Granite and Quartz Maintenance

What is granite, and how is it formed?  

 Granites are rocks formed by the slow cooling of magma generated by the fusion of rocks in the Earth’s crust. Magma can rise due to its lower density. When the magma cannot find a path upwards, it pools into a magma chamber where it will gradually cool down to form granite. 

 Granite composition 

 Granitic rocks mainly consist of quartz and feldspar. Other common minerals present are micas, iron-titanium oxides, zircon, or sphene. 

 The shape and size of the minerals indicate magma cooling conditions. Slow cooling gives the minerals more time to grow and reach a larger size. 

 The age of granite 

 The crystallization of granite occurred approximately 300 million years ago, but it did not surface until about 20 million years ago, during the rise of the Central System. 

 Steps to a durable granite countertop 

 Daily maintenance: 

  • Clean the top of the counter with a soft cloth, warm water, and a few drops of dish soap or antibacterial detergent. 
  • Rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water and dry it with a soft cloth. 
  • If you spill anything on your counter, dry it with a paper towel or soft cloth immediately. Do not rub the area as this could spread the spill. 
  • Clean up any spill with warm water and detergent and rinse thoroughly. 
  • Dry the area with a soft cloth. Well-sealed stone won’t stain if you clean up spills quickly. 

 Do not clean it with strong products 

  • If the granite is neglected, you will need to use a very strong cleaner and degreaser to remove dirt, grease, and grime. These highly concentrated products are designed to clean thoroughly without damaging the stone. You must follow the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully. 

 Remove stains 

  • Suppose there is a stain on a granite countertop that does not come off easily, even if you have followed the above instructions on spills. In that case, you can use acid-free absorbent fine clay powder to remove oil, grease, and grout stains from natural stone, polished or unpolished. This mixture can dull the shine of the polished stone. If this happens, you will need to use a marble polish to restore the natural shine. 

 When to use a sealer 

  • According to the American Marble Institute, not all granite countertops require a sealer, but they could benefit from a quality product. Most manufacturers apply a resin treatment to granite at the factory. The sealer lasts 10-15 years and is oleophobic (resistant to water, oil, and oil-based dyes). Once sealed, the stone will be more resistant. Please review the manufacturer’s specific instructions. 
  • Clean the surface completely (remove any stains) and allow the stone to dry for several hours. Then apply the sealer to the surface. 
  • Spread the sealer with a paper towel, foam brush, or cloth. Allow the sealer to absorb for 5-10 minutes (if the sealer is fully absorbed within 5 minutes, apply more). After 5-10 minutes, dry any remaining sealer, buff the dry stone with a clean woven cloth, and allow it to dry for 12 hours before using the countertop. Make sure the place where you work is well ventilated. 

 Avoid prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures 

  • Hot pots will not damage the surface; however, extreme or constant changes in temperature could damage it. Avoid leaving hot pans on the counter for long periods, especially during winter. 

 Use trivets or mats under ceramic objects that can scratch the surface 

  • Although granite is very resistant to scratches, it is best not to cut directly on it. Use a cutting board or trivet. 

Marble: Strength, beauty, and elegance 

For several centuries, marble has been a reference material for making articles and pieces of art. It is present throughout history and culture. It was no coincidence that Michelangelo made several of his works in marble since this material allowed him to bring many of his ideas to reality. 

 Its origin is the rock 

 Marble is a sedimentary carbonate rock (mainly limestone) that has reached a high degree of crystallization through metamorphosis. However, this name has been extended to other semi-crystalline rocks, with or without calcium carbonate, which can be polished to a certain shine, such as green “marbles,” which consist of serpentines with zero calcium carbonate content, or travertines, which are sedimentary and non-metamorphic limestone rocks, and some types of limestone. They can be divided into white marbles, which are the purest, and colored marbles. 

 The basic component of marble is calcium carbonate, which represents more than 90% of its content. The other components, considered “impurities,” are the cause of the great variety of colors and define its physical characteristics. After an abrasion polishing process, the marble reaches a high level of natural shine, that is, without waxes or chemical components. Marble is used primarily in construction, decoration, and sculpture. 

