Are Your Granite Counters Full of Germs?

Granite is one of the most popular countertop materials and for good reason. It is beautiful to look at, it can withstand high heat, and with the proper care, it can last a few lifetimes.

As awesome as this natural stone is, even the most perfectly polished granite in pristine condition with a fresh layer of sealant can be harboring a large number of bacteria. Though granite seams smooth to the touch it has many tiny crevices and pores that are favorite breeding grounds for bacteria. Food preparation on countertops can mean left behind traces of fats, proteins, carbs, etc. that bacteria love to feed on. Nothing is more appealing to bacteria than a comfy home full of food and before you know it you have a large number of yucky creatures all over your granite counters.

Since granite is porous it is very important to disinfect your granite counters daily.

How to Disinfect Your Granite Counters.

Using bleach water is an easy way to disinfect your granite counters every day. It’s simple to make a diluted bleach water solution; just mix ¾ of a cup of regular strength chlorine bleach in one gallon of water. If you do not want to mix a large amount you can opt for about a teaspoon of bleach in a spray bottle filled the rest of the way with water. Wipe your countertops down with the bleach water solution and let it hang out for five minutes to ensure it kills all the bacteria. After about five minutes rinse the counters with water and allow them to airdry. This is a great thing to do at the end of every day or after each meal.

Bleach Disinfectant Alternative

Not so keen on the idea of using bleach in your home? Alternatively, you can opt for medicinal alcohol antiseptic. To make an alcohol solution, mix 4 tablespoons of alcohol, 4 drops of liquid hand washing dish soap, and 1 quart of water. Pour this solution into a spray bottle. Spray the alcohol solution on the counters working in small sections and let it do its work for a minute or two. Finish by wiping the counters dry with a soft clean cloth.

Make Sure not to Ignore Deep Cleaning

Every year you will want to have a professional cleaner come in to care for your granite and to re-seal it. A deep cleaning will disinfect down into the deepest hidden places of your counters. Additionally, sealant is critical to caring for your granite counters, but it does wear off over time so it needs to be re-applied yearly.

How is this different than quartz?

Quartz is also becoming very popular and because it’s about the same price as granite, is increasing in value and popularity but is it the same as granite? Both are heat and scratch resistant, but quartz is non-porous and not natural stone, therefore it won’t absorb the bacteria like granite does. The more porous the material, the more likely it will need to be sealed and quartz does not need to be sealed. With engineered quartz, the bacteria stay on the surface and can easily be wiped off.

As far as being anti-bacterial, Silestone is the only surface free of bacteria completely. Most Silestone also adds an antibacterial agent to its surface to make it even better, but again, quartz can simply be wiped off.

So, does this mean you should stick with quartz? Not necessarily. It’s just important to know the difference and how to properly care for both.

Are Your Granite Counters Full of Germs? | Ecency