Using quartz for your kitchen countertops

The kitchen, it has been said, is the heart of the home. This is because it is offers a place to sit down around the table, or perhaps stand at a countertop, and unload the events of the day.   The kitchen is also, where guests have a tendency to congregate during parties. Therefore, with that in mind, you want to be sure that your kitchen looks great. One way to do this is by having beautiful kitchen countertops such as those with a quartz surface.

As one of the more recent arrivals to kitchen countertop surface choices quartz is referred to as an engineered stone; however, this does not mean it lacks the advantages of stones such as granite, marble or other natural stones. In fact, it has many of the same characteristics. In addition, the list of colors it comes in in seemingly endless, so having quartz kitchen countertops will not cramp your design style.

Not only is the color choices for quartz vast, but it is relatively easy to maintain. Because of its composition, having quartz kitchen countertops means that you have a surface that resist scratches, dents, scuffs, burns and stains, is nonporous  and can last for many years. And, when it comes to basic cleaning, quartz kitchen countertops only require a soft cloth and warm soapy water. In fact, harsh chemical cleaners are not recommended. Of course, kitchens are meant to be used, so there are likely to be times where even the most careful of home cooks may have something spill. But don’t fear. Just clean it up with a damp cloth.

Of course, no natural stone or even an engineered stone is without a few usage concerns. Perhaps the only drawback to having Mankato quartz countertops is that they are not a replacement for a cutting board, as this could result in causing a scratch or damage the knife blade. It should also be noted that liquids such as coffee, lemon juice, vinegar and wine, if spilled, need to be cleaned up immediately; this is not necessarily a drawback, but rather a precaution.

Granite Monuments from Universal Stone

Here at Universal Stone, we're known for our granite counter tops, granite fireplace surrounds, and other granite products. We've recently added a new offering to our line-up: granite monuments.

These monuments, sometimes called tombstones, come in two colors; absolute black and tunis green. We'll only have one style available for now, but we hope to offer more in the future. We've inserted an image below of what granite monuments look like, just to give you an idea.

Interested in learning more about our granite monuments? Give us a call today at (952) 746-4690.

Types of Stains and How to Clean Them

If your stone counter top is susceptible to stains, it's a good idea to know the first step you'll need to take in order to clean a stain when it shows up. You might possibly need some chemicals or a special type of cleaner, depending on the type of stain.

Oil-based stains, which usually come from grease, tar, cooking oil, milk, or cosmetics, should be cleaned with a bleach-based cleaner, mineral spirits, or acetone.

An organic stain, from something like tea, coffee, food, or droppings, can be cleaned with 12% hydrogen peroxide and several drops of ammonia.

Metal stains, from rust or other sources, should be removed with a poultice.

Biological stains, from sources like algae or mildew, must be cleaned with dilute ammonia or hydrogen peroxide. Remember: do not mix ammonia and bleach. The mixture creates a toxic and lethal gas!

Ink stains can be cleaned with bleach or hydrogen peroxide (for light stone), or lacquer thinner or acetone (for dark stone).

Have any other questions about your stone counters? Feel free to give us a call today at (952) 746-4690.

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