Strategies for Polishing Natural-Stone Surfaces

Polishing is a great way to add a brilliant shine to marble, granite, and other types ofnatural stone. Polishing even prevents fingerprints, water spots, and soap scum. These easy tips can help you get the best effect when using a natural-stone granite polish.

Always Clean the Stone Before Polishing 

Don't try to polish natural stone before it's been thoroughly cleaned. Start by cleaning the surface with a stone-safe granite cleaner like Granite Gold Daily Cleaner® and a lint-free cloth to remove buildup, crumbs, and soap film on the surface. Next, dry your countertops completely with a clean, soft cloth.

Seal the Stone After Cleaning 

You don't necessarily need to seal your natural stone before polishing, but it's a good idea to make sure the stone has a strong seal against liquids and stains before you polish the surface. If you do decide to seal the stone, make sure the sealer has at least 24 hours to fully cure before you follow up with a polish. Sealing stone isn't difficult to do yourself. After cleaning the surface, spray Granite Gold Sealer® directly onto the surface. Working in three-foot sections, immediately wipe the sealer into the stone without allowing it to dry on the surface, then buff the stone with a lint-free cloth.

Polish Shower Walls to Resist Soap Scum 

Natural-stone showers are beautiful and elegant, but they can develop a film of soap scum just like ceramic tile. Polish doesn't just bring out the natural luster and beauty in stone. It's also effective at preventing soap scum and water spots. Polishing stone shower walls, especially when combined with a sealer, creates a slicker surface that makes it harder for soap scum to grip the textured surface of the stone.

Never Polish Stone Floors 

To keep your natural-stone floors looking their best, sweep and dry mop regularly. You can use a stone-safe cleaner on stone tile floors followed with a sealer to help your floors resist stains, but make sure your stone floor maintenance stops there. Polish should not be used on floors, including shower floors, because it can make the floors very slippery and increase the risk of slips and falls. Polish is best for countertops, backsplashes, shower walls, and tub surrounds.

Polish Natural Stone Weekly 

To maintain the luster and shine of your natural stone, use a stone-safe polish about once a week. To polish stone, simply spray the polish directly onto the surface, then buff the surface until it's dry with a lint-free cloth or dry paper towel. Granite Gold Polish® is safe to use on food preparation surfaces, so you don't need to worry about using your countertops after you’ve polished them.

To learn more about polishing natural stone such as granite, marble, and slate, reach out to the Stone Care Experts at Granite Gold®. Call 1-800-475-STONE (7866) to speak with one of our friendly representatives.