stone sinks maintenance

Your purchase from the Functional Art Gallery has added an incredible work of art to your home that will become the essence of whichever room it is in. One of the most frequent questions asked by our customers is How do I take care of these sinks? The answer will depend somewhat on the particular stone and the degree of polishing applied to the surface. For example, limestone is more porous than granite,and a highly polished surface is less porous than a honed surface.

Due to the porous nature of stone, there are certain substances that can stain your sink if not properly protected. The longer a stain remains, the deeper it penetrates and becomes more permanent; therefore, it is important to remove a stain as soon as it occurs. We recommend that you wipe up spills immediately and do not allow surface deposits of water bi-products such as calcium, salt, lime or detergents to build up on your stone sink.

To clean your sink, use a soft cloth, sponge or soapy nylon brush. Be sure to rinse the sink well after cleaning and dry. Cleaning on a regular basis will help prevent the development of hard water deposits. If you develop persistent stains, try a non-abrasive cleaner such as dishwasher soap, Soft Scrub or a professional stone cleaner solution which can be purchased from a local hardware or tile store. DO NOT use any acidic tub and tile cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, ammonia, abrasive or soft paste cleaners, vinegar, alcohol, window cleaners or lemon juice. In addition DO NOT use abrasive cleaning pads such as steel wool, metal brushes or scouring powders.
 Marble has a shiny, elegant finish. Maintaining this Most of the stone sinks we sell are not sealed due to varied customer requirements. However, we do recommend sealing your sink to protect it against staining and water absorption. There are two ways to seal your sink :wax or one of the many stone sealing products available in the marketplace. The type of stone sealer you use depends on the type of stone, but most tile or hardware stores carry a variety of stone sealing products to choose from. Stone sealers should typically be applied once a year. If you prefer to wax your sink, you will want to do this at least once a month.

If you purchase a soapstone sink, you will want to treat this very non-porous stone a bit differently. Soapstone is extremely dense so it repels stains well. To clean, use a damp cloth or sponge with a mild cleanser. Beyond that, you should treat your sink and/or countertop with mineral oil. Soapstone fresh from the quarry is actually a cloudy blue-gray in color. The charcoal color that soapstone is known for comes when the stone is exposed to water, grease and oils. These liquids cause the stone to oxidize, which darkens the stone's color and really brings out its natural beauty. The mineral oil actually expedites oxidation of the stone and a monthly treatment will keep oxidation uniform across the entire surface.
Honeycomb-Stone
Sandstone Pavement