Is Silestone much more hygienic compared to granite countertops? That is definitely a great query!
All granite and silestone countertops are highly sanitary countertops. However, one of them is much more hygienic than the alternative. Especially if a proper maintenance program is not actually used.
The main thing you need to consider is how the two counters are manufactured. Granite countertops are made naturally. Mother Nature produces granite for us and now we grow it in rock quarries. Cut it into tiles and comb it directly onto the countertops. Because it is a pure stone, its surface is not perfect.
The surface of any granite countertop is prone to small cracks that you simply cannot see using just your human eye. These types of slight cracks give very small food scraps an area to hide. Not only can food hide inside those little crevices, but bacteria will get in there too. Bacteria can feed on food and increase in number.
On the positive side, the issue associated with cracks and flaws in the surface of granite countertops is often defeated. More on that shortly. We will first go over exactly how hygienic quartz countertops are.
The great thing about quartz countertops is that silestone countertops are significantly harder to crack than granite countertops. Quartz countertops are made from ground quartz together with a glue. This resin is basically the glue that holds the countertop together. Quartz countertops cure to an extremely tough countertop surface area that can be virtually flawless. Absolutely no small scale cracks or maybe other defects for food and micro-organisms to hide due to the all-retaining resin.
Now let’s get back to granite countertops. You can treat granite countertops with a sealer. Visualize it as waxing your own counters. The wax fills these types of small cracks and prevents food and bacteria from hiding and causing disease.
You will need to reapply a granite countertop sealer about once a year. It really works quite well. The problem is that most people forget. And when that happens, they will have problems with their granite.
Without a good layer of wax, you not only have a higher chance of protecting bacteria from growing, but you also have a higher risk of yellowing your countertop. In exactly the same way that sealer keeps germs away, it also keeps stains off countertops.
Keep a new coat of sealer on your granite and it can dramatically reduce the risk of food poisoning and staining as well.