Month: March 2022

Are you searching for a reliable Countertops Company to maintain your granite countertops? If so, you have come to the right place. Granite countertops are some of the most stylish for modern kitchens and bathrooms. Granite is aesthetically appealing, tough, long-lasting, and not that difficult to maintain. Keeping your granite countertop clean and beautiful is not difficult if you spend some time once in a while to maintain it. Maintaining a granite countertop can be done at home with a few cleaning essentials and some elbow grease. This article provides information on some of the most effective granite countertop maintenance tips and tricks.

Wiping the countertop surface regularly is one of the first things you need to do in order to maintain the granite countertop in your kitchen. Make sure you wipe down the countertop surface after every use to prevent food particles, dirt, and grime from sticking to the surface. It will help preserve and extend the life of the countertop. You may even use a cloth dipped in warm water to kill the germs on the countertop.

Using a neutral cleaner on the countertop is very important. Never use harsh and acidic chemicals on the surface since they can damage the material over time. Wiping down the surface on a daily basis using a pH-neutral soap and a soft cloth helps keep the countertop looking good for many years to come. If there are any spills, you should blot them immediately to keep the surface safe and clean in the long run. The more the spills stay on the surface, the more they will stick to it and make it harder for you to remove the spill. You can use a paper towel or a soft cloth to clean any spill immediately.

Many homeowners keep hot pots and pans on the countertop. They think that granite is 100% resistant to heat. Even though granite is a hard material that can withstand high temperatures, regular exposure to heat and high temperatures can damage its surface in the long run. You should use coasters before placing any hot pots or pans on the granite surface to protect the material in the long run. Another important tip to save your granite countertop for the future is to remove any oil marks from the surface without delay. If there are oil marks on the surface, use a mixture of water and baking soda to remove such marks. Prepare the mixture and slater it on the oil marks and let the paste remain overnight before you wipe it off the next morning. Use cloth dipped in plain water to wipe off the oil marks on the granite surface.

Disinfecting the countertop is another important task in order to maintain it for the future. Food preparation may leave germs on the surface and cause numerous illnesses to your loved ones over time. Use a solution of isopropyl alcohol and water to disinfect the surface of your countertop. Prepare the solution and spray it over the surface of the counter. Let the solution remain on the countertop surface for five to ten minutes before you wipe off the surface. Make use of water and a cloth to rinse the countertop surface.

Granite countertop maintenance helps prolong the lifespan of your countertop and save money in the long run. If you don’t have time to maintain the granite surfaces in your home, you should opt for professional maintenance. Choosing a reliable Countertops Company in the area is crucial to the success of granite countertop maintenance, repair, and installation. The professionals will do a great job at an affordable price.

Oxygen is crucial for your pond’s flora and fauna. But the presence of algae can lower the pond’s overall oxygen saturation. Algae consume more oxygen than it produces. As a result, it hardly leaves any oxygen for the plants and fishes to survive. It’s important that you keep your pond clean and free from elements that may lower the oxygen level. Here’s a quick guide on how to keep your pond water clean and clear:

1. Don’t overpopulate the pond with fishes

Overpopulating the pond with too many fishes may result in them dying sooner than you expect. That’s because they won’t get enough oxygen to absorb into their bloodstreams. Some people want to keep over 10” of fish per 100 gallons of water. It’s an incorrect ratio and your pond will soon get overpopulated. Fish waste also contributes to the low oxygen level in the water. If you feel that your pond is overpopulated, give a new home to some of the fishes instead of leaving them to die.

2. Don’t feed your fish frequently

Like humans, fishes also have a specific diet. Feeding them frequently will leave a significant amount of wasted food in the water. The waste food later decays in the pond, meaning you need to put extra effort into cleaning. Try choosing a fish food that floats instead of sinks into the water. That will help you clean the water if the fishes keep leftovers.

3. Maintain the balance between flora and fauna

A pond with hundreds of fishes and zero plants won’t make sense. But remember, you shouldn’t put too many plants, otherwise, they may cause an oxygen crisis for the fish. A pond with approximately 40 to 60% plant coverage is ideal for your fish to survive.

4. Clean the debris before it decays

There are two ways to clean the debris in your pond: first, use a pond skimmer to get rid of the debris that floats on the water. It removes dried leaves, dead insects, and other lightweight debris.

The second method involves using a pond net to deep clean your pond. You need to master the art of throwing the net into the pond water covering a huge area. Let the net sink to the bottom of the pond while you hold one end in your hand. Slowly lift the net as you walk into the shore. You will notice that the net contains algae and other debris and even a few fish. Put the fish back into the water and remove the debris. Repeat this process a few times from different parts of the pond to clean the water thoroughly.

5. Use a high-quality filter

Always choose a filter that fits the size of your pond. There are two types of filters available: mechanical filter and biological filter.

A mechanical filter removes the debris from the surface of the water. It does the work of a typical pond skimmer. You should install this filter if your pond is amidst a lot of greenery. Dried leaves, small sticks, and twigs may float on the water. A mechanical filter removes them on your behalf.

A biological filter contains bacteria that quickly break down the waste materials in your pond water into less harmful compounds, thus allowing the aquatic plants to absorb them easily.

6. Select the right pump

It is best to circulate the pond’s water at least once every hour. Select a pump whose flow is appropriate for your pond size. A small pump for a big pond would be useless.

Maintaining a pond may not seem challenging anymore if you think from the perspective of the aquatic plants and animals. Overpopulation is a strict no-no. Try to maintain the balance between flora and fauna to keep your pond clean and clear.