The pristine and sleek look of white concrete countertops is an impressive choice for your kitchen or bathroom. They can add to the overall beauty of your space while ensuring durability and strength. Unfortunately, keeping those white concrete countertops white presents a challenge. Concrete is porous, so it’s easy for spills to seep in and result in stains or discoloring on your white countertops. Applying a concrete countertop sealer will help to keep your counters stainproof and looking like new.

Concrete sealers help to prevent staining by filling in any holes, keeping spills on the surface and protecting the concrete beneath. Using food-safe concrete sealers with fluoropolymers will help the porous material to resist staining from soaps, foods, oils, grease, and other common materials in the kitchen and bathroom. While they aren’t totally foolproof, the sealants provide your counters with a barrier that gives extra time to clean up the spill so that the stain won’t seep through and set into the concrete. Of course, you must still quickly wipe up any spills to keep stains away, since the sealant can’t keep them out entirely. You should also familiarize yourself with the best way to clean concrete countertops for maintenance and longevity. 

While you can hire a professional to reseal your concrete countertops, this can also be done on your own. Sealers generally come in two finishes: glossy or satin. A satin sealer provides less shine and gives a more natural look, while the glossy finish gives it more sheen and tends to be easier to clean. You can even choose to carefully paint your concrete countertops for a fresh look before applying the sealer. This gives it an additional stain barrier.

Before applying your sealer to the countertop, make sure the surface is completely clean. If the old sealant is damaged, peeling, or was treated with wax, repellents, or a penetrating sealer, you may need to wet grind the countertops to strip it down to bare concrete again. Etching may also be necessary to help the sealant grip to the surface. Follow the instructions for mixing your sealer, then apply the sealer liberally over the entire counter with a foam roller or brush. Once the first coat is dry (after about 24 hours), add another coat or two of sealer for added protection and coverage over any missed spots. You can also use a sander to level the surface in between coats. Once the sealer has had a chance to sit and cure according to instructions, you can start using the counter again.

For all its benefits, there are some downsides to white concrete countertops, including its routine maintenance. Proper maintenance includes re-sealing every so often, depending on the type of concrete sealer used. You may find more specific instructions on the label for re-sealing, but in general this should be done every few years to keep stains at bay and ensure your white countertops stay pristine.