So, you’ve invested in beautiful new kitchen cabinets, and you’ve decided to go with a granite countertop. But before you go prepping your first meal on it, you’ll need to make sure you take the proper steps to ensure that you don’t cause permanent damage or staining to your new, unsealed granite countertop.

Why should you seal your granite countertop?

While we all know granite is a very durable material, and doesn’t require as much maintenance as other types of natural stone like marble or limestone, it can still be susceptible to staining and acid etching, depending upon how hard or porous your countertop is.

How often will you need to seal your granite countertops?

Depending upon how often you use your granite countertops, once you seal them the first time, you may need to reseal them again anywhere from every three months to every year. For a more accurate timeframe, contact the company where you purchased your granite to be sure.

How much does a granite sealer cost?

You can purchase granite sealer from your local hardware store. Pricing on the sealer can range from approximately $10 to $20.

List of Supplies You’ll Need:

• Terry Cloth Towel
• Mild Dish Soap and Warm Water
• Granite Sealer
• Microfiber Cloth
• Spray Bottle
• Rubber Gloves
• Plastic

Before getting started with this project, be sure your room is well ventilated, and that you keep any pets or small children out of the room while you’re working.
Don’t forget to cover your sink, or any other areas that are not going to be treated with the granite sealer, with plastic.

Step #1

Prepare your granite countertop for sealing by first wiping down the counter with a cloth, warm sudsy water, and mild dish soap to remove any loose debris, dust, or dirt.

Step #2

Dry your countertop with a terry cloth towel then let it sit, and air dry overnight.
Allowing the counter to sit and air dry over-night will ensure that any moisture that was absorbed into the counter will be completely dry by morning.

Step #3

Once you’ve checked to make sure your counter is dry, wipe it down again with a dry microfiber cloth, then spray a generous amount of granite sealer on the counter. Allow the sealer to work its way into the stone for approximately ten minutes.
If your stone is a bit more porous, you may need to apply another layer after the first ten minutes.

Step #4

After you’ve waited the ten minutes, you can then begin to work the sealer into your countertop with a dry terry cloth towel. Polish the counter top with the sealer by working in a circular motion with the terry cloth towel.

Step #5

Give your newly sealed counter top approximately 6 hours to dry, and then clean the surface one last time with mild soap and water to wash away any residue.

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