New Granite Counters and Stainless Steel Appliances - HELP!

I don't know about the granite, but for stainless steel, I use barkeepers friend. It works wonders on my sinks and my stainless pans. It is about $2 at walmart. It comes in the same kind of container that comet comes in. It is cheap and works great. Good luck!

A. -

I just had granite counter tops installed in my new home as well. My brother works for the granite company & actually did the install for me. He tells all his customers to use 409! You can buy actually grantie cleaner/sealer (as others have mentioned) at Lowe's or Home Depot, but he said this is only needed to clean every once in a while. Hope this helps!

I have used pine sol, it wont scratch anything and rinses nicely. The white appliances, try the new eraser that is out. It wont damage anything either, and brings back the white to a shine.

Hi A.! I'm a professional house cleaner (own and manage "Clean As A Whistle" listed here on Mama Source :) )

Here are a few suggestions: The easiest and least expensive thing for your stainless steel appliances is Pledge! Yes, Pledge! It shines things right up and then helps keep the smudges and prints off for quite a while on the fridge, stove fronts, etc. For stainless sinks - a great natural homemade solution is a mixture of 3 parts Baking Soda to 1 part Borax. Shines and disenfects at the same time! Melaluka (Sp?) is also great, but I have not tried their stainless cleaner.

Granite counter tops can be tricky. Are they sealed? If they are sealed you can use a 1/2 Windex 1/2 Water solution that should do fine. If they are not sealed, consult someone at Lowes or Home Depot in the Cabinet area to see what would work best.

Be careful using any Vinegar mixture around grout of any kind... it is acidic and will pit the grout over time.

Also, if you are interested in getting the chemicals out of your house and still getting things as clean as bleach water - check out www.euronetusa.com. They have the BEST microfiber cloths that are guarenteed to pick up bacteria, virus', mold, etc and with ONLY water. I use these exclusively in my cleaning business and they actually work wonders on granite counter tops (no windex needed) and everything else! LOVE THEM!!

Let me know if I can be of any further assistance. You (or anyone else) can contact me at ###-###-####. (Never a charge for tips on cleaning ;) ).

Have a great weekend!

R. W.

I have stainless steel appliances and I like Steel Magic-- it works the best-- they also have wipes that are quicker. I have corian countertops so I can't help you there.

Mel

Actually A., you aren't asking the important questions. Do you know what is in most cleaning supplies? Do you know what affect they have on your families health and the health of the earth?

Do you know what happens to those chemicals after they are washed down the drain? Do you know that the chlorines and benzenes found in most cleaning products never go away?

We are all responsibile for the products we use.

Healthy Cleaning products are good for your new stuff and they are good for the family and earth.

Baking soda, vinegar, borax...the basics will save you money, save your stuff, and save the earth...

Do some research on it....maybe we could all start asking questions that help not harm.

J.

Hi my name is M. and I also have a brand new home and 3 kids. 1 boy/2 girls. I am staying home with my 22 month old. I did not really know what to use to clean my house except the usual 409 and Windex and other cleaners. I found this health and wellness company that I can get safer and healthier products in my home to clean with. It is amazing that they do not have that harsh smell like the 409 did. I now use these products on almost everything I clean and I would love to share where I get them from. The great news is you will save money and that was the key for me. On the side I know you are staying home and not sure if you are going back to work. The company that I buy my products from you can also work at home and get paid to shop. If you would like to know more about how you can earn an income plus get safer products in your home, please visit my website at www.workathomeunited.com/mld or just call me anytime at ###-###-####. I look forward to trying to help you in this situation.

I sell Fuller Brush. We have a quite an assortment of cleaning supplies. We carry #650 Marble & Granite Cleaner & Polish and we also carry #717 Stainless Steel Cleaner, great for your stainless, Chrome & aluminum surfaces.
You can order online at: www.fullerdirect.com Use Login ID ###-###-####.
Good Luck!
J.

not sure about your stainless (we just got a stainless fridge so I need to find out myself) but...stay away from the windex with the granite!!! The ammonia in it will ruin it! Glass Plus is a safe alternative. We put some sort of polish/coating on our fridge and have been using just dish soap to clean it so far.

I use Hydrogen Peroxide to clean my stone countertops. Just pour it in a spray bottle and you're ready. It's economical and it's "green." No harmful chemicals.

