How To Maintain a Stone Countertop

Stone countertops are a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms. However, these beautiful surfaces require regular care to maintain their luster. Whether you’re looking to prevent stains or remove stains, it’s all in the technique. Below, we’ll dive into different stone countertops and how to seal and remove stains. Watch the video above to see This Old House host Kevin O’Connor and countertop contractor Jason Keefe discuss countertop maintenance tips.

What Are Common Types of Stone Countertops?

Natural stone countertops are quarried directly from the earth. Here are a few common types:

• Granite: Granite is prized for its durability and resistance to heat, making it a good choice for kitchen countertops where hot cookware is frequently used. Its dense composition also makes it less prone to scratches and chips.
• Limestone: Limestone is a softer stone compared to granite and marble, often chosen for bathroom countertops due to its subtle, natural beauty. However, its softer nature requires more care, as it can be more easily scratched or etched by everyday use.
• Marble: Marble is prized for its elegant and luxurious appearance, with distinctive veining that enhances its aesthetic appeal. However, it’s more porous than granite, making it more vulnerable to staining and requiring more regular maintenance to keep it looking pristine.

Engineered stone, such as quartz, is an artificial product composed of crushed stone mixed with resins. It comes in several patterns and requires less maintenance than natural stone.

How Do You Seal Stone Countertops?

To seal your stone countertops, follow these steps:

1. Clean the surface and allow it to dry completely.
2. Apply a silicone impregnator using a white cotton cloth.
3. Allow the sealer to penetrate the stone for the time specified by the manufacturer.
4. Buff away any excess sealer with a clean, dry cloth.

Limestone and marble should be sealed four times per year, while granite only needs to be sealed every six months. Engineered quartz typically doesn’t require any sealing.

Daily Stone Countertop Maintenance

Use mild soap and water to clean your countertops. Avoid citrus-based cleaners or scouring powders, as these can damage the stone surface. Simply wipe the countertop with a soft cloth dampened with the soap solution, then dry it thoroughly with a clean cloth.

To prevent stains, wipe up spills immediately—especially acidic substances like wine or citrus juices. Use coasters under glasses and trivets under hot dishes. Avoid placing toiletries directly on bathroom countertops.

How Do You Remove Stains From Stone Countertops?

Despite your best efforts, stains can happen. A poultice can be effective for stubborn stains. Here’s how to create and apply it:

1. Create a paste using a commercial poultice powder or a mixture of baking soda and water.
2. Apply a thick layer (about 1/4 inch) of the paste over the stain using a plastic putty knife.
3. Cover the area with plastic wrap and tape down the edges.
4. Leave the poultice in place for 24–48 hours.
5. Remove the plastic and allow the paste to dry completely.
6. Scrape off the dried paste and rinse the area.

For oil-based stains, such as those from cooking oil or cosmetics, create a poultice using liquid dish soap and water. Apply it in the same way you would the commercial option above. You can repeat this process if it doesn’t completely remove the stain the first time. 

Addressing Common Stone Countertop Issues

Stone countertops are known for their durability and timeless beauty, but like all materials, they can develop issues over time. Here’s how to tackle some of the most common problems to keep your countertops looking their best.

Etching

Etching is a common issue with stone countertops, especially with materials like marble or limestone. It happens when acidic substances, such as lemon juice, vinegar, or certain cleaners, come into contact with the stone and leave dull, discolored spots.

For minor etching, you can restore the shine with a stone polishing compound, which is available at most home improvement stores. Simply apply the compound to the affected area and buff it in with a soft cloth following the manufacturer’s instructions. This should help bring back the countertop’s original luster.

However, if the etching is deep and widespread, it might be beyond a do-it-yourself (DIY) fix. In these cases, it’s best to call in a professional who can restore the stone’s surface using specialized tools and techniques.

Scratches

Scratches on stone countertops can vary in severity, from light surface marks to deep gouges. A stone polishing compound can work wonders for light scratches. Apply the compound to the scratched area and gently buff it in. This should help blend the scratch into the surrounding stone.

The process is more involved for deeper scratches. Use fine-grit sandpaper to gently sand down the scratch before polishing. However, deep scratches often require professional attention. A stone restoration expert can use diamond abrasives and other specialized equipment to grind down and repolish the stone, restoring it to a smooth, flawless finish.

Chips

Chips are another common issue, especially along the edges of stone countertops where they are most vulnerable. Small chips can often be repaired with an epoxy designed specifically for stone. Start by cleaning the chipped area to ensure no dust or debris interferes with the repair. Then, apply the epoxy to the chip, carefully filling the space and smoothing it out with a putty knife. Once it’s fully cured, the epoxy can be sanded and polished to match the surrounding stone.

The repair can be more complicated for larger chips or cracks. Large chips often require color-matched epoxies and precise application to blend seamlessly with the rest of the countertop. Given the complexity, we recommend leaving these repairs to professionals who can achieve nearly invisible finishes.

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