Granite is a natural stone and as such it has tiny holes and cracks that are virtually invisible to the human eye. As hard as granite is, it is slightly porous and will absorb a wide range of liquids. Some of these liquids cause staining and others, especially acidic liquids or harsh cleaners, can cause deterioration of the granite itself. Fortunately sealing your granite tile is relatively easy.
Things You'll Need: dish soap, sponge, clean terrycloths, fan, penetrating granite sealer
Instructions
1. Wash your granite tiles with a small amount of dish soap and water. Make certain that all oil and grease has been removed--wash twice if necessary to remove all foreign matter.
2. Dry your granite tiles thoroughly before applying a sealer. This doesn't mean just wiping them with a cloth or paper towel. Start by wiping them as dry as possible and then run a fan across the tiles for 24 hours to dry the tiles deep down beneath their porous surface.
3. Dampen a cloth with a liberal amount of a good quality penetrating sealer specifically designed for granite. Make certain the sealer says it is a penetrating variety. Wipe a generous amount of sealer onto the granite and give it a full five minutes to penetrate into the stone. Wipe the sealer off and allow the granite to dry for at least four hours.
4. Rub on a second coat of penetrating sealer. Allow it to soak in for at least four minutes and then buff with a clean, dry terrycloth towel. Buff until the tile has a shine to it.
5. Test your sealer by placing a few drops of water onto your sealed tile and allow the water to sit for five minutes. If the water has not soaked into the tile then the tile is sufficiently sealed. If the water does soak into the tile, repeat Step 4.
Tips & Warnings
Wipe up all spills, especially liquids with acid (such as orange juice) or liquids that can stain (such as grape juice) as quickly as possible.
Do not use harsh household cleaners on your granite. Even cleaners such as 409 and Fantastic are too harsh for granite. Clean your granite often with a damp sponge and a little common dish soap. Reseal your granite every four months in high-traffic areas or twice a year in places where it gets little use and little cleaning.