I use cleaners specifically made for stainless steel. I've used several brands and all seem as effective as the next.

Hi A.,

I'm sorry that this is not a response to your questions. I just couldn't help but notice how similar our situations were :) I too am a certified teacher who substitutes teaches part time to be able to stay home with my two girls. Which area do you mostly sub in? Do you have a preference of a specific school that you would like to work full time at? If you would like to email me directly you can. My address is ____@____.com

C.

Different colors of granite require different care (I have Uba Tuba which is the dark green and really solid, so I use Windex for a shine.) The lighter colors can be softer and stains happen more frequently and I would use only soap and water.

I haven't found anything I love for stainless steel, but some of the cleaners have a waxy, oily consistancy which makes your FLOORS very slippery. Beware... we've fallen in the past, so put some kind of drop cloth down!

Congrats on your new house!

Congratulations on your new house! I also just moved into a new house with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The secret to keeping your appliances free of fingerprints and smudges longers is to wipe them down with baby oil. This has worked wonders for me. Good Luck and Enjoy your new home.

T. M.

Hey there! I use PLEDGE clean& dust. It's a no wax formula & no residue build-up. I have marble end tables & coffee table. I really love it! It works on stainless steele, leather, marble & granite. Give it a try. I think you'll like it.

good luck,
M. b.

Hello A.

Congrats on all your new things. Sam's Wholesale has a product that is for stainless steel that is wonderful. It comes in a package of 3 spray cans and it really does a great job. I have tried other products but this is the best.I can't remember the name. I am at work. It is in a white can and has a lady from the 50's on the front with an apron on. That is all I remember. Good Luck. M.

There are tons of environmentally friendly products out there right now that will do just fine on both your counters and your appliances. I've had both white appliances and stainless steel, and I can honestly say that the SS is just as hard to keep clean. The fingerprints and drip marks show up very, very easily, as I'm sure you'll figure out. I'd use something cheap since you'll be wiping them down A LOT. Crate & Barrell, and probably a lot of other places, have a mitt that you can wear and wipe them down with no chemicals at all. I'd look into something like that if I were you.

A.,
I work for a cabinet company and here is what we recommend. Granite countertops...soap and water, if you have any stains (like olive oil, etc) pour powder baking soda on it and it will pull it out of the granite(might take over night). Depending on which granite you have you might have to seal it every few years, but its just wiping it down with a cloth and a special sealer, not too complicated or you can contact a granite company and pay them to do it. Stainless steel appliances: they make all kinds of cleaners for that, I would suggest looking at your owners manual, but for the most part I think windex is what people use to give it the shine. Cabinets: you didnt say what kind you have, but Im assuming some kind of wood door. You do not want to use harsh chemicals on those or it will take of the finish, just some soap and dish detergent should do the trick. Hope this helps.

I just use soap and water on mine.... sometimes using bleach wipes to sanitize. we have bought stainless cleaner for the appliances, but I find soap and water does as well..... granite is awesome and there are so many advantages to having it.... hope this helps!!

I discovered a company called Melaleuca, the Wellness Company. They carry over 400 products that are green, organic and are ecofriendly and are excellent cleaning products that won't hurt the environment or your kids. They're excellent for house cleaning, laundry and your personal care. They carry vitamins, weight loss assistance (products and online support) and make up. Best of all, they cost less than 7th Generation and are delivered to your door. Check out their website: www.melaleuca.com and you want to look for Sol-U-Mel, Tough & Tender, MelaMagic and Tub & Tile for house cleaning. The laundry products have been great for getting the red mud and green grass of KY out of my 10 yr old son's clothes.

This has been great for me and my chemical sensitivity (no bleach, phosphates or ammonia to aggravate my skin or trigger my lymph nodes to swell), my consciousness about the environment and my son's asthma. If you'd like to know more, please email me back.

Hi A.
There are stainless steel cleaners that you spray on to get fingerprints off. Comes in a spray can in the cleaner aisle. As far as the granite tops, I imagine you can continue using windex or 409.
S.

