Inman Park Marble & Granite treats finished stone job with a penetrating sealer, which protects the stone from staining. This sealer bonds to the stone and acts as a repellent to prevent absorption from water and oil based products. It is recommended that a new sealer be applied to the stone every year.

General Do's and Don'ts: Do: Wipe counter tops often with a rag Clean surfaces with mild detergent, stone soap or specialty cleaner, and a soft, clean cloth Rinse surfaces thoroughly after cleaning, then dry with a soft, clean cloth Blot spills immediately with a paper towel Don't: Use vinegar, lemon juice, or other acids Use cleaners such as bathroom, grout or tile, and tub cleaners Use cleaners containing abrasives Cleaning: Clean your marble or granite surface with a neutral cleaner, stone soap, or mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water, and use a soft cloth. Too much soap will leave a film and streaks on the stone. Rinse the surface thoroughly with warm water and a soft cloth. Do not clean the surface with products containing lemon, vinegar, acids or abrasives. Removing Stains and Spills: Use a paper towel to blot up a stain as quickly as possible. Avoid wiping up a spill, because it will cause the stain to spread. Use a soft cloth to dry the area completely. If the stain remains, first determine the cause of the stain. Different type of stains have various removal processes. The five most common stains are: 1. Organic: Coffee, tea, food or cosmetics 2. Biological: Mold, mildew, or fungus 3. Metal: Rust, iron, copper, or bronze 4. Ink: Pen or magic marker 5. Oil: Tar, grease, cooking oil, or skin oil Once a stain is recognized, an appropriate stain removal method must be devised. To remove the stain, you may purchase a poultice powder, which is designed to reabsorb a stain (that cannot be removed with a liquid cleaner) out of the stone. Each poultice powder is designed to remove a specific stain: food, mildew, rust, ink and oil. This dry method does not require any scrubbing and safely remove deep stains from the interior of the stone if used properly. Most surfaces will retain their original finish, however, always test a small area before using the poultice powder to assure compatibility. Follow all directions on the label.