 Some types of marble are: 

  • Ivory Cream 
  • Emperor White 
  • Boticcino Fiorito 
  • Breccia Tavira 
  • Emperor Dark 
  • Coral Red 
  • Rosa Verona 
  • White Rose 
  • Classic Travertine 
  • Jade Green 

 Characteristics of this ancient material 

 Marble often contains other minerals beyond calcite, such as graphite, chlorite, talc, mica, quartz, pyrite, and some precious stones such as corundum, garnet, zirconia, among other materials. 

 The first cleaning of a new marble countertop 

 There are a few simple rules to follow to maintain the beauty and quality of the newly laid material over time. Immediately after installation, it is necessary to do a first thorough cleaning to remove any installation residue. Often invisible to the naked eye, these residues can form a patina on the surface that retains dirt, creates halos, and hinders and reduces the efficiency of daily maintenance. How to proceed: 

  1. Get a cloth and FILACLEANER, FILA’s concentrated natural detergent; 
  1. Dilute the product in warm water at a ratio of 1:30, approximately 150-160 ml in a 5–liter bucket of water; 
  1. Spread the solution on the kitchen countertop with a cloth, especially in the dirtiest and most opaque spots; 
  1. Pick up the residue with a cloth and rinse with plenty of water. 

 How to protect your marble countertop from stains 

 Remember: better safe than sorry. Repairing a stained countertop is very difficult and expensive. That is why it is important to carry out a good anti-stain treatment that prevents dirt and stains from being absorbed by the material. 

 You can choose between protection with a natural effect (which maintains the natural coloration of the stone) or a reviving effect (which revives the veins of the marble, highlighting the color). 

 Let’s see together how to perform an anti-stain treatment with a natural effect with FILAMP90: 

  1. Tools needed: a bucket, a brush, a pair of gloves, absorbent paper and FILAMP90, FILA’s stain protector; 
  1. On the dry and clean surface, apply a uniform coat of FILAMP90 with the brush; 
  1. After 24 hours, rub the surface with absorbent paper soaked in the product to penetrate and remove the residue. 

  Ordinary maintenance: how to clean every day and strengthen anti-stain protection 

 For daily cleaning of the marble countertop, we recommend using FILAREFRESH, the ecological protective detergent certified for contact with food. 

 FILAREFRESH is a practical and simple spray that allows you to clean the surface effortlessly and simultaneously renew the anti-stain protection for a long time. It is very easy to use: wipe it with a soft, dry cloth, rubbing the surface until it dries completely. It does not require rinsing and leaves a pleasant perfume. 

 If properly maintained with FILAREFRESH, stain protection can last up to 10 years. 

What is quartz? 

 Quartz is a chemical compound made up of one part silicon and two parts oxygen. It is silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is the most abundant mineral on the Earth’s surface, and its unique properties make it one of the most useful natural substances. 

 How to identify quartz? 

 To know if the material we have is quartz, we must start by mentioning several types of quartz, which have many colors and shapes. However, once you start studying minerals, quartz becomes easy to distinguish at a glance. It can be recognized by the identifiers shown below: 

  • It has a glassy sheen. 
  • It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Scratches ordinary glass and all kinds of steel. 
  • It breaks into curved fragments rather than flat-faced excision fragments, which means it exhibits conchoid fracture. 
  • It is almost always clear or white. 
  • It is often found in light-colored rocks and sandstones. 
  • If in the form of crystals, quartz always has a hexagonal cross-section like a pencil. 

 Most of the quartz specimens are clear, frosted, or in the form of a small milky white grain that does not show crystal faces. Light quartz can turn dark from being in rock with many dark minerals. 

 Where is quartz found? 

 Quartz is the most abundant and widely distributed mineral on the Earth’s surface. It is abundant throughout the world. It forms at all temperatures. It is abundant in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. It is highly resistant to both mechanical and chemical weathering. Its durability makes it the dominant mineral in mountain tops and the main component of beach, river, and desert sand. Quartz is ubiquitous, abundant, and durable. Mineable deposits are found all over the world. 

