Countertop guide
How to Clean and Care for Stone Countertops
The short answer
For every stone: wipe daily with warm water and a mild, pH-neutral soap, dry the surface, and use trivets and cutting boards. Quartz never needs sealing but should be kept away from harsh chemicals and abrasive pads. Natural stone (granite, quartzite and marble) needs periodic sealing with a penetrating sealer, and marble also needs protecting from acids. Always follow the manufacturer's care guidance for your specific product.
Care by material
| Material | Daily cleaning | Avoid | Sealing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz | Warm water, soft cloth; mild cleaner for grease | Abrasive pads, drain cleaners, paint strippers, very high or low pH | Never |
| Granite | Mild soap or stone cleaner, then dry | Acidic and abrasive cleaners | Periodically, typically every one to two years |
| Quartzite | pH-neutral stone cleaner | Acidic cleaners such as vinegar | Recommended for daily-use counters |
| Marble | pH-neutral dish soap and warm water; blot spills | Vinegar, lemon, bleach, ammonia, gritty cleaners | At least once a year |
General characteristics. Care and suitability vary by product and slab, so check the supplier's guidance for yours.
Everyday cleaning, for every stone
- Wipe with a soft cloth or sponge and warm water.
- Add a little mild, pH-neutral soap for grease, then rinse and dry.
- Set hot pans on a trivet and cut on a board.
- Wipe up spills promptly, especially wine, coffee, oil and citrus.
Quartz
MSI's care guide for its quartz says daily cleaning needs only warm water and a soft cloth. It warns against scrubbing pads containing aluminum oxide, which can dull the finish, and against drain cleaners, paint strippers and anything with a very high or very low pH (MSI Surfaces). There's no need to seal quartz.
Granite and quartzite
Both are natural stone. MSI recommends a penetrating sealer for granite, and for quartzite used as a working kitchen counter (MSI Surfaces). MSI's general guidance is to seal natural stone after installation and every one to two years after, depending on use (MSI Surfaces).
To check whether it's time, put a few drops of water on the stone and wait several minutes. Beading means the sealer is doing its job; darkening means it's time to reseal.
Marble
MSI recommends sealing marble at least once a year (MSI Surfaces), blotting rather than wiping spills, and cleaning with pH-neutral dish soap (MSI Surfaces). Sealer won't prevent etching from acids. Our marble guide explains the difference.
Find the guide for your exact product
Care varies by product, finish and slab. MSI publishes care pages for its materials, and Natural Stone Resources posts care and maintenance documents on its data sheets and manuals page. If you're not sure which applies to your stone, ask us.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I clean stone countertops with vinegar?
Not marble or most natural stone: acids can etch or dull the surface and wear down sealer. For quartz, MSI warns against very acidic or very alkaline products. Warm water and a mild, pH-neutral soap are the safe default.
How do I disinfect a quartz countertop?
MSI's quartz care guide lists 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or a Lysol disinfectant spray as options for sanitizing its quartz.
Can I put a hot pan straight on a stone countertop?
It's best not to on any stone. With quartz, heat can damage the resin and sudden temperature changes can crack a slab. Natural stone tolerates heat better, but a trivet is still the safe habit.
Sources
Material properties on this page come from these supplier and industry pages, checked November 1, 2026.
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