How to: Clean a granite hearth
Tips and tricks for cleaning a granite hearth
We are frequently asked how to clean granite hearths. Whether its honed or polished our advise is the same when it comes to keeping your granite looking its best.
Its all about preventative maintenance.
It is always best to prevent an issue arising rather than fixing it once it happens. To prevent any unnecessary residue, build-ups, such as ash, we advise cleaning your hearth at least once a week with warm, very dilute soapy water.
You will need;
- A soft brush.
- A dustpan.
- A bucket.
- A mild washing up liquid.
- A non-abrasive cloth.
- A dry towel/cloth for drying.
Our recommended weekly cleaning routine is as follows;
- Sweep hearth with a soft brush to remove any debris and dust.
- Put a few drops of a mild washing up liquid into a bucket of hot water. Wipe down hearth with a solution using a non-abrasive cloth or sponge. You can scrub hard so long as you aren’t using anything abrasive. (It is important that this is only a very mild dilute solution, so it won’t cause any staining or damage)
- Then wipe down again with clean warm water (without any soap). Ensure no soapy residue is left behind.
- Gently wipe/pat hearth down with a dry cloth, making the hearth as dry as possible.
- Allow the granite hearth to dry overnight before using any additional cleaners or polishing.
This will work for a range of marks that
can appear on your hearth including watermarks.
Your hearth may have some smearing once it's
dry, but this can be polished out.
If you only light your fire once or twice a week then we advise doing this once
a month instead of weekly, so long as you sweep the hearth regularly.
A quick sweep up can save time later.
Sometimes you will find that your granite will need a quick clean in between the weekly clean;
You will need;
- A soft brush .
- A dustpan .
- A hoover with brush adapter .
- Clear stone polish .
- A
non-abrasive cloth.
Our top tips for a quick clean up are:
- Sweep your hearth with a soft brush.
- If you plan to hoover your hearth, do so with the soft brush adapter.
- You can use a clear stone polish and non-abrasive cloth (microfibre is the best) to remove any dust or smearing.
A regular deep clean is a must.
When
it comes to how often you should do a deep clean on your granite hearth it does
depend on how often you use your fire, those who use it daily will have to do
it more often than those who only light
their fire on occasional evenings.
- Sweep hearth with a soft brush to remove any debris and dust.
- Use a purpose made granite cleaner, ensuring
you follow the manufactures instructions.
Do not use any acidic cleaners such as bleach on granite, as this can cause irreparable damage and change the colouring of the hearth.
For those who only use their fire occasionally then we advise deep cleaning every three months.
Sealing.
You
can apply a purpose made sealant to granite, which will provide resistance to
water, spillages and staining. When choosing a sealant, it is important to make
sure it is suitable for granite hearths and check if it is recommended for the
finish you have (usually honed or polished). Always be aware, as, with many purpose-made granite cleaners, the sealant can change the natural effect of the
granite, such as darkening it in colour.
When sealing a granite hearth:
- Ensure hearth is clean, we recommend a deep clean before sealing any natural stone.
- Once hearth is completely dry, use a purpose made granite sealant and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Cleaning off spillages and watermarks.
Liquid
Spillages
This is the most common cause of markings on granite hearths. If you spill
water, a drink etc. clean it up as soon as possible. Granite is porous so any
liquid spillages can soak in and cause staining. To clean liquid spillages,
follow the same cleaning instructions as you would for a weekly clean using a
very dilute solution of warm, soapy water.
Food Spillages
If food gets spilt on your granite, clean it off as soon as possible. Due to
granite being porous any oils in your food can soak into the stone. When food
is spilt, follow the same instructions and the weekly clean.
Watermarks
Watermarks are also a common occurrence, vases, glasses and mugs often leave
this mark behind. To clean watermarks away, follow the weekly cleaning
instructions, using very dilute, warm, soapy water solution.
If markings persist after repeated use of a very dilute solution of warm soapy water, then a deep clean will be needed.
Warnings.
- Do not use acidic cleaners on granite as it can cause irreparable damage.
- Do not use sharp objects or abrasive materials whilst cleaning granite, this can cause irreparable damage and scratches.
- Sealing and deep cleaning can change the natural effect of the granite, such as colour or pattern.
- If stains & markings persist after wet cleaning, please contact the showroom and we will advise how to proceed. Do not apply a sealant as this can seal the stain into the stone.
- Due to granite being porous, liquid spillages can soak in and stain granite, all liquid should be cleaned off as soon as possible to avoid this.
