If you have one of those beautiful new kitchens with a granite counter top, you know when house cleaning times comes around that your counter top needs a little extra care to look its best. A black or dark colored granite counter top sometimes shows water marks if you do not dry it properly or use a special cleaner.

But even more important than routine cleaning of your countertop while house cleaning is re-sealing it on a regular basis. If your countertop has been in for more than a year, it is definitely time to reseal it. You do not want it to go unprotected or you may have the unfortunate occurrence of chemical damage and stains. Re-sealing your granite countertop is not a difficult process and you can do it yourself.

The first step to take when re-sealing your countertop is to clean it thoroughly as you usually when do when house cleaning. Dry it thoroughly. Next apply any natural stone, regular sealer. This can be purchased at most home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Lowes. When applying the sealer, spread evenly over the entire granite surface using a clean, dry cotton cloth. Allow the sealer to dry over night.

The following morning, remove any excess cleaner using a paper towel. Then make a very mild solution of dishwashing soap and water, approximately 10% soap and 90% water. Wash your granite countertop with the soap and water cleaning solution. Again dry with a paper towel.

To keep your granite counter top in excellent condition, repeat this process every six months. Keeping up with routine sealing with keep your granite shine looking like new. In between, during your regular housekeeping routine, clean your counter tops with a light soap and water mixture.

There are a few things you should never use on granite counter tops at any time. These include ammonia and alcohol. Using either of these solutions while house cleaning can remove the sealer from the stone leaving it unprotected. Without the protection of the sealer your countertop can be stained even by some common household items as coffee and wine and the like.

If you keep up with regular house cleaning of your granite countertop and re-seal it every six months, the shine on your countertop will remain beautiful for as long as you own it. It's worth the little extra time and effort to keep your countertop protected and in good condition. Granite is a beautiful stone and proper care keeps it looking beautiful.