Cleaning Stone Countertops and Wall Surfaces
1. Clean surface daily.
2. Gently remove any loose debris from the surface.
3. Simply spray Westwood Stone Spray Cleaner or other Neutral Cleaner on to the surface and allow to sit for a few minutes.
4. Wipe dry and buff to a shine with a dry cloth.
Care and Precautions
  • Do not leave food or oil/grease on countertops
  • .Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices.
  • Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the surface of some stones.
  • Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface, as they will not damage the stone, but will cause the factory applied sealer to lose some effectiveness.
  • Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.
  • Consider having your stone resealed if it appears to darken after cleaning or is absorbing water.
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Cleaning Stone Floors
1. Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop.
2. Mix Supershine-All or other neutral cleaner with recommended dilution of water.
3. Using a clean mop, apply Supershine-All to the surface and let it dry. Rinsing is not required.		 (top)
 
Polished marble, Onyx and Granite (special note)  
Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Normally, it will take a person about eight steps on a floor surface to remove sand or dirt from the bottom of their shoes.
Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water). Frequent or over-use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface of the stone. 		(top)
 
Spills and Stains

Blot the spill with a paper towel immediately. Don't wipe the area, it will spread the spill. Flush the area with plain water and mild soap and rinse several times. Dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth. Repeat as necessary.

  
Stain Removal
Identifying the type of stain on the stone surface is the key to removing it. If you don't know what caused the stain, play detective. Where is the stain located? Is it near a plant, a food service area, an area where cosmetics are used? What color is it? What is the shape or pattern? What goes on in the area around the stain?

Surface stains can often be removed by cleaning with an appropriate cleaning product or household chemical. Deep-seated or stubborn stains may require using a poultice or calling in a professional. The following sections describe the types of stains that you may have to deal with and appropriate household chemicals to use.
Types of Stains and First Step Cleaning Actions
 
Oil based (grease, tar, cooking oil, milk, cosmetics)
An oil-based stain will darken the stone and normally must be chemically dissolved so the source of the stain can be flushed or rinsed away. Clean gently with a soft, liquid cleanser with bleach OR household detergent OR ammonia OR mineral spirits OR acetone.
 
Organic (coffee, tea, fruit, tobacco, paper, food, urine, leaves, bark, bird droppings)
May cause a pinkish-brown stain and may disappear after the source of the stain has been removed. Outdoors, with the sources removed, normal sun and rain action will generally bleach out the stains. Indoors, clean with 12% hydrogen peroxide (hair bleaching solution) and a few drops of ammonia. 
 
Metal (iron, rust, copper, bronze)
Iron or rust stains are orange to brown in color and follow the shape of the staining object such as nails, bolts, screws, cans, flower pots, metal furniture. Copper and bronze stains appear as green or muddy-brown and result from the action of moisture on nearby or embedded bronze, copper or brass items. Metal stains must be removed with a poultice. Deep-seated, rusty stains are extremely difficult to remove and the stone may be permanently stained.
 
Biological ( algae, mildew, lichens, moss, fungi)
Clean with dilute (1/2 cup in a gallon of water) ammonia OR bleach OR hydrogen peroxide. DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA! THIS COMBINATION CREATES A LETHAL GAS!
 
Stains - Oil-based, Organic, Iron, Copper, Biological
Various poultices can be used for these stains and are best determined and handled by a professional.
 
Ink (magic marker, pen, ink)
Clean with bleach or hydrogen peroxide (light colored stone only!) or lacquer thinner or acetone (dark stones only!)
 
Paint
Small amounts can be removed with lacquer thinner or scraped off carefully with a razor blade. Heavy paint coverage should be removed only with a commercial "heavy liquid" paint stripper available from hardware stores and paint centers. These strippers normally contain caustic soda or lye. Do not use acids or flame tools to strip paint from stone. Paint strippers can etch the surface of the stone; repolishing may be necessary. Follow the manufacturer's directions for use of these products, taking care to flush the area thoroughly with clean water. Protect yourself with rubber gloves and eye protection, and work in a well ventilated area. Use only wood or plastic scrapers for removing sludge and curdled paint. Normally, latex and acrylic paints will not cause staining. Oil-based paints, linseed oil, putty, caulks and sealants may cause oily stains.
 
Water Spots and Rings (surface accumulation of hard water)
Buff with dry 0000 steel wool. Fire and Smoke Damage Older stones and smoke or fire-stained fireplaces may require a through cleaning to restore their original appearance. Commercially available "smoke removers" may save time and effort.
 