 How does quartz form? 

 Most quartz forms in igneous rocks or geothermal water environments. 

 In igneous rocks, quartz forms as magma cools. Like water that turns into ice, silicon dioxide will crystallize as it cools. Slow cooling generally allows the crystals to grow larger. 

 Quartz that grows from water rich in silica is formed similarly. Silicon dioxide dissolves in water, like sugar in tea, but only at high temperature and pressure. Then, when the temperature or pressure drops, the solution becomes saturated, and quartz crystals form. 

 How is quartz mined? 

 Quartz is mined from open-pit mines. Miners only use explosives on rare occasions when they need to expose a deep layer of quartz. The reason for this is that although quartz is known for its hardness, it is easily damaged if it is suddenly exposed to a change in temperature, such as that caused by an explosion. Instead, mining operations use excavators and backhoes to remove soil and clay and expose the quartz crystal veins in the rock. A backhoe is a piece of excavation equipment consisting of a tractor and a loading bucket. 

 What are the uses of quartz? 

 Quartz is one of the most useful natural materials. Its usefulness is linked to its physical and chemical properties. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, which makes it very durable. It is chemically inert in contact with most substances. It has electrical and heat-resistance properties that make it valuable for electronic products. Its brilliance, color, and transparency make it useful as a gemstone and in glass manufacture. Quartz is used to manufacture glass, as an abrasive, foundry sand, sand, in the manufacture of watch machinery, in the oil industry, and as a precious stone. 

 Maintenance and use of quartz 

 Quartz manufacturers point out that quartz is scratch, stain, and heat resistant, but the material is not 100 percent scratch or heat proof under severe or outdoor conditions. Prolonged heat can cause damage to the quartz. All stone stops can be broken by excessive force. Naturally non-porous, quartz does not require special sealing or maintenance. 

  Cleaning can be done with mild soap and a cloth soaked in water. 

Cabinet Maintenance

Wood Cabinets 

 Type of Wood: Birch. 

 Door Style: ¾” thick full overlay door panel. 

 Door Panel: Recessed door style, inverted raised door panel on the back. 

 Painted surfaces are made of MDF. 

 Drawer: 5/8” thick cabinet–grade plywood sides. Full–extension, under-mounted, soft-close, steel concealed drawer glides. 

 Interior: Natural clear coat finish. 

 Enclosure: ½” thick cabinet–grade plywood. Metal L bracket reinforcements in base cabinets. 

 Hardware: 6-way adjustable 1 ¼” hinge with soft closing insert. 

 Shelf: Adjustable ¾” thick cabinet–grade plywood. Metal shelf rests. 

 Five tips to take care of your wooden furniture – Say goodbye to grease 

 Wooden kitchen furniture is often greasy, and you may be afraid of damaging it when cleaning it. The best solution to get rid of fat is white vinegar. You can use it undiluted. Just apply it with a clean, dry cloth, then rinse with hot water and dry well. You will see that the furniture will get sticky in the process, but it will be smooth and shiny when the grease is completely removed. 

 How to clean kitchen cabinets 

 

Kitchen cabinets take a lot of wear and tear. Grease, food particles, and dust can build upon them and become difficult to remove, so it’s a good idea to clean them frequently. When you need to do a deep cleaning, use a natural cleaner like baking soda, as this will prevent the varnish from coming off. Finish off a full clean by polishing your wood cabinets to make them look like new again. 

 Daily cleaning 

 1.- Prepare a vinegar solution. Mix one cup of vinegar with one cup of water. This mild cleaning solution is ideal for daily use. It will not warp the material or remove the finish. 

 If you don’t like cleaning with vinegar, you can use a mild detergent solution. Mix one teaspoon of the dishwasher with one cup of water. You can also use a commercially available degreasing solution. 

 Don’t use harsh all-purpose cleaners. These could cause it to fade and warp. 

 2.- Clean the outside of the cabinets after cooking. Fat and food particles can build upon their surfaces every time you cook. Cleaning them after cooking is essential to keep them in good condition. Soak a clean cloth in the vinegar solution and use it to wipe the cabinet doors and bottoms. 

