That’s one of the major advantages. Warm water, mild dishwashing liquid and a soft cloth are all that is needed to maintain most natural stone surfaces and to preserve their beauty for years to come. In the case of an unfortunate stain, it can usually be removed with a poultice mixture obtained from stone suppliers. A new study shows marble, granite and engineered stone have the same level of cleanability.

In 2006, The Hospitality Institute of Technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota conducted a study comparing four widely used countertop materials – two granites, one marble and one quartz surface – which showed that all are easily cleaned to meet FDA sanitizer criteria of 5-log reduction pathogens on the surface.