Etch Marks
Etch marks are caused by acids left on the surface of the stone. Some materials will etch the finish but not leave a stain. Others will both etch and stain. Once the stain has been removed, wet the surface with clear water and sprinkle on marble polishing powder, available from a hardware or lapidary store, or your local stone dealer. Rub the powder onto the stone with a damp cloth or by using a buffing pad with a low speed power drill. Continue buffing until the etch mark disappears and the marble surface shines. Contact your stone dealer or call a professional stone restorer for refinishing or repolishing etched areas that you cannot remove.
 
Efflorescence
This is a white powder that may appear on the surface of the stone. It is caused by water carrying mineral salts from below the surface of the stone rising through the stone and evaporating. When the water evaporates, it leaves the powdery substance. If the installation is new, dust mop or vacuum the powder. You may have to do this several times as the stone dries out. Do not use water to remove the powder; it will only temporarily disappear. If the problem persists, contact your installer to help identify and remove the cause of moisture.
 
Scratches and Nicks
Slight surface scratches may be buffed with dry 0000 steel wool. Deeper scratches and nicks in the surface of the stone should be repaired and repolished by a professional. (top)
 
Stone Sealer Expected Wear and Reapplication
Granite
Polished Granite is the most durable stone that we have to offer.  Granite has an extremely hard surface that is unlikely to scratch.  Granites have varying degrees of porosity and therefore require that a sealer be applied.  A high quality long lasting sealer is applied to the finished stone surface in our factory.  The sealer manufacturer states that the sealer can be expected to protect the stone for 3-5 years before additional application of sealer is necessary.  We have found this to be a conservative estimate when recommended stone care cleaning products are used for routine maintenance.  Light colored stones may tend to require reapplication sooner than darker stones.
An indication that it is time to reseal the granite is when a water spill leaves a lingering spot on the stone and does not dissipate in a reasonable amount of time.  This spot will dry and return to its original color.  The surface should not be resealed until this spot is no longer present.
Honed Granite will perform in much the same manner as Polished Granite but will require more frequent application of sealer, 2-3 years.
 
Marble and Limestone
The surface of Marble and Limestone is not as hard as that of Granite, and the polish on these stones is more delicate than that of Granite.  When Polished Marble and Limestone are used for countertops spills should be wiped up soon after each use to prevent etching of the polished surface.  The sealer that is used on Polished Marble and Limestone should be reapplied every three years.  The sealer will only protect the stone against staining.  The sealer will not protect the stone against etching by acidic or alkaline based products often used in the kitchen and bathroom.
When Marble and Limestone are used with a Honed finish the delicate nature of the polished surface is no longer present.  When honed these materials are more durable in the kitchen environment.  Honed Marble and Limestone should be resealed every 2-3 years.
The water test described above can be used on all materials to determine the need for resealing.		 (top)
 
Ceramic Tile Surfaces
 
Cleaning Cermic Tile Floors
1. Simply mix Supershine-All or other neutral cleaner with recommended dilution of water.
2. Using a clean mop, apply the Supershine-All to the surface and let it dry.
3. Rinsing is not required.
4. Most carpet cleaning companies now offer ceramic tile floor cleaning that will leave the tile and grout like new. Call us for a recommendation.
 
Cleaning Ceramic Tile Countertops and Wall Surfaces
1. Simply spray Westwood Stone Spray Cleaner or other neutral cleaner on to the surface and wipe clean.
2. For soap scum or mildew, any non abrasive tile cleaner can be used.
3. For heavier cleaning, products such as Soft Scrub can be used, but only on matte finish (not shiny) tile. 		(top)
 
Warranty
Westwood Tile & Stone will warranty your granite countertop for any manufacturing defect during the first ten years after initial installation, except for damage due to chemical or physical misuse, including improper cleaning or lack of cleaning, limited to indoor residential installations only.

Westwood Tile & Stone's liability is limited to the repair or replacement of the defective granite piece only, subject to the availability of the granite color. If the color is no longer available, liability is limited to the cash value of the installed piece based on current square foot prices if we determine that a satisfactory repair cannot be made. This value will be reimbursed in the form of a store credit.
Warranty is valid only for granite countertops cared for in accordance with Care & Cleaning Instructions provided and to owners that have registered their countertop by returning the card attached.

This does not include natural characteristics of granite such as color variation, water lines, surface marks or natural aging, which may include darkening on some colors, loss of shine on edge or surface and chips in high use areas. Nor does it cover damage caused by items out of our control such as settlement, fire or acts of nature, which may cause stress cracks.