Granite - How to Care for, Clean and Seal

How to Clean, Polish, Seal and Protect Granite

Image of granite countertop

Granite, commonly used in kitchen countertops, is a very dense, hard and brittle natural stone.

Granite, an igneous rock formed from magnum, is very dense, hard and brittle. Granite stands up well against heavy foot traffic, making it preferable for commercial lobbies and walkways. True granite is the hardest of the polished stones commercially available and is used in high stress situations. Resistant to most chemicals, except for oils, which can permeate the stone, granite is also ideal for counter tops and bar tops.

While granite counter-tops are a favorite choice due to their beauty and durability, they are not impervious to damage. Regular care includes proper cleaning and the use of sealers to prevent staining.

Do granite counter-tops need to be sealed?

  1. Perform the paper towel test to determine whether your granite needs to be sealed. Some types of granite never need sealing and adding sealer to these types will just make a mess. Soak a paper towel (without printing) or a white cotton towel. Place the water-soaked towel on the counter and wait about 5 minutes. Is the area under the paper towel dark from the water soaking into the granite? If it is discolored, your granite needs to be sealed to resist water-based spills and stains.
  2. Perform the solvent test to see if an oil stain will enter the granite. Simply dab some paint thinner on the counter-top and leave for 5-l0 minutes. If, after you remove it, it doesn’t darken the stone, neither will an oily staining agent such as cooking oil. If it does go dark, you should use a solvent-based sealer to protect against oil-based stains.
  3. In short, if the granite goes dark with either water or paint thinner, then seal. lf there is no color change alter testing with these two liquids, you do not really need a sealer on your granite counter-top.

What is the best granite sealer for granite countertops?

If the tests show the granite needs to be sealed, you can seal with a water-based penetrating sealer such as StoneTech™ Professional BulletProof™ Water-Based Advanced-Generation Penetrating Sealer or a solvent based penetrating sealer such as Impregnator Pro™ to prevent staining and reduce soiling. Impregnator Pro is the better sealer for granite because it more easily penetrates the granite to fill the pores and fissures because it is solvent based. Be sure to wipe off the excess after it has soaked in after a few minutes.

What is the best granite cleaner for granite counter-tops?

  • If there are any oily stains already on the counter-top, use Oil Stain Remover to remove those before sealing.
  • For heavy duty cleaning, use Klenz-All™ heavy duty alkaline cleaner and degreaser prior to sealing. Do not use after sealing because it is powerful enough to possibly remove some of the sealer.
  • For daily cleaning and to keep the sealer refreshed, use Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector.

Granite ranges from 6 to 8 on the MOH scale (a scale for determining the relative hardness of a mineral according to its resistance to scratching). The hardest mineral, at 10, is diamond. The softest mineral, at 1, is talc.

Granite can be used for most any inside horizontal application including kitchen counter tops, bathroom vanities, furniture tops, bar tops, thresholds, window sills, etc. Granite has been extensively used as a dimension stone and as flooring tiles in public and commercial buildings and monuments. With increasing amounts of acid rain in parts of the world, granite has begun to supplant marble and limestone as a monument material, since it is much more durable and acid-resistant. Polished granite is also a popular choice for kitchen counter tops due to its high durability and aesthetic qualities.

The beauty, hardness and utility of granite makes it a highly desirable material for counter-tops in home design. In addition to its natural strength, granite is a beautiful stone that adds color and warmth to a room. Though the cost to add granite countertops to any new kitchen or remodel can be quite high, they remain the premiere choice in many new and remodeled homes. The price of granite counter-tops ranges from $60 to $120 a square foot, which may or may not include the cost of installation.

WARNING: Some stone marked and sold as “granite” is marble instead - always do an acid resistance test to confirm. Some granite is dyed! Not etched by most acids, but can be etched by some rust removers! Because granite is quite hard, it can be cleaned at pressures up to 1,450 PSI if the grout is in good condition.

What Are the Features and Benefits of Granite Stone:

  • Naturally beautiful with unique pattern and color.
  • Heat-resistant.
  • Scratch-resistant.
  • Stain-, mold- and mildew-resistant with proper care and maintenance.
  • Resistant to most acids, such as soft drinks and juices, as compared to marble.

How to Care For and Maintain Granite Countertops and Floors:

Natural stone is very porous. The best way to prevent stains is to treat the surface with a protective sealer. The sealer fills in the pores and repels spills on the surface, allowing you time to completely wipe it away.

We recommend that you use care and maintenance products from StoneTech Professional that are specially formulated to protect and enhance the beauty of your granite. Once the stone is sealed, clean up is usually easy. We recommend that you use StoneTech Professional Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector. Revitalizer cleans with a gentle, pH-neutral formula that removes soils while reinforcing the original protective seal to help prevent future staining. Learn more about our care products.

Although we usually think of stone as “hard,” it is a porous material. Natural stone has varying degrees of porosity depending on the type of stone. If left unsealed, spills and everyday messes can easily penetrate the surface. The liquid eventually evaporates but the stain is left behind.

Advanced-Generation Penetrating Sealer technology, incorporated into StoneTech Professional Revitalizer, Bullet Proof and Impregnator Pro, is the most advanced technology available, providing the ultimate shield against both water and oil-base stains. The micro-molecular formula actually bonds with the stone surface to deliver unsurpassed wear resistance and durability. And because the sealer reacts with the stone, you no longer have to worry about its porosity. It works on all types of stone, from ultra-porous Juparana Columbo to super-dense Absolute Black.

DO's and DON'Ts of Caring for Granite

  • DO clean up spills immediately to minimize damage to your stone.
  • DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes and cookware.
  • DO use place mats under china, ceramics, silver and other objects that can scratch your stone's surface.
  • DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices.
  • DO clean surfaces regularly with StoneTech Professional Revitalizer Cleaner & Protector.
  • DO use StoneTech™ Professional Bullet Proof Sealer to protect your stone.
  • DON’T wait to clean up spills on stone.
  • DON’T use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub cleaners.
  • DON’T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners.
  • DON’T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
  • DON’T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for stone.
  • DON’T use scouring powders and abrasives because they will scratch the surface.

NOTE: Some stone marked and sold as “granite” are marble instead - always do an acid resistance test to confirm. Some granite is dyed! Not etched by most acids, but can be etched by hydrofluoric acid! Because granite is quite hard, it can be cleaned at pressures up to 1,450 PSI if the grout is in good condition.

Related Stone Information:

Products for Cleaning and Protecting Granite:

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