Spills should be wiped up immediately. Blot the spill with a clean paper towel. If the countertop stains, a poultice may need to be applied. See the Stain Removal guidelines that follow. Use the flat side of a razor blade for removing stuck on tape residue, dried paint, glue, dried food, etc.

Use #0000 or finer steel wool to remove dried water spots, smudges, hazy areas, and for general cleaning to bring out the shine. Do not use the steel wool wet. Use a pencil eraser to remove aluminum trails.

Cleaning Tips For Other Natural Stone

Marble, limestone, travertine, soapstone and onyx should be cleaned using products specifically designed for natural stone.  Always test products in a small, inconspicuous area first to see how it reacts with the stone.  Using household cleaning products on these stones will damage them.

Sealing Granite and Other Natural Stones

Granite countertops are generally sealed at the time of fabrication. Resealing is up to the individual. Manufacturers of impregnators recommend countertops to be resealed from yearly to every 4 years, or longer, depending on the application, the sensitivity of the individual, and the type of stone.

Stones like marble, limestone, travertine and soapstone need to be sealed more often within the first 6 months to year of installation.  Use a Porous Plus or Seal and Enhance for better protection.  Contact your installer for more detailed information relating to your specific stone.

For more detailed information on how to seal your natural stone, please contact your fabricator or Stone Holding.

Don'ts

- Do not use acid-based cleaners such as rust removers, sterling silver cleaners, etc., and do not place rags saturated with acid based cleaners on the countertop

- Do not use any cleaners containing Hydrofluoric Acidâ�¨ - Do not use strong abrasive cleaners such as Comet or SoftScrub

- Do not leave spills on the countertop for prolonged periods of time.

Stains

If you have stained your stone, don't worry. Because stone is porous, you can sometimes remove the stain by reversing the staining process. Stains should be treated as soon as possible. As time goes by, it becomes increasingly difficult to remove the stain; however, attempts to remove stains should not precede stain identification. Using the appropriate removal technique is important to achieve the desired results. You must ask questions to determine what the stain is:

• What is the color?
• Where is it located?
• How long has it been there?
• Is it associated with main traffic areas?
• Are plants near the stain? Etc...

Once the stain has been identified, the best method of removal can be determined.

If you re-absorb the stain into a medium, you can remove it from the stone. The typical medium is called a poultice. Miracle Sealant's Poultice Plus Powder, clays, corn starch and diatomaceous earth are usually the best. Many stains are so deeply imbedded that a chemical solution will need to be added to the poultice to dilute and/or react with the stain. Test patches will need to be performed, and in many cases it will take several tests. The process can be simple: Mix Poultice Plus Powder with distilled water, or the chemical you have selected, to make a paste-like substance with a consistency similar to peanut butter. Apply the paste to the stain and do not let any excess drip or spill onto adjacent clean areas. The paste should be applied approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, overlapping the stain by 1/2 to 1 inch. Cover the area with plastic wrap and secure the edges down with non-marking tape. The poultice must dry completely. Drying time is usually 24 to 48 hours, depending on the type of poultice being used. As the poultice dries, it will pull the stain from the area into the paste. Remove the poultice using cotton balls, paper towels, or a fabric. If the stain has improved, re-apply the poultice. Multiple applications may be required.

Please Note:

Some chemicals necessary for stain removal will remove the finish on polished marble, limestone, terrazzo and travertine. As a result, repolishing with abrasives or polishing compounds may be necessary.

Stain Removal Procedure Guide

Always test a small area to ensure the desired result.

Typical Stains:
ORGANIC: Coffee, Tea, Tobacco, Food, Cosmetics, Plant, Food

INORGANIC: Rust, Iron, Bronze, Steel, Metal

BIOLOGICAL: Mildew, Mold, Fungus, Algae

OIL BASE: Grease, Cooking Oil, Food Stains, Tar, Body Oil

INK: Ball Point Pen or Magic Marker

Challenge: Iron Stains

Solution: Clean with one of the following:

• Naval Jelly
• MiraSeal Liquid Poultice
• Ammonium Oxalate
• Oxalic Acid
• Grout Concrete Film Remover

Challenge: Ink Stains

Solution: Poultice with one of the following:

• MiraSeal Liquid Poultice
• MiraSeal Mira Strip
• For light colors: Bleach or Hydrogen Peroxide
• For dark colors: Acetone or Lacquer Thinner

Challenge: Oil Based Stains

Solution: Clean with one of the following:

• MiraSeal Mira Clean #1
• MiraSeal Tile & Grout Cleaner
• MiraSeal Liquid Poultice
• MiraSeal Mira Strip
• Bleach
• Household Detergent
• Ammonia
• Mineral Spirits

Follow with a poultice of one of the following:

• Mineral Spirits
• MiraSeal Mira Strip
• Methyl Chloride

Challenge: Organic Stains

Solution: Clean with one of the following:

• MiraSeal Mira Clean #1
• MiraSeal Tile & Grout Cleaner
• MiraSeal Liquid Poultice
• 35% Hydrogen Peroxide. Pour directly on the stain and then add a few drops of ammonia. Leave on until the bubbling stops.

Poultice using the same methods as suggested for an Oil Based Stain.

Challenge: Copper Stains

Solution: Poultice with one of the following:

• Ammonia Chloride
• Ammonia Hydroxide

Challenge: Biological Stains

Solution: Clean with one of the following:

• MiraSeal Mira Clean #1
• MiraSeal Tile & Grout Cleaner
• MiraSeal Liquid Poultice
• Diluted Ammonia
• Bleach

Challenge: Crystallization Coatings

Solution: Rehone the surface with Abrasives

Challenge: Grout and Thin Set residue

Solution: If it is Cementitious: Clean with MiraSeal GCFR

• On polished surfaces: Not recommended
• On honed surfaces: Dilute to a ratio of 5 to 1
• On flamed or textured surfaces: Dilute to a ratio of 3 to 1

If it is Epoxy: Clean with MiraSeal Epoxy Grout Film Remover, undiluted on all surfaces.