Be careful not to leave oils, butter, and greases in direct contact with countertop.  Spills will not stain, unless they are left for extended periods of time.  Clean all spills up immediately.  If stain does occur, most stains can be removed through a process using a substance that will draw the stain out of the stone.

Your Natural Stone/Engineered Stone countertop is heat resistant, and you may put hot pans (up to 475 degrees) directly on the counter top.  It is however a good idea to avoid putting your pans in the same place all the time.  Where you set your pan, the stone will absorb the heat and the counter top will become hot; so be careful not to burn yourself.  Aspen recommends the use of trivets or cutting boards to minimize the chances of damage.

 Wth typical use, Granite and Engineered Stone tops are very difficult to scratch.  You can cut directly on the countertops; however, it is not recommended as it will dull your knifes very quickly.  Marble and Travertine tops will scratch much easier.

Maintenance

We have sealed your countertop with penetrating sealer at installation.  Depending on the stone you have selected, it will need to be sealed again every 8 to 18 months.  Sealer is available at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and all Tile Stores.  Make sure the label specifies use for natural stone and follow the directions.  This is an easy process usually taking no more than 10 to 15 minutes in a typical kitchen.  The sealer is basically wiped on with a rag and then allowed to soak into the stone.  Sealing is the best way to avoid stains, and keep your stone counter top looking good.  Engineered Stone tops never need sealing.

Cleaning

The best thing to clean your countertop with is glass cleaner.  If you have a substance that is sticky or hard to remove a green scotch bright pad works very well.  Clean up spills as quickly as possible.  Avoid using harsh chemicals to clean your countertop.  If a stain does occur, we suggest you consult a professional about having it removed.