Romancing your
stone tabletop
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NATURAL STONE TABLETOPS are popular because of their beauty. Marble,
granite, travertine, quartzite limestone and many other popular natural stone
surfaces are sought after because of their beauty and durability. All of these
popular natural materials are created through eons of geological activity and
are not easily or accurately replicated by synthetics.
You’d think these surfaces, being stone, are impervious to damage. However, all natural stone is absorbent to some degree. This is why all quality stone
furniture is protected with a specially formulated sealer to minimize stains
that can result from accidental spills and exposure to other potentially harmful substances.
Most manufacturers of stone furniture
use high-quality sealers that protect stone
surfaces from nearly all stains and acidic
liquids. These sealers do not normally
break down over time or with normal outdoor (or indoor) use.
To help protect the sealer, most manufacturers recommend using coasters and
place mats when dining. Coasters help
absorb moisture from “sweaty” drinking
glasses and prevent mugs from leaving
rings. Place mats help catch spills and prevent dishes, platters and flatware from
scratching tabletops during meals. If your
stone tabletop is outdoors, cover it with a
quality furniture cover when it’s not in use.
While high-quality stone tabletops
should not require frequent reapplications
of sealer to maintain protection, they
still require frequent cleaning. Nearly all
manufacturers recommend using clean water and mild dish soap. Clean the tabletop
with a soft white cloth or sponge, and don’t
use scouring creams or other abrasive
cleansers, or acid- or petroleum-based
products, including cleaners that contain
lemon or vinegar.
After applying mild dish soap with a soft cloth or sponge, rinse the tabletop with plenty of clean water and dry it thoroughly to prevent buildup of any
residue from minerals that might be in your water supply—even if you have
softened water.
Accidental spills need to be cleaned up immediately. The aforementioned
sealer is a protective barrier that minimizes potential damage, allowing you
more cleanup time, but addressing spills quickly will increase the longevity of
the sealer. A
