What I am going to tell you has not been scientifically proven. This information is from my experience over the last twenty-five years.

Granite countertops are one of the easiest to maintain countertops on the market. I know you have heard or read many things about granite being porous and needing to be sealed. Corian and other solid surface companies have been warning the public about granite’s terrible maintenance burden for years.

This is like telling people to be careful with their nails because from time to time they have to be cut.

The key is proper sealing prior to installation. In the last twenty-one years I had three houses with granite countertops. Each had the counters sealed prior to installation and that was it. I never sealed them again. I never had a problem with stains.

The purpose of sealing the granite is to prevent it from absorbing liquids. If the granite has not become porous again after the initial sealing, there is no reason to reseal it, regardless of how much time has passed.

The best way to tell if your granite needs to be sealed is to take a damp sponge and place it on your counter. Let it sit for a few minutes and then remove it. If that area has darkened because the water has been absorbed, the granite needs to be sealed. If the water was not absorbed, there is no reason to seal the granite, even if it has been ten years since it was last sealed.

I tell my clients that if their granite becomes porous again, I will reseal it at no cost, and if they happen to get stained, I will remove it and reseal their countertops.

I’ve had to do this three times in the last ten years. If the porosity of granite was so important, it could not offer this service. I’m not sure why this has become such a big problem.

I guess it may have to do with granite’s competitors and sealant manufacturers. That’s just my guess.

Here’s my little secret on countertop cleaning. You can use just about anything except abrasive products like Soft Scrub or Comet. There is not much you can do to damage your granite. This works like a charm. Give it a try and see the results for yourself. Take an empty spray bottle, add about 3 oz of rubbing alcohol, and fill it with water. That is all. Use it like Windex.

It works especially well with darker colored granites. I hope this information has been helpful.

Have a great day and God bless you.