 Don’t get the cabinets too wet, as the moisture could warp the wood. Squeeze the cloth you are using so that it is wet but not soggy. 

 The vinegar smell will go away as the cabinets dry. 

 If the vinegar solution doesn’t work, you may need to purchase a homemade degreasing solution. 

 3.- Dry the cabinets with a clean cloth. Since moisture could cause the wood to warp, wipe them again with a clean, dry cloth to remove any remaining cleaning solution. 

 4.- Clean the inside of the cabinets regularly. Condiments and other foods are likely to spill at times, so keep the inside clean. Remove everything and clean the cabinets with a diluted solution of vinegar or detergent. Pat them dry with a clean towel, then put everything back on the shelves. 

 If a lot of food is spilled on your cabinets, it might be good to buy some food storage containers. Using glass or metal jars to store condiments and dry goods protects food from insects and keeps spills to a minimum. 

 Cabinet liners can make interior cleaning easier. Consider lining them with rubber. When you want to clean them, you can remove the liners, rinse them, dry them, and then return them to the cabinets. 

 5.- Dust the cabinets frequently. To remove accumulated dust and shine, wipe the interior and exterior surfaces with a soft, dry cloth. Dusting the outside of cabinets often is particularly important because the grease and steam produced by cooking will cause dust to accumulate on the surfaces, making it more difficult to clean if you don’t do it often. 

 Deep cleaning: 

 1.- Buy a wood oil detergent. This product is designed to remove grease and other accumulated substances without damaging wood surfaces. Oil-based detergent is stronger than vinegar and dishwasher solution. It will be very useful when you want to do a deep cleaning of your cabinets. If they have a sticky, built-up layer of grease, an oil-based cleaner is what you need to clean them. 

 Murphy’s Oil Soap is one of the most popular brands. 

 If you think you need something a little stronger, try an industrial degreaser solution. 

 2.- Try the cleaner in an inconspicuous place. If the varnish turns white or fuzzy, don’t use it and try a mild detergent solution. 

 3.- Apply the oil detergent to your cabinets. Using a soft cloth, rub the product in circular motions. Avoid pressing too hard to avoid scraping the varnish. Continue to rub until all the accumulated fat has come out. 

 4.- Rub the cabinets again with a clean cloth. Wipe off all traces of grease and oil cleaner until surfaces are completely clean. 

 5.- Use baking soda to remove dense accumulated substances. When food is spilled and not cleaned, it can become very difficult to remove. Baking soda works as a mild abrasive that will remove dry substances without ruining the wood. Mix it with water and make a thick paste. Dip a cloth in it and use it to scrub and remove dirt. 

 If the substance does not come out, apply the paste and let it soak for about 15 minutes before scrubbing. 

 You might want to use a thin putty knife or another tool to help scrape off the substance. Be very careful not to scratch your cabinets. 

 Polishing 

 1.- Choose a furniture polish or wax. Polishing the outside of your cabinets will give your kitchen a warm, lustrous look, revealing the wood’s true character. Different polishes will leave a shine of different levels, so choose what best suits your preferences and your kitchen. 

 2.- Make sure the cabinets are clean before polishing. You will have a big problem if you apply the polish on grease or dust, so don’t forget to clean them before polishing. Wipe off any accumulated grease and food, then wipe the cabinets with a clean cloth to remove debris and dust. 

 3.- Apply the polish on a clean, dry cloth. Use a soft towel or microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the wood. 

 4.- Rub the polish on a small area on the outside of the cabinets. Work in 4- to 5-inch sections to ensure the entire surface is evenly polished. Rub the substance in gentle, circular motions. 

 If you’re using wax to polish your cabinets, let it sit for a few minutes before moving on to the next step. 

 5.- Polish the area with another clean cloth. This process will remove excess polish and leave the area sparkling and shiny. 

 6.- Continue with the polishing. Move on to the next small area until you are done with both processes on the entire exterior of your cabinets.