If you have recently purchased a new home or updated an older one, chances are you are working with granite countertops. Granite countertops are a beautiful feature in a kitchen or bathroom, especially when they are free of water spots and have been properly polished. Caring for granite countertops is easy to do when you follow a few simple steps.
To maintain granite countertops, properly seal, clean and polish them
Getting started
The first thing you need to do is go to a hardware store and pick up supplies. Home Depot carries a brand called SCI, which works wonderfully on granite. Look for a sealer, cleaner and polisher. Read the directions, and make sure that there is enough sealer to cover the surface completely, twice. You also need plenty of clean, soft cloths and paper towel at hand.
Apply the seal
The most important thing you will do in caring for granite is making sure you get a good seal. Use only products that have been designed for granite. To begin, ensure that the surface is clean and dry. Next, apply a thin coat of the seal over the entire surface with soft cloth. Wait about 30 minutes and apply a second coat. When you have applied the second coat, buff it off gently with a clean soft cloth. A good seal ought to last about 12 months. Water spots are generally an indication that it is time to reseal.
Clean and polish
After you have properly sealed your counters, you need to polish them to a high shine. Polishing is an easy way to rejuvenate your counters and needs to be done once a week. Start with a counter that is free of wax build up by using the stone cleaner. Apply the polish with a soft cloth in a circular motion. Allow the polish to dry to a cloudy haze. Use a dry, clean cloth and gently buff the surface to a high shine.
