You may have heard that there is no natural non-toxic sealer for real stone countertops. This is because most of the granite countertop slabs in North America are glossy or already come with a sealer. But if you choose the stone yourself, you can choose a slab that can be sealed with a natural and totally non-toxic sealer.
I tested all of the natural (as well as synthetic) stone sealers on many different stone types.
The testing went on for many months!
My top pick is definitely a walnut oil/wax mix which has long been used successfully on real stone. There are some caveats – there are some stones and some situations where this will not work well.
This all-natural, healthy, and food-safe “drying oil” works as an effective sealer for real stone and is usually the best choice for most applications. Drying oils polymerize, forming a durable finish on the surface.
Because stone countertops do need re-sealing fairly often, this becomes an area of priority to have something low tox.
There are some stones that would do better with one of the synthetic sealers. I will discuss those as well.
This post is not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned. All of the stone sealers I found that were candidates have affiliate programs, so all the links to the products here (the ones I liked and the ones that didn’t perform as well) are affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission.
My Test Results – Walnut Oil Wins
Products Tested
I started by testing many different oils, waxes, as well as MetaCreme. I tested walnut oil (with wax), tung oil, hemp oil, and MetaCreme on a few different stone types. I tested dark marble, creme marble, slate, and later – white marble, grey limestone, and dark grey soapstone.
MetaCreme is a synthetic sealer, not a natural oil, but it is marketed as low odor and low-VOC. This is one alternative to the natural oils for those who are chemically sensitive or avoiding toxins. I tested two other synthetics low VOC sealers here (especially good for light-colored stones).
I also threw in OSMO oil and shellac for comparison because I had those around. (OSMO and shellac are not meant for countertops. Shellac might be used on stone but only in usual applications like artwork).
Oil Versus Water Based Sealers
I found that the “drying oils” – hemp, tung, and walnut all held up well as countertop sealers. They work best on dark or warm tones stones since they can yellow light-colored stones. However, thick oils like tung will not work over the long term as a second coat will not turn white.
Walnut oil is very light in odor, and is the all-round best natural sealer for stone countertops. It’s even more durable to stains and acids than the synthetic sealers.
Water Repellency
Walnut oil repelled water perfectly. After a water test, none of the stones were left with a mark indicating that water had soaked in.
Resistance to Dye and Acid
I then thew mustard at all of them, both for the pigment and for the acidic vinegar in it, and left it on for a few short minutes.
The dark stones were all marred by the vinegar which broke through all of the finishes I tried.
The oil-finished stones were much easier to touch up. To fix those white spots all it took was adding a little oil and right away it looked back to normal. And because these oils are so safe to work with you can do that yourself with a small rag.
Synthetic stone sealers on the other hand are not easy to touch up after a vinegar spill. Those white spots were not fixed by adding another coat of Metacreme, so I was not as happy with the results.
I would pick walnut oil as my top choice for most stones, with some exceptions…
Which Stones Will Walnut Oil Seal?
Any honed stone can be sealed with walnut oil, though very light-colored stones can have some unwanted yellowing. This is the main drawback.
In my first round of testing, I was not happy with any of the natural drying oil finishes on white marble. It did work just fine on a creme colored marble pictured above.
On a light-colored grey limestone, it was iffy. Definitely test this out first if you are going with any light-colored stone including limestone – this might look totally fine or it might alter the color too much.
On really light stones that are white or cool tones, check out these three low-VOC synthetic options. Make sure to test the products if you are sensitive to chemicals, as you will be resealing the stone every few years or so.
Did the Oils Hold Up to Tougher Stains? (Plus More Oil Comparisons)
Walnut vs. Coconut vs. Jojoba
After I narrowed in on walnut oil as being the best all-around oil out of the first batch, I started another round of testing with lighter stones.
I also wanted to see if refined coconut oil could deliver the same results without any yellow or green color change.
I threw in Jojoba oil since that is a great finish on many natural surfaces like wood. (It turned out that worked much better on my skin and hair!)
Refined coconut oil is not a “drying oil”. Unlike walnut, hemp, and tung which polymerize forming a durable coating, coconut oil does not polymerize to form a topical coating. Using a formula with wax makes it a little more durable and it did succeed in not yellowing any of the stones, but it did not hold up very well when actually put to the test. And it won’t hold up for as long.
Light Grey, Dark Grey and White Stones
I tested two very similar samples of limestone that are cool-toned light grey, as well as white marble, slate, and dark grey soapstone.
