Proper care of granite countertops requires knowledge - knowledge from granite pros. Sealing granite, contrary to what you may have heard, is not the only consideration. In fact, the performance of various granites can differ greatly. Some need sealer to prevent a granite stain while others don't.
Granite countertop care and maintenance involves cleaning and sometimes repair, but not necessarily sealing.
Sealing granite is only necessary if your granite tops don't pass the Lemon Juice Test. Here's how to test them.
Take a piece of the scrap "granite" you want to test and spill a few drops of lemon juice onto it. If you see that under the drops of lemon juice dark spots develop very quickly, it means that your stone is very absorbent and I would advise you against using it for your kitchen countertops.
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If it takes, say, a minute or so to be absorbed, then you're dealing with a degree of absorbency that's easily manageable with the application of a good-quality impregnator-type sealer. If it doesn't absorb at all, then you have a winner right there! Go for it, and don't bother sealing it.
But hold on a second! Why lemon juice and not simply water? Because lemon juice is highly acidic, and, if for any chance, the "granite" you're considering is a mixed stone (with some calcite in it), it would etch. That is, it would have a permanent dull spot where the lemon was sitting, after you clean it up. If that's the case, you do NOT want that stone in your kitchen.
Sealing granite can prevent a granite stain and may be a necessary part of granite care. With many stones, however, it's simply not necessary.
Cleaning granite countertops should only be done with specialized cleaners, not Windex or ammonia. The best performing product we have found is MB Stone Care MB-5 Marble, Granite and More Spray Cleaner. We have provided this to all our customers as part of a stone care kit when we install a new countertop and when we show them how to care for granite tops the right way.
In fact, MB-5 is the only cleaner I ever use on my own natural stone and granite counters.
If you have cleaned your granite tops with dish soap, you can remove the soap film buildup with MB-3 Soap Film Remover. Simply spray on and wipe away soap buildup. This will return the shine to your granite tops.
See Granite Repair for tips and resources to fix damaged and chipped tops.
See Pro Granite Sealers for granite sealers and cleaners used by professional installers and fabricators.
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