I use Holy Cow. It is an AMAZING cleaner. It is inexpensive and pretty ;) You can get it at Walgreens, and some Walmarts (the new Walmart on Hwy 160 carries it). The ones at Walmart are smaller and cheaper. I personally like the bigger bottles from WalGreens.
Anyway, it cleans everything. I use it on my counters, tables, cabinets, floors, bathrooms (including my shower), carpets.
They have 3 types of Holy Cow. The pink one is an all purpose cleaner, the blue one is window cleaner, and the green one (havent found locally) is concentrated. You can get all of them at http://holycowproducts.com/
I do not use ANY other cleaners now. I LOVE this cleaner. It is earth friendly, non-toxic (my kids love to clean with me and I dont fear for their safety), If you have allergies, this wont make them act up.. I could go on and on and on about this. It is well worth it. Oh, and you dont have to worry about the effets it will have on your pets either. It is best cleaner ever!
M.

Pledge stainless steel wipes are awesome!! Work great and are easy to use.

A.,

I'm not sure about the counter tops, but for stainless steel appliances use WEIMAN stainless steel cleaner & polish. I too have stainless steel and it is a pain to keep clean. WEIMAN is great stuff. It is a spray on foam; spray, wait a few seconds, wipe with clean dry cloth, and polish a LITTLE with another clean dry cloth. No fingerprints, will not streak and is greaseless. I either got it at Wal-Mart or Lowe's.

C. K

the BEST thing I've found has been Dawn dishsoap and hot water. A little Dawn on a rag with as hot water as you can stand, wipe, and then dry with another rag. Amazingly gets all kinds of gunk off. If you use too much soap and get lots of bubbles, just keep going over with clean hot water on your rag. Dawn's really gentle and GREAT at cutting through all kinds of grease. Use it on your grill too!! Good luck!!

A.,
I have stainless appliances, and I use WD-40 every so often to get the water spots off; this helps between times, too, as it guards against streaks when I wipe them down with windex (I use the Windex with vinegar).
As for your coutnertops, granite is a natural stone and will absorb liquids and hold stains unless it is sealed. It doesn't have to be a big deal, though; I use a brand called "Stone Specific, Polished Granite Cleaner and Resealer." It comes in a pump spray bottle, and you use it just like any other spray cleaner, but it will seal each time you wipe. I found it at Home Depot. It's made by a great company, they use recycled plastic in the bottles, and are a "green" participant. The site is www.custombuildingproducts.com
But if that's too confusing, just go to Home Depot, go down the ceramic tile aisle, and look for Stone Specific Granite Sealer and Resealer.

Hope this helps!

C.

Dear A.,

I don't want to sound like a commercial, but I personally
love Melaleuca Products. They are safe, effective,
gentle to the environment, and non-toxic. The cleaning products have Tea Tree Oil in them. The company owns hundreds of acres of these trees in Tea Tree Farms in Australia.

I signed up to buy these products through Stephanie Ragon,
Stephanie Ragan
E-mail Address(es):
____@____.com

Again, I am not trying to sell anything. I am simply giving you my best answer to your question.

Sincerely,
J. h.

A.,
I'm not sure about granite, but as for stainless steel, you can clean with a cloth and window cleaner. I work at a restaurant, and every day we have to wipe all stainless surfaces with baby oil to make it shine. It's cheaper than buying expensive stainless steel polish. Just remember to use sparingly on a clean surface. Hey, and at the same time you'll be moisturizing your skin!

You should try Method Daily Granite, you can get it at Target or order by the case from Amazon. I use it everyday, it has a great smell and it is all-natural. Method has stainless steel cleaner as well, all Method products are all-natural. They work great! I only use their products in my house.

Hi A.,
I am a firm believer in Melaluca products. This might be a good time to consider going green and purchasing products that are healthier for you and your family. I do not sell Melaluca, so it doesn't benefit me in any way to recommend it, but I started using the cleaning products about 2 months and I love them! They are environmentally responsible and safer for your family. Check the products out at: www.melaleuca.com
There is a cleaner called Tough and Tender (wipes and spray) that might be just what you are looking for...
~ P.

The best cleaning product out there (in my opinion) is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I use it on EVERYTHING. However, check in a small spot on certain painted walls to make sure it doesn't ruin the paint. But it works great on refrigerator doors, cabinets, counter tops, and I use the magic eraser mop also. I have 3 children and have used it for years.
L. S.