How to Maintain a Stone Countertop | This Old House

This Old House host Kevin O'Connor learns important maintenance tips from stone countertop contractor Jason Keefe. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
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Shopping List for How to Maintain a Stone Countertop:
- Liquid silicone impregnator, used to seal stone countertop surfaces
- White cotton cloth, used to apply silicone impregnator
- Limestone poultice, for absorbing stains from stone counters
Tools for How to Maintain a Stone Countertop:
- Plastic putty knife, for applying limestone poultice
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How to Maintain a Stone Countertop | This Old House
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[@fleureneige2670]

i put dishwashing soap and i cover it with plastic for 2 to 3 days after i put towel with very hot water for awail 3 or 4 times and i clean it very well with hot water and towel and let it dry the olive oil stain completely disappear .

[@write2nick]

Thanks! I love these videos.

[@thisisbs808]

Great summary! Stone countertops are definitely not for everyone. If you want the look that stone offers, you have to be ok with the maintenance. Other materials just can't quite replicate the look and movement of natural stone, which is why people choose it. Those who have concerns about maintenance choose something else.

[@shubeedoo]

thisisbs808 - beautiful yes, but stains too easily even with a sealer

[@ncstonefab1]

It is the best choice. We are finding out that Quartz (man-made stone) stains and cannot take heat and needs to be sealed too. Good quality granite with a good polish is not that high maintenance. If you seal it right the first time it should last for a few years. If you are still getting wet spots that means it needs to be sealed 3 or 4 more times until there is no more wet spots. Make sure your stone has been dried for 24 hours. If it is wet that means you are diluting the sealer. Also let the sealer cure for 24 hours. You can use your countertops but don't get it wet.

[@auzblake69]

I install granite countertops everyday. Lighter granite i recommend once a year. Darker every 3-5 years. Use no harsh chemicals like amonia or citrus.

[@francescaberlin9291]

MY granite is about 15 years old and it was only sealed once. it's dull but not stained, how do I get it back to it's original luster?

[@mrzacat3tasm3xxxico20]

Great vid. Any advice on so called 15year sealer , I was told it had just been applied on Blanco antico granite

[@Cookie-es8vy]

Hi This Old House. How safe are these products in the kitchen when it comes to preparing food? I also have a marble cutting board and I'm dealing with the oil stain referred to in this video. I want to place food on the marble board - I used it specifically for food - how should I clean this? Thank you.

[@jessicadave8875]

I used wet poultice remover. I leave three to four days but still oil stain is there, Can you give me some more advice for how to remove oil stain from Kashmir White Granit?

[@ncstonefab1]

You have to do it many times. Make a paste of baking soda and water (poultice). Cover the spot with the poultice so it’s about 1/8″ inch thick and overlaps it by about 1/4″. Cover it with plastic wrap, tape around all edges of the plastic. Poke small holes in the plastic so that the poultice can thoroughly dry. Leave this for 3-5 days or until it completely dries. After the poultice has dried, remove it (I use a mini razor blade only on granite) and clean the area. Reapply as needed. Once the stain is gone reseal it and let it cure of 24 hours.

[@U2BER2012]

I sprayed raid ant killer (never again) to kill some ants on my granite and now it has a dark stain. Any recommendations on how to remove the stain?

[@catfishmudflap]

I don't like the silicone sealant if there is a possibility that it may get in my food. It seems that stone is a very expensive and fussy material that has too many problems for use as a counter top.

[@pacificH2O]

I don't think it will get in to your food anymore than other cleaners used on non-stone counter tops. It is more expensive, but it's really beautiful. Like anything that needs maintenance, if you are diligent, it's not that much work.

[@shubeedoo]

Paul Montero - I agree with your point that the material is too fussy. You need to worry about oils, citrus juice, tomato stain, soy sauce, cleansers, boiling water and more. Ridiculous. In a kitchen these are things in use every day while cooking. We have to cover every surface of our granite countertop with towels while cooking, and still we finds stains and spots. Beautiful but not practical

[@adamlai5420]

Ficl u

[@carolschedler3832]

Hmmm. I was never a stone person either. three of my kids moved into homes with granite or quartz. All holding up beautifully. One even has an outdoor granite slab with a charcoal grill built in. No problems. After six years watching the kids enjoy theirs, we are installing one in the new home because it is part of this builder's standard.

