there?s no reaching over burners or hot food. Also, this placement helps avoid dropped or broken items.

Keep a fire extinguisher near the kitchen exit, so it can be reached safely away from flames.

Ensure the coffee maker and other appliances have automatic shut off features to prevent overheating if mistakenly left on.

Use a sturdy step ladder or step stool instead of a chair to reach objects in overhead cabinets.

Q: I don’t know how to maintain the charcoal-colored granite countertops in our kitchen. I’ve heard several conflicting suggestions. What would you do?

—Suzanne, St. Petersburg, FL

A: Tom Silva replies: We have granite countertops in our kitchen and love them. They really don’t take a lot of care. The first thing we did when they were installed was to wipe on a solvent-based sealer called an “impregnator” with a soft cloth. I