Everything You Need to Know About Caring for Granite

Caring for natural stone countertops can be intimidating. While it’s true that natural stone takes more attention than man made surfaces like laminate, following just a few easy steps will keep your countertops looking great. 

Keep in mind that stone countertops are very resilient. They’ll outlive you and your home, so don’t worry too much about ruining them. You don’t need dozens of expensive, specialized products. In this article, we’ll go over granite care basics so that you know how to protect your stone.

Cleaning your granite 

The number one thing to keep in mind with any natural stone countertop is that you should wipe up any spills right away. Wine, coffee, tomato sauces, and cooking oils won’t harm granite as quickly as they do softer stones like marble, but it is still possible for them to stain granite.

The best way to clean up a spill is with a soft cloth and warm water. Dish soap won’t harm your stone, but it can build up over time and dull the finish. Our recommendation is to avoid soaps and use warm water or a cleaner specially designed for granite. Granite cleaning sprays will disinfect your countertop and help preserve your sealant.

You should never use harsh cleaners like bleach, glass cleaner, vinegar, ammonia, or chemical degreasers such as Clorox or 409. Harsh cleaners break down your stone’s sealant and can stain your counter. You should also avoid cream cleaners designed for bathrooms because they often have abrasives that can scratch your granite.

Best daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance

You should clean spills with warm water and a soft cloth as soon as they happen. At the end of each day, you should clean high-use areas with granite cleaner and a soft cloth. Once a week, you should move everything off your countertop and clean it with a granite cleaner. Weekly deep cleans help condition the stone and remove dust and debris that can scratch the surface.

Each month, you may also choose to use a granite polish to maintain the luster of your countertops and make them easier to clean each day. Clean your stone thoroughly with granite cleaner before applying polish.

Caring for your granite 

In addition to properly cleaning your stone, there are several things that you can do to avoid scratches and stains.

Although your stone can stand up to the temperature of a hot pan, it’s best to use a hot pad. The grooves on the bottom of a pan and grit trapped between the pan and your counter can create tiny scratches in the stone’s surface. The pan will also leave a hot spot on your countertop, which is dangerous in homes with young children.

You should always use a cutting board. Knives can leave scratches in your stone, and the granite will dull your knives.

Stone counters are not flexible like laminate, so you should not stand or sit on the counter. Adding too much weight to one spot can potentially crack the stone.

You should not store oils, toiletries, perfumes, lotions, or other liquids on your countertop. Small leaks can often go unnoticed long enough to soak into the stone, leaving behind stains. Instead, take advantage of the opportunity to shop for decorative baskets or trays to store your items.

Sealing your stone

Many people misunderstand what a stone sealant does. It does NOT create an impermeable shell over your stone. Even if you maintain an adequate seal, your stone can scratch and absorb liquids. A sealant extends the amount of time it takes for your counter to absorb liquids, but it does not prevent absorption. No matter how recently you’ve sealed your counter, you should always wipe up spills immediately.

The frequency at which you need to reseal depends on your stone and the amount of wear and tear it sees daily. Dark stones have smaller pores than light stones, so they generally need to be sealed less often. Some countertops need to be sealed yearly, others only every three to five years.

Test your sealant

You can easily test your sealant by dripping water on your countertop and timing how long it takes to absorb into the stone.

If the water soaks in right away, you should reseal it. You may even need to apply two coats of sealant.

If the water takes five to fifteen minutes to soak in, one new coat of sealant will likely be enough.

If the water does not soak in within twenty to thirty minutes, your sealant is still in good shape and you do not need to add another coat.

Many people advise regular sealing even if your stone doesn’t need it, but too much sealant can dull the appearance of your stone. If your stone won’t absorb the sealant, you’re simply wasting your time and money.

Some very dark stones are highly impermeable naturally and may never need sealing. If you’re not sure how to care for your stone, get in touch! We’re happy to advise you about caring for your countertops.

How to seal granite

The first step in sealing your granite is to clear your countertop and thoroughly clean them with a granite cleaner. Your surface should be free of any crumbs, dust, or other debris before you apply the sealer.

Pour a small amount of the sealer on clean countertops. Spread it in a thin layer using a paintbrush or a soft cloth. Let the solution soak into the stone for a few minutes (refer to the directions of your sealer to determine the length of time). Then, use a clean, DRY cloth to wipe up the excess sealer and lightly buff it to a shine.

Adding sealant when you don’t need it, using too much, or letting it sit too long before you wipe the excess can leave your stone looking dull. Letting it absorb longer than the package recommends will make it harder to buff away.

Some countertops may need a second coat of sealer. After buffing, let the seal dry for about 30 minutes and then perform the water test again. If it takes 20 minutes or more for the water to soak in, you have enough sealant. If it takes less than 20 minutes but the permeation time is the same as the previous coat, then adding more will not improve the impermeability of your stone.

How to repair a damaged countertop

It’s possible to remove stains and scratches from granite. A professional may even be able to repair a chip in your surface. If you have questions about how to repair your stone, reach out to the natural stone professionals at Alpha Surfaces today. We can inspect your stone and decide together how to get your countertops looking their best again.

If you have any questions about how to care for your stone or repair it, get in touch with the countertop care experts at Alpha Surfaces.