How to Clean and Care for Your Countertops

Everyday Cleaning

• Wipe with mild soap and warm water and a soft cloth — it’s all most surfaces need day to day.
• Blot spills quickly, especially acidic ones (wine, citrus, tomato) on natural stone.
• Skip harsh or abrasive cleaners — bleach, ammonia, scouring pads and acidic descalers can dull, etch or strip sealers.

Protect the Surface

• Use cutting boards. Even scratch-resistant stone will dull knives and can scratch over time.
• Use trivets for hot pans. Quartz especially can be damaged by direct, sustained heat.
• Wipe up standing water around sinks and dishwashers to avoid mineral buildup.

Sealing Natural Stone

Quartz never needs sealing — it’s non-porous. Granite and marble are natural stone and benefit from periodic sealing to stay stain-resistant. A simple test: drop a little water on the surface; if it soaks in and darkens the stone within a few minutes, it’s time to reseal. Most granite needs it every year or two; marble more often.

Handling Common Problems

The Payoff

A few good habits keep countertops looking showroom-new for 20+ years. If you’re still choosing a surface, our quartz vs. granite vs. marble guide and countertops page will help.

How Long Do Countertops Last?

Well-cared-for countertops routinely last 20 to 30 years or more. Quartz and granite can easily outlast the rest of the kitchen, which is why they’re worth choosing carefully up front. The two things that shorten a countertop’s life are heat damage and, on natural stone, letting the sealer lapse so stains and etching set in. A cutting board, a couple of trivets, and a yearly reseal on natural stone are all it takes to keep them looking new for decades.

Frequently Asked Questions