Pure refined coconut oil can be used on soapstone and other stone counters that don’t truly need a sealer (as well as cutting boards), just keep in mind it does not polymerize to form a durable film. I also tried the version with wax.
Results
I put them all to a serious test with palm oil. Coconut and jojoba certainly failed, with walnut oil offering the most protection.
Palm oil will be one of the hardest substances for natural oils to hold up to since it stains red and it’s an oil which other oils can’t hold up to.
Drawbacks to Walnut Oil as a Stone Sealer
The main drawback, once you choose a stone that is color compatible, is probably the time it takes a natural walnut oil finish to cure.
You should wait 5-7 days before using the surface, with a full 15 days before you start scrubbing it and using it to full capacity.
When it comes time to re-seal, simply add the oil in sections so that you can still use part of your countertops, or do it before going on vacation.
What is great about walnut oil is how safe it is to handle, even for most chemically sensitive folks. It does not have additives – you can get it on your skin and you don’t need respiratory protection. So touching it up should not be a daunting task. Just be sure to follow the instructions.
Which Countertops Can be Sealed with Natural Oil
Honed Stones
Generally, any honed (not polished) stone that is porous enough to need a sealer can be sealed with the walnut oil/wax mix.
Marble, granite, soapstone, limestone, and slate can all be sealed with this oil.
Just test it for color change if it’s a white or light cool toned stone.
I can certainly see why this is sold as “Soapstone Sealer“, since it creates a perfect black finish on soapstone.
While mineral oil is the most common sealer for soapstone, it’s not totally non-toxic and benign. Walnut oil is just as good as a finish.
Paper Composite Counters
Walnut also works well on Richlite and Paperstone countertops. I tested it on that as well and was really happy that it left it looking quite natural. There was no noticeable color chance as these countertops only come in warm colors and dark colors.
It also allowed the Paperstone to retain its matte finish.
It’s a great alternative sealer to the other not as safe options used to seal paper composite countertops.
Wooden Counters
Walnut works well on wooden/butcher block countertops as well. Hemp oil also works well on wood, as the color change that happens with hemp looks natural on wood.
Concrete Counters
Concrete countertops can also be sealed with walnut oil or tung oil. Tung works better on concrete than stone because of how porous it is. On stone it forms too thick of a topical coating, making it hard to touch up.
If Stone is Sealed Already
To tell if the stone is sealed already, do a water test – put a big drop of water on the stone and see if the stone changes color. If the color does change then it is not sealed. If it does not change it is likely already sealed.
The walnut oil sealer can seal over an already sealed area. It’s not going to soak in or be quite as effective, but it will dry and polymerize. Also, it will need to be kept very thin so as to not build up too thick of a film.
My countertop post goes over stones that are dense enough to not require a sealer. So if water does not soak in, that can also indicate that it is one of these very dense stones. If you want to skip the whole sealing stage altogether, go with one of those stones.
Can You Use Hemp or Tung Oil on Stone?
Tung Oil
For dense stones like slate, you can thin tung oil (I don’t do well with the citrus thinner though, and many won’t because it’s so strong in odor).
I tried tung oil without thinning it and wiped off the excess. It worked just fine, but it may form too thick of a layer to be able to be touched up easily in the future.
If you put it on too thick it could also get frosty/gummy when used outside or go white when used inside. You might have to sand it down to fix it. And when you go to re-seal it you may have a problem if the first coat was too thick.
But because tung oil forms a thick more robust finish, if you want to seal a slate shower pan or an exterior stone, or exterior concrete like a birdbath – tung would work better and is more durable than walnut oil.
Tung oil can produce a more amber tone and that is another reason it won’t work on all stones. Even on a dark stone like soapstone, because it has a bluish hue, tung oil can make it look green. You will see this change immediately.
The Milk Paint tung oil is sourced from China and is amber-toned. I noticed this brand has a lighter odor than others I have tried (which I liked). Tung oil from South America can be more greenish.
Hemp Oil
Hemp oil as a stone sealer is not as tough of a finish but it can work well. I tried it and it did work in my experiments on stones where it is color compatible.
Walnut oil is usually the best choice for all stone countertops. The color change is very subtle and it’s easy to re-do and touch up without build-up.
Some may prefer hemp oil. If you have an allergy or aversion to walnut oil, hemp oil is the next natural oil to try.
