How to Seal Granite Countertops

Granite countertops, like other natural stone countertop materials such as, marble, sandstone and slate are resistant to staining and easier to clean only when properly sealed.

Choosing the Right Sealant is Essential

The deeper into the surface of the material the sealer penetrates, the better it will resist stains, keep out bacteria and clean up with just mild detergent and a wet wash cloth or a cleaning product designed for your type of natural stone countertop.

Countertop Cleaners, Sealers & Polishers

For this reason, look for products in the class known as impregnating stone sealers. They are chosen by professional contractors for sealing granite, marble, and slate countertops.

The top-rated product in this class is Tenax Hydrex Impregnating Stone Sealer. The sealant is used by pros and proven to keep out moisture, so the risk of mold and bacteria is eliminated. It also resists the penetration of oil, the liquid that most easily stains natural stone countertops.

Here are the features to look for in the sealer you select:

  • Tenax Stone Sealer contains all of these features.  If you're like many people, and would like to polish and seal your countertops, there are kits that come with Tenax Hydrex Impregnating Sealer, along with everything else you'll need to do the job--it even comes with an instructional DVD to make the job easy.Mineral based for maximum protection
  • Usable on all stone surfaces
  • Coverage of 160 - 180 square feet per quart
  • Dries invisible w/o altering stone color
  • Dries  in 5 - 10 minutes
  • The result is a surface that repels water-based liquids and oil

How to Seal Natural Stone Countertops

The Tenax Hydrex Impregnating Sealer container provides complete instructions that are easy to follow, and the product is virtually fail-proof. In other words, you can get professional results in a short time with minimum experience, a great fit for any DIY homeowner. Here’s what to do:

  • Clean your natural stone countertop with a mild kitchen cleaner or a product such as Tenax Countertop Cleaner for Stone formulated for granite, slate and marble. Allow the counters to dry before proceeding.
  • When completely dry, use another clean, dry cloth to apply the sealer. A lint-free cloth is preferred.
  • Wet the cloth with impregnating sealer, and wipe the sealer onto the surface of the counter. It’s just that simple. Make sure the entire surface including edges and backsplashes are wet but not soaked.
  • Allow the first coat to dry for five to ten minutes, and apply a second coat. When the second coat is dry, your stone countertop sealing job is complete. The full repellant effect is achieved within 24 hours, so wait a day before preparing food on the countertop.

When properly sealed with an impregnating product, the surface of your slate, granite or marble countertops will repel moisture and oil, virtually eliminating the risk of stains. However, it still makes sense to dry spills on the countertop and clean oil from them promptly.

Follow the instructions on the container, and seal natural stone countertops as often as indicated in the directions. The results will be the lasting beauty and durability of your stone counters in the years ahead.