FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 15, 2009 -- GRANITE - A Great Choice for Countertops & Floors

Granite counters are becoming increasingly popular. The increasing supply and the new technologies of fabrication have made this durable material more cost effective!
Many finer homes and hotels have adopted this elegant and durable material.
The Advantages of Granite Countertops are Many!
• very stain resistant
• very etch resistant to acids (except hydrofluoric acid-rust removers)
• good at resisting bacterial growth
• very scratch resistant - very hard surface
• also good at accepting hot items
The concerns with granite counters are more evident in the lighter colored granites with showing discoloration due to oils and other contaminates. Also

being very hard any glass that would fall on the surface is history, extremely hot items and fire will cause a "popping out" of the surface to cause a rough spot.
Repairing scratches and lippage due to improper setting of the countertop will require professional help. If the seams are not level and need grinding to repair ASK for references before letting the contractor do the repair- blending in the polish to match the existing polish is VERY difficult.
To Seal or Not to Seal? That is the Question.

Actually the question should be to use an impregnator or not use one. Impregnators are sub-surface protection from staining; whereas sealers are above surface protectors. Closing the pores of the granite with an impregnator that will resist both water

borne & oil borne contaminates is important. (Richard James Specialty Chemicals product) provides excellent stain resistance. A key point is that it does NOT contain silicone. Silicone based solvent impregnators can potentially cause a darkening of the surface. SRI TreatmentTM will aid in the prevention of contamination getting below the surface. It is NOT a solvent based sealer so will not have harmful ingredients or smell up the room where applied!
The V.O.C. is extremely LOW! 16 g. per liter V.O.C!! I have used this in an enclosed shower with no smell or breathing concerns.

GRANITE CARE: DAILY CLEANING
Polished granite counters properly cleaned SHOULD NOT need any polish enhancement. Counters that have been abused and have lost some of the luster though could consider some gloss enhancement.
One Quart will last a very long time at this dilution ratio!! Simply spray until the counter is wet & then scrub lightly and rinse well. It is always best with highly polished surfaces to wipe with a cloth until completely dry. It is excellent in removing oils and grease! Think like you are taking a shower- first you lather up, then rinse, then dry yourself. Not rinsing can leave some residues behind even when drying the surface.
NOTE: Oil darkening/staining may require the use of a poultice (clay powders to draw up and out the oils/stain). However before resorting to that try StoneClean & StripÔ (1 to 3 dilution) and make a dam out of cloths to soak the stain for approx 5 minutes (keeping the areas wet and not let dry out) scrub and rinse well. It may require a second application on another day and not the same day- rinse well and let dry out naturally before trying again. If not taken care of please ask for POULTICE details.

CONCLUSION: POLISHED GRANITE COUNTER CARE
Use of cleansers that don't leave residues and pick up the oils is frontline in the care of polished granite counters. Also important is the use of an impregnator that will not darken the stone or yellow or eventually weld in grease and dirt into the stone. Properly cared for granite is a good choice of material and will bring years of good service! You will find no better cleanser for Polished granite countertops than StoneCleanTM "PLUS" Concentrate Hardsurface Cleaner
Granite Countertop Mold Concerns
Thousands have chosen polished granite countertops to add richness and elegance to their homes.
Recent concerns of Radon and Mold have dampened the decision to have granite in their homes. Please read on in how best to deal with these concerns and also to put them in their proper perspectives.
Many have expressed concern in finding mold growing on their granite countertops.


Many feel that polished granite countertops are impervious to staining, so why should they be prone to mold growth? Polished granite still has micro pores where mold spores can land and multiple when there is enough “food” to grow. Many feel that you do not need to use a subsurface sealer ( called an Impregnator) on polished granite countertops. This is not true! A horizontal surface is more likely to harbor impurities than a vertical surface.
SRI Treatment™ is the best at filling those small “holes” and keeping a clean surface.
Advantages of SRI Treatment™ (Stain Resisting Impregnator):
• Low V. O. C. 16 g/L makes this probably the lowest and safest on the market
• Little or NO smell with no off gassing concerns (can use in tight places)
• Easy application- simply wipe on, let soak in for 5 to 10 minutes and then buff off excess with a clean cotton towel/ cloth
• Does not contain silicone or silane which can and does breakdown and actually trap dirt and mold and mildew Do you have mold that is hard to remove on your top? Did you have the installer apply a sealer? Likely it was one that contained silicone or silane! Can you get mildew out of bathroom caulking? I rest my case!
• Resists both water borne and oil borne staining
• Cost effective to reapply often if a high use countertop

Cleaning granite counters & floors can also be accomplished by using StoneCleanTM "PLUS" Hard Surface Cleaner highly diluted. Only 2 ounces to a gallon & then put in a spray bottle. It also contains a special biocide called Vantocil IB Data that has proven to be a safe product to use in the food care industry! It also helps make the surfaces resistant to microbial growths. (also great on polished granite flooring and showers as well) One Quart will last a very long time at this dilution ratio!! Simply spray until the counter is wet & then scrub lightly and rinse well. It is always best with highly polished surfaces to wipe with a cloth until completely dry. It is excellent in removing oils and grease! Think like you are taking a shower- first you lather up, then rinse, then dry yourself. Not rinsing can leave some residues behind even when drying the surface.

If this doesn’t remove the discoloration than the best deep cleanser for stone and tile is one called StoneClean & Strip™ mixed strong like 50/50 with lukewarm to cool water.. Spray and let dwell on the countertop without letting it dry for 15 minutes. Constantly scrubbing and keeping wet. Give a good hard scrub with a nylon bristle brush and rinse, rinse , rinse well. Follow with a “Plus” rinse. If a previous sealer was used it may take a couple of cycles of cleaning to remove completely. Allow a few days before trying again. Drying out the countertop can help make the previous sealer more brittle and easier to remove during 2nd cleaning.
A word about recent news on the possible dangers of granite countertops.
This is not to downplay possible concerns if your house is full of granite.

Before considering removing your granite countertops please consider other parts of you house that deserve more of your attention to safety and health! Your bedroom- do you sleep on organic cotton and natural rubber mattresses or do you sleep on the most heavily chemically treated crop in the world- cotton, and sleep on polyurethane foam, which is made from a petrochemical base combined with a slurry of nasty chemicals that have proven to cause cancer? I don’t sell these kind of products and I don’t even sell granite or stone countertops, just the best care products for them- please get this book- Toxic Bedrooms Also to consider is to have impregnators that are used to “seal/ Protect” the countertop to have no chemical off gassing. ((please read about SRI Treatment on this article) When it comes to off gassing concerns also read the book Homes That Heal and those that don’t
I hope you consider the fine cleaning products that I represent and feel free to contact me. Please visit the site below and then click on Marble Shine Services to view other articles and to Buy StoneClean Conc. link to order so today!