---
title: "Caring for Stone"
url: https://tileandstonetips.com/stone
description: "Caring for Stone — a free how-to-tile article from Tile And Stone Tips."
---

# Caring for Stone

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Countertop tile plan diagram with a front edge course and a backsplash band

**Stone sealers:**
All stone should be sealed. It does not matter what the composition of the stone is, all stone has a porosity level.

| The first and foremost sealer to apply is a silicone impregnator such as **HMK** S-34. This sealer actually penetrates the stone providing a below-surface barrier preventing water, oil, and chemical penetration. |  |
|---|---|
| Other sealers such as **HMK** S-35, S-37, and S-39 provide additional abrasion protection and at the same time enhance the natural stones color. |  |

**Care and maintenance:**
 After proper installation and sealing natural stone becomes a permanent surface.

| Stones should be cleaned with a PH balanced cleaner such as **HMK** P-24 (liquid stone soap). It will clean without streaking the surface and also will condition the stone while building the natural patina. |  |
|---|---|

A marble and granite polish can be applied periodically to clean and shine polished surfaces, and protect against cosmetics, vinegar, colas and citric acids. The silicone impregnator should be reapplied at least once per year whether it looks like it needs it or not.

| You may purchase these fine products and find addtional information here: |
|---|
|  |

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**Call a pro:**
 When a stone surface becomes scratched, chipped, stained or dull it becomes a job for a pro.

If your stone has become dull or stained there are many companies that specialize in stone renovation. They are usually found under "Marble & Terazzo Cleaning & Service" in your local telephone directory. It is amazing what they can do to bring your stone to a like new appearance.

Here is an excerpt I found about the cleanliness of granite which dispels the myth that granite can trap bacteria:

**For counter cleanliness granite is the way to go.**

If you are concerned about bacterial contamination of your kitchen countertop, it looks like stainless steel and granite are the way to go.

That's what a recent study by the **Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management**, a St Paul, Minnesota-based organization that develops educational materials and reseach for the retail food industry shows.

 The study measured the bacteria resistance capacity of six commercial countertop materials. Each surface was contaminated with **E.coli** (nearly 2 billion of the microorganisms), washed and rinsed with soap and water and then sanitized with a vinegar-and-water solution.

The results are as shown in this table:

**Surface microorganisms eliminated by cleaning**:

| Stainless Steel | 85,113,804 |
|---|---|
| Granite | 79,432,823 |
| Plastic Laminate | 498,884 |
| Tile | 293,765 |
| Concrete | 32,810 |
| Wood | 2,080 |

Source: Today's Homeowner Magazine

## More in How-To-Tile Articles

- [Tile Design Guidelines](https://tileandstonetips.com/tileDesign.html)
- [Porcelain or Ceramic?](https://tileandstonetips.com/porcelain.html)
- [Surface Preparation](https://tileandstonetips.com/surface.html)
- [Grout: Problems & Solutions](https://tileandstonetips.com/grout.html)
- [Applying Grout](https://tileandstonetips.com/more_grout_tips.html)
- [Transitions](https://tileandstonetips.com/transitions.html)
- [Cutting Tools for Ceramic & Stone](https://tileandstonetips.com/cutting.html)
- [Granite Tiles](https://tileandstonetips.com/granite.html)
- [All articles](https://tileandstonetips.com/articles.html)