[@brotherjoeradosti]

What about removing stains from Marble tops?

[@ncstonefab1]

Make a paste of baking soda and water (poultice). Cover the spot with the poultice so it’s about 1/8″ inch thick and overlaps it by about 1/4″. Cover it with plastic wrap, tape around all edges of the plastic. Poke small holes in the plastic so that the poultice can thoroughly dry. Leave this for 3-5 days or until it completely dries. After the poultice has dried clean the area. Reapply as needed. Once the stain is gone reseal it and let it cure of 48 hours.

[@lindarichardson5531]

I have Silestone,Would I clean it the same way?

[@ncstonefab1]

Silestone is man-made so yes.

[@petelinster7093]

Ok I have to put my two cents in. We bought some granite over 15 years ago. Use pledge on it once a week like your dusting. We never have had a stain. EASY!

[@niliamaharaj7042]

Hi do you make curries food. (Indian) and had no issues?

[@djustice2141]

How do I get a burn mark off granite?

[@ncstonefab1]

Granite??? How did you burn it?

[@djustice2141]

@@ncstonefab1 from a toaster

[@arepaconqueso4800]

idk what the fuck happened to my stone countertop in my bathroom. I was doing a mask with lemon and I think the lemon and some shampoos stained it and dried it white. I didn't know what to do so I just let it soak on body oil for days and It reduced it but it's still visible.

[@gregarioussolitudinist5695]

Doesn't make any sense to have a countertop material that is destroyed by the process of preparing food.

[@ncstonefab1]

Who told you that? Granite is thousands of years old, it is one of the strongest stones aside from diamonds, it does not destroy itself because you use it. It is so hard that the only thing that can scratch granite is another piece of granite.

[@camilagenevieve7677]

My thoughts exactly @Gregarious Solitudinist

[@olgak7707]

Hi There, what is the name of the product you used for the stains? Help! URGENTE!

[@jessicadave8875]

I have a oil stain on granite counter top....but you said some name but I can't find it. It looks white in gray container. Please tell me name and where can I find this item.

[@ghaithsultan4092]

Jessica Dave did you find the product im still searching 🙄

[@wellivea1]

He said "poultice" and it's probably this one www.amazon.com/dp/B003849UNI/

[@Chuck59ish]

Stone maintenance 101.

[@mz610]

‘Staht’ Lolz

[@michellecisneros8635]

You say SOAP N WATER but what type of SOAP? any dish soap?

[@couchpoet1]

sweet sierra Lol

[@peacefulshel1306]

how can i clean a water stain away? i have a huge stain in my bathroom and it seems to be spreading

[@agentwix]

use apple cider vinegar, dishwashing soap and warm water to clean the water stain

[@brotherjoeradosti]

Call the manufacturer. I don't think it's a good idea to use vinegar, or acidic products on stone.

[@mehronmoin]

show the container of the product , how the hell I know what you applied to the stone

[@yourcrazycleaninglady7133]

marble and limestone is a great material for carving not for floor and countertop's and granite is great and you do not need to smear it with anything

[@youdagoob]

Yourcrazy Cleaninglady I have stains.. water, soap, cooking oil... everywhere on my year old “sealed” granite countertops. Never again would I do granite counters.

[@yourcrazycleaninglady7133]

Maybe it's not granite, in Moscow, the entire floor in the subway is made of granite and is already 100 years old millions of people go there every day and it's still beautiful kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4OQmXSGop6Nf80 and this kzbin.info/www/bejne/enmYf2WXpdF3fck

[@TheWendolGuild]

no mention of your food comming into contact with all these chemicals.

[@kirksway1]

or just buy laminate.

[@alvilla701]

If you put something hot on laminate it burns, laminate is good like in bathrooms but not the kitchen

[@kirksway1]

What are you cooking in your kitchen?

[@youdagoob]

kirk kopak ...LOL. Had a starter house with formica. Never had problems with it. Never had to obsess. “Upgraded” to a house with granite and now I worry about any thing and everything set upon my new granite because I see stains EVERYWHERE.

[@maxmaxwell8011]

..and this one? This one is from Mexico,and this one? This is from India,and this one....