It is important to seal your granite countertops to prevent staining and make cleanups in your kitchen and bathroom as easy as possible. You should seal your granite countertops regularly, between 1 to 5 years depending on the porosity of the stone and other factors such as wear and quality.
You can tell if you need to apply a sealant to your granite countertops by pouring a bit of water on your countertop. If spilled water on your granite countertop beads, then it’s sealed. If the water soaks into the granite, which you’ll know happened because the granite just gets darker, then it’s not sealed.
When choosing a good sealant, make sure that it will penetrate below the surface of the stone.
To apply sealant follow the steps below.
Step One: Thoroughly clean your countertop as normal and allow it to dry.
Step Two: Shake the sealant and spray it evenly over your countertop. Let sit for 30 minutes.
Step Three: Apply a second coat of sealant and leave for another 30 minutes.
Step Four: Wipe any excess sealant off the countertop and leave it to dry for 24 hours. If there are hardened bits of sealant you cannot wipe off easily at this stage, spray extra sealant to loosen.
Benefits of Sealing Countertops
Prevent Stains
Sealing your granite countertops will cause liquids to bead on the surface instead of absorbing into the stone, which can lead to stains. This is especially beneficial if you have light-colored granite countertops.
Reduce Etching
Maintaining granite countertops by sealing them will reduce damage caused by acidic foods and cleaning agents. Etching happens when acidic foods, such as lemon juice, are spilled on the counter and aren’t cleaned up immediately.
Clean Faster
Sealing your granite countertops will help you clean them much faster. Fingerprints and other dirt will be easily wiped up. Since liquids will bead on top and won’t be absorbed into the stone, it will be much easier to clean after cooking without any scrubbing.
Fewer Chemicals
Since your granite countertops will be easier to clean with a sealer, you won’t need to use harsh cleaning agents, which is better for the environment and for your indoor air quality.
For quality granite countertops, contact Architecture Stones today!