I've been using ScotchBrites on my granite counters for nearly four years. Not one scratch so far. The fabricators who did my counters said that only two things would scratch my granite: diamonds or another piece of granite.

What kind of stone counters do you have?

I'm so sorry your counters are scratched! I'd be very upset! Can you buff it out yourself with a palm sander?

I'm curious -- haven't actually ever TRIED a ScotchBrite on my granite, but the stone yard certainly told me the same thing uxorial was told: that nothing short of a diamond or another piece of granite could scratch it. I've occasionally had what I thought was a scratch but it always came "out" when I got around to resealing.

I wonder .... adoptedbygreyhounds didn't actually say she HAD granite, just warned about "stone counters" .... I, too, am wondering what she actually has?

Even if you don't see any scratches, you might be doing cumulative damage that will only show in a few years when you realize the areas you clean the most are no longer as polished as more out of the way spots.

The 3M website advises using only the blue/blue or pink/white on countertops. And really, it should be all you need if you leave a hot, wet cloth over anything stuck on, and let it sit there long enough to soften the spill.

Yeah, the green ones are the most abrasive but I'd still bet it wouldn't scratch granite. The OP might have some other kind of stone or else the scratches are actually in the sealer, not the stone itself.

You are right, my island is "Empress Green," mostly serpentine which is significantly less hard than granite. I have Bianco Romano granite on the perimeter counters; no problem with scratching on the Bianco Romano. And no previous problem with the Empress Green in two years of use.

For anyone interested, here is the MOH Scale. Serpentine is about a 4.5 on the scale. This is taken from the findstone.com website:

MEASUREMENT OF HARDNESS SCALE
10 Diamond
9 Corundum
8 Topaz
7 Quartz (Granite)
6 Feldspar (Granite)
5 Apatite
4 Fluorite
3 Calcite (Most Marbles)
2 Gypsum
1 Talc

The objective of the MOH's Scale is to measure stone resistance to hardness. When sediment and grit harder than the surface, they will scratch and harm the stone. For example, a piece of hard plastic is about a 2.0. It will not scratch #3 Calcite (Marble). However, a piece of sand that measures a 6, will scratch #3 Calcite but will not scratch #7 Quartz which is Granite. The harder the stone, the more resistant it is to abrasion. Exterior sediment that is tracked in to buildings approximately measures from 3.0 to 7.0.

adopted,

Thank you for the reference to the MOH scale, I would also add that Marbles and Limestone range from 4 to 7. Granites and their equivalents are a 7 to 10.

Therefore a 7 Marble like Calacatta Gold, White Carrara, Vermont Marble are equivelant in hardness to Granites like Cashmire White, Santa Cecilia, and shivakashi. The marbles do etch where the granites do not.

Tens are the materials that are more likely true granites and most likely never require sealing, and 99.999% scratch resistant.

Is Top South going to do the repair for you?

It is my understanding that all or most granite is well below 10 on the mohs scale. I found this:

"Granites are hard and cannot be scratched by a nail, knife or glass piece unlike marbles. Depending on the feldspars and quartz portions, the total Mohs Hardness of granite is from 5.5 to 7."

I found several sites that said granite is between 6 and 7, and no higher. An item can be scratched by anything as hard or harder, so a 6 granite could be scratched by something 6 or higher.

I also found this on the Absolute Stone website:

"...you should avoid using 'green scratchy' sponges on your granite countertop as the grits in green sponges are made of silicon carbide, which is second only to diamonds on the Mohs hardness scale."

So, no green scratchy sponges! Doesn't granite cleaner and a paper towel clean well enough?

Where does soapstone fall on that scale? How easily does it scratch?

Soapstone is pretty soft and easy to fabricate with regular woodworking tools (so I've read), but "stoners" love the patina of scratches that develop from use over time. Any deep scratch is easily sanded out and won't show. It's actually considered a benefit to soapstone.

VRJames, yes, TopSouth will do the repairs; just waiting for a call from them to schedule a time. Also, thank you for the referral for the stone restorer person. I will keep his name and number for future reference. I have an antique marble-top table which has suffered a lot over the years. I would love to make the surface look nicer...

Mollie, I think soapstone falls in with the talcs. That's why it has that wonderful silky feel.

A lot of kitchen counter "granites" aren't really granites at all, or are granite in a mixture of other minerals.

Mollie: soapstone is mostly compressed (very compressed) talc. So it is a 1! Kinda shocking, huh? But as was said, the softness is a benefit. It is so easy to buff/sand it, that I do it just for fun! (But I have just a little bit of counter space, and no stuff sitting out on the counters. So sanding is easy for me.) It makes it so slippery feeling. I'm addicted...

:-)

Francy

I'm thinking about going with an antiqued Emperador light for my kitchen counters. Antiqued is like a distress finish, even more "flat' than honed and slightly uneven. Does anyone know how this light brown marble compares in the scale against the other white marbles usually used?

Thanks to all for your responses.

I just wanted to follow-up and let you know that my counter has been repaired and, Wow, looks like new.

They tried just adding a sealer/enhancer which made the scratches much less noticeable but still there. They they used a hand-held buffer/grinder of some sort along with some powder (abrasive?) and some paste-looking stuff in a can. (Sorry for these non-technical terms. I have no idea of the names for these things.) Then they used the sealer/enhancer again. The color is more intense and the white veins pop more. I'm a happy camper.

Sienna2007, I can't answer your question, but I would love to see pics of your counters when they're done. Emperador is one of my favorites. I haven't seen anyone use it for counters, but there are several rainforest green counters.

I would find out from your cleaning service what was used that scratched your countertop. From experience I know some cleaners use too harsh cleaners and cleaning methods.