All In A Days Work

Granite and other natural stone countertops can be found in millions of homes in the United States. Stone countertops are selected because of their beauty and durability, but they do require a little more maintenance than some other countertop materials. While many homeowners don’t know just what their countertops need, it is pretty simple. Cleaning, polishing, and sealing granite countertops at the right time will keep your countertops looking great. Knowing how to properly polish and seal a granite countertop is crucial for anyone who has one in their kitchen.

Before you polish or seal your countertops, you will want to make sure that they are clean. A proper granite cleaner will not contain any harsh chemicals that can lead to etching and scratching the surface of the stone. Aside from daily cleaning with a granite-specific cleaner, you will also want to make sure that you are cleaning up any spills that happen as soon as possible. Letting spills sit on the countertop can allow liquids to seep into the porous stone and cause stains and discoloration. This is why sealing granite countertops is so important.

Steps for Polishing a Granite Countertop

Selecting a granite polish can be daunting, but once you find one that gives you the desired shine you want without causing problems for the granite, you are ready to get started on making your countertops look brand new. Polish should be applied to granite countertops at least once a week.

Polishing the granite makes a countertop look like it’s brand new. For many homeowners, dull granite countertops can ruin the look of the kitchen. Before polishing your countertop, you need to make sure that the surface has been cleaned with a granite cleaner. Once the counters are dry, you can start polishing.

1. Shake the can well.
2. Hold can six to eight inches away from the surface of the stone and apply.
3. Use a soft, absorbent cloth to wipe the polish onto the stone in circular motions.
4. Let the polish dry to a dull finish.
5. Buff in a circular motion with a soft, clean cloth until the desired sheen is attained.

Granite polish will also help protect the countertops from stains, spills, glass rings, and etching that can easily occur with regular use.

Steps for Sealing a Granite Countertop

Granite countertops should be sealed once a year or every 18 months to ensure that they are properly protected from spills and any other accidents that may occur. To seal a granite countertop, you will first want to make sure that the countertops have been thoroughly cleaned with an appropriate cleaner. Once that is done, you need to find a granite sealer that is made without harsh chemicals that can damage the stone in your countertop. When you have your sealer, you do the following:

1. Shake the can well.
2. Spray a small amount to a portion of the stone and wipe it dry in a couple of minutes to test the product. If you like the way it looks, proceed to step 3.
3. Hold the can between six and eight inches away from the countertop and apply.
4. Let sit for two to three minutes.
5. Wipe dry with a clean cotton towel or paper towel.
6. Let sit for an additional 30 minutes to ensure that the countertop is completely dry before you return things to the countertop.

Now that you know how to care for granite countertops properly, you can keep yours looking perfect from day one to year 30. Granite countertops are an investment in your home, and keeping your countertops looking their very best will only add value to your home. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the work that goes into properly caring for granite countertops, handle the work like a professional with products that are easy to use and safe for granite.

Jacuzzi hot tubs are often considered the best of the best. As a Jacuzzi owner, you want to keep your spa looking and performing as well as it possibly can for as long as possible. We have a few tips for how you can care for your Jacuzzi.

Spa Care

The body of your Jacuzzi will need to be cleaned from time to time. Any time you drain your hot tub, you should be sure that you are properly cleaning the body of the spa. You should be draining your hot tub at least once a quarter, but if you are using the hot tub a lot or it has been sitting unused and untreated for an extended period of time, you may need to drain it earlier.

You should use a product made specifically for cleaning a hot tub because you need a cleaner that won’t damage the spa’s shell. You want to wipe down all the internal surfaces of the tub, including the jets. You just need to be careful when wiping down the jets.

Rinse the tub and drain it completely before refilling it with water. Once the water has refilled, you will need to add all the necessary chemicals back into before you use it again.

Cleaning your Jacuzzi spa cover is also important. If you leave the cover dirty, then bacteria will drip down into the clean water when evaporation forms on the cover. Making sure your spa cover is free from bacteria

Water Care

Water maintenance is one of the most important aspects of hot tub ownership. A Jacuzzi spa can be very easy to care for with just a little bit of time out of your week.

After Using the Tub

To keep up with the water maintenance, it is a good idea to treat and clean the water after each use. Do this by following these steps:

• Add one teaspoon of chlorine sanitizer
• Add one capful of shock treatment
• Run the jets for five minutes before closing the cover

If you have been using the hot for a long time or a lot of people have been in and out of the water, you may need to go ahead and use the recommended amount of the shock treatment.

Weekly Care

Once a week, you should test the water using test strips to make sure that the pH levels are in the normal range. You can also use mineral water softeners and sanitizers to make sure that the water in your hot tub is clean and safe to use.

Monthly Care

Each month, you should:

• Rinse and clean the spa filters
• Add scale remover if you have hard water

To keep your hot tub in good condition while you clean and dry your filter, you should always keep two filters on hand. When you take the dirty one out, clean it, and replace it with the clean one. When the filter you are cleaning dries, store it until next month, so you can then swap it out with the dirty one.

Quarterly Care

Draining and cleaning the hot tub and all of its accessories is necessary about once every three or four months. No amount of chemicals can clean water after a certain point, so it is best just to get everything cleaned every quarter to make sure your hot tub is safe and clean.

It is also the time to replace your micro filter and your mineral distributing cartridge. These items must be replaced every quarter to prevent unsanitary conditions in your hot tub.

Yearly Care

Replace your water filter every year, especially if you aren’t using more than filter throughout the year. Annual replacement of your UV-C bulbs is also important. You don’t want these bulbs going out without you noticing, so it is best to replace them once a year.