealing your countertop affordable, quick and easy.

Step 3 “Polishing Granite” – This step is not actually polishing granite since this would actually take the use of professional honing pads and a professional’s experience.  The best part is that in many cases someone insists that their granite needs to be polished, when it only needed to have the residue removed.  This can easily be done by you with MARBLELIFE Granite & Quartz Countertop Cleaner and by following the directions below.

After cleaning and sealing granite the only remaining step may be applying a gloss conditioner such as MARBLELIFE’s Granite Countertop Gloss Conditioner.  The truth is that a good portion of granite and quartz will not take a gloss conditioner or “polish”.  The best way to see if your granite will take a gloss conditioner is to try one like MARBLELIFE’s to see if you get a noticeable improvement.  If you do see an improvement, than as often or as seldom as you prefer, you can add that richer, wetter look.  If there is no noticeable difference, then you can save yourself the trouble of trying different products because your granite is too dense to accept anything safe that would enhance its appearance.

Repairing Granite or Quartz – You can now see that caring for your granite or quartz is simple yet care must be taken to use the right products and procedures to ensure its best appearance.  Should your stone have cracks, scratches, and other damage or require any service beyond that described above, it is recommended that you contact your local MARBLELIFE Service Professional for the best care possible.

Directions: MARBLELIFE Granite Countertop Gloss Conditioner

Step 1 “Deep Granite Cleaning” – This is the first and most important step.  Carefully follow the instructions found on the MARBLELIFE Granite Countertop Cleaner page.  Following the cleaning stage we recommend that you next seal your granite or quartz to help provide protection to your granite’s appearance.  Sealing your granite also helps make for an easier and better routine cleaning.

You should note that after sealing your granite, the sealer will block out some of the gloss conditioner as it is protecting the pores of the granite.  If you choose to not seal your granite and proceed with conditioning it you may.  This is your preference.  If you choose to seal your granite first, make sure to wait at least 72 hours for the sealer to fully cure before applying the gloss conditioner.  An extra day or so wouldn’t be a bad idea if time permits.

Step 2 “Applying the Gloss Conditioner” – Before proceeding with the whole countertop, we recommend that you first start with a small area, to assure that you are pleased with the results.

Begin by applying a large coin sized amount to a clean cloth and rub into the granite or quartz.  At this time you want to work the gloss conditioner into the pores of the granite in order to help bring out its best color.  Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes absorb into the surface.

Step 3 “Buff off the Excess” – After you have allowed the gloss conditioner to soak, buff off excess with a dry cloth.  This should leave a beautiful bright appearance.  Note that the surface may continue to have a bit of an oily feel, for perhaps a day or two.  If you prefer, you may buff it again with a microfiber towel to remove any oiliness that remains.  Resist from using the Granite & Quartz Countertop Cleaner for about two days after applying the gloss conditioner.

Removing Stains – There are many different types of granite and quartz with various degrees of porousness and many types of substances that could stain the stone.  Therefore, there are just as many techniques for removing stains.  The simplest way to remove simple stains is to use MARBLELIFE Granite Countertop Cleaner.  Clean area thoroughly first with this cleaner then spray a puddle of this same cleaner over the stain and let it soak for about 10 minutes.  After allowing to soak, scrub with a tooth brush and wipe off with a microfiber towel.  This should resolve most simple, light stains.  For more difficult stain removal contact MARBLELIFE Customer Care at CustomerCare@Marblelife.com or 1-866-653-9737 for help determining the best method for removing the specific stain on your specific granite.

For More Assistance

If you have questions about how to best care for your stone, would like help in choosing the right products or would like assistance solving a problem, please contact us.  We absolutely enjoy assisting you, and have compiled over the last over 25 years, a wealth of knowledge that we are eager to share with you.  You can email us at CustomerCare@Marblelife.com or call us toll free at 1-866-653-9737.

NOT TO BE USED ON FLOORS – (May cause floors to become too slippery, resulting in a fall.)