Five Tips for Taking Care of Granite Countertops

tips + tricks, home, cleaning at home
a modern kitchen with granite countertop

Granite countertops are the most popular countertop in kitchens today. Many older kitchens are being updated with countertops made out of granite in Grangeville. There are many benefits of granite, such as being indestructible and looking great for many years. If you have invested in granite, following are five tips that can help you take care of your countertops:

  • Keep a sealer applied on a regular basis.
  • Wash them only with soap and water.
  • Avoid letting liquids sit on their surface.
  • Do not put food directly on the granite.
  • Continue using hot pads or trivets to hold hot pans.

Apply a Sealer as Needed

The most important maintenance task you can do to keep your granite looking beautiful is to apply a sealer. A sealer coat will keep out stains and protect the granite. It will help the granite maintain its beautiful shine. Sealers will need to be reapplied on a regular basis; check the directions of the sealer to know how often it should be done.

Use Only Soap and Water

The sealer on your granite will last longer if it is cleaned with soap and water only. Avoid using harsh chemicals and cleaners. These products can strip the seal and leave the porous part of the granite exposed.

Avoid Letting Liquids Sit on the Granite

Water, oil, and other liquids can seep into the granite and leave a mark. As soon as something spills, wipe it up with soap and water. Be careful about putting containers of oil on the counter, since they can have a small layer of oil on the bottom of the container.

Don’t Put Foods Directly on the Counter

Foods can stain the granite. Oils from meats, cheeses, and other products seep into the granite and leave their mark. In addition, acidic foods, such as oranges, tomatoes, or vinegar can damage the seal.

Use Hot Trivets

It is true that granite will not burn if you put a hot pan on directly on the counter. However, if there is a little grit or dirt between the counter and pan, it can scratch the surface of counter. It is best to continue using a hot trivet or hot pads to hold your pans when you put them on your granite in Grangeville.

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Of Summer Blues + Endless Chores

cleaning at home, home chores, mum's thoughts

Is it just me or was it particularly hot today that I hardly want to move a muscle? It goes without saying that summer is indeed just around the corner. The scorching sun reminds me of that lesson in History all those many years ago in high school when our National Hero Jose Rizal was rationalizing why Filipinos tend to be on the lazy and procrastinating side and pointed a finger at the hot, humid tropical climate as the main culprit. Oh well, I cannot agree more. I have such a tiny living space now yet I really find it way too difficult to get up on my toes to clean up the clutter and wash what needs to be washed in the kitchen in this weather. If I as much as lift a finger, I’d be sweltering and sweating all over and it is just too uncomfortable! How am I to kiss and hug the little man when I am all this sweaty? 🙁

I know I can only be lazy for a while, after all, the chores won’t finish on their own no matter how much I wished for them to. What I wouldn’t give for a magic wand that will allow me to do all the work that needs to be done with a single waive! If I had a carpet, I will probably waste no time dialing up a carpet cleaning service to get the job done for me. Where do you think can I dial to have my bathroom and kitchen sink cleaned or have my tile floors swept and mopped?

Oh well, I hope this summer blues go away soon. Maybe thinking less of the weather and more of our ship cruise and zoo visit later this month will do the trick! 😉

How are you thriving in this weather?

image is from freedigitalphotos.net

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Simple Home Improvement Tips

home, cleaning at home, tips + tricks

Everyone loves to come home to a beautifully-made house at the end of a tiring work day. For us stay-at-home mums, there is nothing more precious than being cooped up with our little ones in the confines and comfort of our little lovely nests, even when we get all tired from the chores and our little bosses! Our home, with the familiar soothing scents and easy-on-the-eye pieces we put here and there, and the comfort it offers, more than make up for one tiring and stressful day.

We need not really break the bank to get on with that long-overdue home improvement projects, in fact we can start with really simple retouch in different parts of our homes and we’re all done. Of course, it will be much better if we can hire a professional to do this for us, but for most of us who cannot afford one, DIY-ing our home interior is the next best thing!

Here are a few things you might want to add to your home to make it more homey:

  • Install a new carpet ~ you can start with just a small one and put it in the living room, see  how it instantly adds life and color to the room. Even when you might require an expert carpet cleaning in the near future, you’ll agree that doing this is one of the easiest fix you can do for your home.
  • Bring plants and flowers indoors ~ place a pot of herbs on your dining table or a vase of colorful blooms in your bedroom. They instantly add character, not to mention a dash of color, to your living space. Notice how they make you feel more relaxed, too. I saw this lovely pot of lemon leaves in one blog a few days back and I am planning to make one of my own which I can put in my little dining table.
  • Love ’em scented candles ~ the calming scents do work wonders for the stressed and the over-worked. Light up a few of them while you dine or before you go to bed for one soothing experience. Just make sure to put them off before leaving them and keep the matches out of the little ones’ reach.
  • The paintings’ on the wall ~ nope, you do not necessarily need to purchase a very expensive painting from a distinguished artist, in fact, if you or anyone from the family has any artistic inclination, you can have your works framed and place it on any of your plain walls. Or, maybe you can make a lovely collage of your little one’s doodles and display it. This will inspire him more to create more masterpiece on his spare time!

It is quite simple to beautify your home, you do not need to have loads of extra cash in your wallet, even. All you need is a little creativity and unlimited imagination.

image is from freedigitalphotos.net

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