Resources
How to Clean & Seal Stone Countertops
What each material needs, what damages it, and what to tell a client at handover. Most surface failures come from cleaning products, not from the stone.
Reviewed July 2026
The rule that covers ninety per cent of it
Warm water and a pH-neutral stone cleaner. Nothing acidic, nothing abrasive. Most surface damage we see was caused by a cleaning product, not by the stone failing.
A sealer slows absorption so spills can be wiped before they stain. It does not stop etching — etching is acid dissolving the surface, which is physical damage a coating cannot prevent.
The water test
Leave a few drops of water on the surface for fifteen minutes and wipe it off. If the stone underneath has darkened, it is ready to be resealed. Takes a minute and beats guessing.
Granite
View Granite- Sealing
- Once a year
- Heat
- Excellent
- Acid
- Resistant
Do
- Wipe with warm water and a pH-neutral stone cleaner
- Reseal when the water test shows darkening
- Use it outdoors without concern
Avoid
- Vinegar, bleach and general bathroom sprays
- Abrasive pads on a polished finish
Quartzite
View Quartzite- Sealing
- Once a year
- Heat
- Excellent
- Acid
- Resistant if true quartzite
Do
- Confirm it is true quartzite, not dolomitic marble
- Seal annually, more often on light colours
- Wipe oil and wine promptly
Avoid
- Assuming every stone sold as quartzite behaves the same
- Acidic cleaners until you have verified the material
Marble
View Marble- Sealing
- Twice a year
- Heat
- Good
- Acid
- Etches readily
Do
- Choose honed over polished to disguise etching
- Blot spills rather than wiping them across
- Set the expectation of patina at handover
Avoid
- Lemon, vinegar, wine and tomato left sitting
- Believing a sealer will stop etching — it will not
Quartz
View Quartz- Sealing
- Never needed
- Heat
- Poor — scorches
- Acid
- Resistant
Do
- Clean with soap and water
- Always use a trivet under hot cookware
- Keep it indoors
Avoid
- Direct heat from pans or appliances
- Outdoor installation — UV yellows the resin permanently
Porcelain
View Porcelain- Sealing
- Never needed
- Heat
- Excellent
- Acid
- Immune
Do
- Clean with almost anything
- Use indoors or out
- Support large-format sheets properly during install
Avoid
- Sharp impact on unsupported edges
- Cutting it without a fabricator experienced in porcelain
Natural Stone
View Natural Stone- Sealing
- Twice a year
- Heat
- Good
- Acid
- Varies — usually sensitive
Do
- Seal travertine and limestone more often than granite
- Fill open pores if you want a smooth surface
- Use pH-neutral cleaner only
Avoid
- Acidic products of any kind
- Standing water on honed limestone