Granite, marble, and other natural stones continue to become the popular choice for kitchen and bath countertops, as well as for shower walls and floors. Two key questions have popped up from clients:

What do I use to clean my tile?
How can I protect the tile?

For daily maintenance, it is recommended to use a clear, non-sudsing soap or a mild neutral detergent with water. Do not use cleaners such as Tilex, Windex, and other chemicals. I’ve seen many beautiful granite countertops that appear blotchy from the use of harsh cleaners.

Sealing tile made from natural stone is important on a periodic basis (e.g., every year or two). Generally speaking, follow the directions on tile sealant regarding frequency. Tile is typically sealed when it is installed, but needs to be sealed on a periodic basis thereafter. Due to its porosity, marble is particularly susceptible from oils, alcohols, and citric acids, so it usually needs to be sealed more frequently.

There are two basic types of sealants: for grout and for natural stone. Be sure to use the sealant that is intended for natural stone to seal marble, granite, slate, onyx, and other natural stone. That particular sealant is considerably more expensive than the sealant used for grout, so if you are sealing grout lines for ceramic or porcelain tile, then use grout sealer, not sealer used for natural stone. One more note on sealant for natural stone: it may be used to seal the grout between tiles made of natural stone.