Granite is a slightly porous natural stone that requires some specific cleaning to maintain its luxurious look. Cleaning, sealing and maintaining your granite countertops may sound challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. The good news is there are a few easy steps to take that will keep your granite countertops looking shiny and new for years to come.

Sealing Granite Countertops

You may have already experienced your unsealed or unpolished granite countertop getting marks from spills from common items such as citrus, oil and wine. If you are not sure about the state of your countertop you can test it by sprinkling a small amount of water on the surface. The water should bead quickly once touching the surface. If you find that it soaks into the countertop, you will want to take steps for resealing.

To reseal your countertop, you will want to purchase a specialty countertop sealer that is specifically made for granite. Marble Institute of America advises, “The product should have a life expectancy of ten to fifteen years and be of an oliophobic (resistant to water and oil based stains) nature. Once properly sealed, the stone will be more resistant against everyday dirt and spills.”

Even if the countertop you own is polished, resealing it may increase the resistance of the already resistant nature of stone.

Keeping Granite Countertops in Good Condition

The following are tips to follow to keep your granite countertop in perfect condition all year long:

• Use soft cotton cloths when cleaning the countertop
• Reseal the countertop if necessary
• Clean up spills as soon as possible
• Use a natural safe cleaner to wash the surface

Avoid doing the following to your granite countertop:

• Do not use cleaners that are abrasive, as they can damage the countertop
• Avoid using cleaners that contain ammonia, lemon or vinegar. These items will cause permanent damage to the surface of the countertop

The most frequently asked question regarding granite countertops is: “Why does it look hazy?” The cloudy appearance is due to lack of drying after wiping up spills or cleaning the surface with mild soap and water without drying the residue with a cloth. The easy fix is to use a damp cloth and quickly dry it with another cloth. The film will disappear quickly and leave you with shiny smooth granite countertop to enjoy.