Granite countertops are both beautiful and tough, but that doesn’t mean they can go without a little TLC and preventative maintenance. While granite is moisture-resistant, it’s also porous, so spilled liquids, especially colored ones, and dirt can stain and etch it.
As a proud homeowner, regularly maintain and clean your granite by mopping up spills as soon as they happen and protecting the surface as much as possible. It’s also wise to regularly use the services of stone cleaning and polishing experts like the ones at Groutsmith Tulsa.
We advise many of our customers to “seal” their countertops. After thoroughly cleaning your granite countertop surfaces, our one of our professionals will seal it, so it effectively resists water and oil-based stains.
Here are five benefits of sealing your granite countertops:
1. Easier on the Environment
With your granite properly sealed, you won’t need strong cleaners to maintain its appearance. This means you will use fewer harsh chemicals that would pollute your home’s air quality and harm the environment.
2. Stops Stains from Happening
As we said, granite is porous. Sealing it will make liquid bead on its surface, preventing it from staining. This is especially important for lighter-colored granite, which is more prone to stains.
Also, you should make it your practice to wipe up spills as soon as they happen. And in bathrooms, you shouldn’t leave containers of cosmetics and beauty aids on granite countertops – they may leave a chemical residue that causes stains.
If you do get stains, you can try dealing with them yourself. You can create a paste of water and baking soda for some oil stains, and a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for some water stains. Leave the paste on overnight, sealed under plastic, and then wipe off the next morning.
3. Reduces the Threat of Etching
Etching of your granite countertop happens when you spill acidic food on it, like lemon juice. Other juices, vinegar, wine, coffee, soda and harsh cleaners can also cause etching. If you use cutting boards and other protections on food preparation surfaces, that will go a long way to preventing etching. But accidents happen and sealing your granite will help guard it against the effects of spillages.
4. Speeds Up Your Cleaning Routine
Life is short, and we don’t want to spend a lot of it cleaning. With sealed granite, water and oil from cooking beads on the surface, so that cleaning is often a matter of a fast wipe with a soft cloth, instead of having to scrub away.
If the counter needs more cleaning, you should avoid using abrasive cleaners and rough sponges, because of the threat of etching. A soft cloth or sponge is your best bet, used with warm water and mild dish soap. There are also some granite-specific cleaners on the market that will do the job.
5. Keeps it Looking Good
Protecting your granite countertops with a layer of sealant will help preserve their natural beauty and prevent them from becoming dull and lifeless. It will help stop water, oils, and other contaminants from leaving mineral deposits that will make the stone appear dingy.
Not all granite countertops need sealing. To determine if yours does, apply a few drops of water on to its surface and give it a few minutes. If the granite absorbs the water, then sealant is a good idea. Do the same thing with paint thinner to see if oil stains are an issue.
Generally speaking, you should seal your granite countertops at least once a year, to ensure they are protected from damage and staining.
Groutsmith Tulsa is Oklahoma’s experts in maintaining, cleaning and repairing high-end countertops like granite, so they keep their aesthetic appeal and retain their value. Contact us for a free in-home estimate and demonstration of our stone cleaning, polishing and granite sealing services.
