Aside from regular wipe downs, the ACI says that the best way to care for granite countertops is to reseal them from time to time, though “the frequency at which this needs to be done will depend on the type of sealant used,” as well as other factors, like how much abuse they’ve taken, for example.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to take the guesswork out of the equation. Per the natural stone specialists at Quality Granite and Marble, you can quickly determine whether your granite countertops are due for a resealing by pouring a quarter cup of water at various spots on your countertop: “If the water absorbs into the stone in less than five minutes, the stone does need to be sealed. If the water is still standing after 30 minutes, no sealer is needed. Anywhere in between five and 30 minutes, the stone may benefit a sealer.” Roger that.
As for the resealing process, that’s simply a matter of following the instructions on the product label—just be sure to pick one that’s formulated specifically for granite and stone, like this one from Granite Gold.