But hemp oil has more of a hue to it than walnut oil and it can produce a greenish tone on light-colored stones. On white stone, you would see the color shift.
The color change will show up immediately, as opposed to yellowing over time says Dwayne, the owner of Real Milk Paint. On stones where I saw a color change to yellow, I did see it right away and it did also worsen a little bit over a few days or weeks.
Natural Sealers for Concrete Countertops
Tung oil can be used on concrete countertops. You can also use a Milk Paint stain to add color to it. Here is a video about applying it to countertops.
You can use tung on concrete floors as well, some folks have not had to redo them for 8 years or more. It provides a durable coating without making it slippery and slick.
Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.
Buy me a kofi to support the research behind this blog.
Jason Maynard says
My wife is 15 yr MCS sufferer. REALLY thankful for your website/work. I noticed you don’t throw Linseed Oil into the stone sealers with the other “drying oils”. Any reason for that? FYI, noticed that BLO dramatically darkened my slate on test and I’m switching to one of the others. Thanks
Corinne says
you def don’t want to use BLO as it has additives like metallic driers. Pure linseed might work, I didn’t test it. Walnut oil is likely better as it’s thinner so touch ups are seamless.
Marguerite says
Hello – and thank you so much for this thorough research! We are re-sealing an old marble tub and wondered if the walnut oil mix would be effective after preparing the stone. Thank you so much in advance!
Corinne says
depends on the color of the marble. White marble will yellow with the walnut oil
Amy says
This is so helpful and timely as I am new to granite and have it as my counters in my new kitchen! Quick question: Does granite need to be sealed annually? I know our granite countertops were sealed by the contractors when we moved in a year ago, but we haven’t done anything to them since. Would you recommend applying the Walnut Oil every year? Thank you for this blog!
Corinne says
Countertop sealers last around 2-5 years. Sealers break down over time. The resin is degraded by cleaning products and by general use.
Porous stones are more susceptible to stains and will require sealing more often (1-3 years). Check the density and integrity of the past sealant with a simple “water drop test”. Each stone is different, and sealers and quality of application vary – you have to do a water drop test to determine if or when to seal your stone.
Water Drop Test:
Stone must be clean and free of dust
Place a single drop of water (quarter size) on the stone
Length of time to absorb: <1 minute porous; >1 minute non-porous
Perform three tests for the first 2,000 ft2 and at least one for each additional 3,000 ft2
Be sure that you are not using cleaning products that etch the stone and break down the sealants (no vinegar, no hydrogen peroxide, etc), here are non-toxic cleaning and disinfecting products for real stone.
Beth says
Wondering about walnut oil for sealing beige color travertine in a shower. walls, floor
Corinne says
Yes you can use that, it needs a full cure of 30 days.
TJ says
Hi! Thank you for this research! We have a family member with nut anaphylaxis so walnut oil is out for us. Would you suggest hemp oil for granite counter tops? What about travertine showers? Thank you!! (We also have immuno compromised folks who need to soak in the tub so we need the natural route for sure).
Corinne says
I mention my experiment with hemp oil on stone in the article.
Erica says
What do you suggest for sealing a Quartz countertop?
Corinne says
Quartz doesn’t need a sealer
Lauren says
Would walnut oil hold up to seal stone tile for a shower floor?
Monica says
Can I use walnut oil on a slate floor?
Corinne says
Yes, slate might not need a sealer though.
Johannes says
I wonder what would happen if you use the walnet+wax mix on a polished surface?
Corinne says
I tried it and it seemed fine!
Nikki says
Hi!
Thanks for doing all this lovely research! We are about to install honed Mont Blanc Marble and to avoid chemicals we plan to seal the marble with the walnut/wax mix you suggest. Do you know of anyone whose done this to their own kitchen? Would love to see a blog or picture of someone whose out this product on their honed marble from day 1! There’s such little information out there- only running across companies pushing to sell their product.
Corinne says
There are photos in this post. It’s going to yellow the white.
Lori Rettig says
Would you recommend bees wax or food grade mineral oil, or a combination of the two for granite? Sealing or polishing or both/neither?
Corinne says
The walnut oil with wax is my top choice for sure.
Jean says
Is Mahoney’s Walnut Oil Wax what you’d consider “walnut oil with wax”? If yes, what area would you expect 8 oz. to cover? If not, where can “walnut oil with wax” be found? Thanks!
Corinne says
I link to the one I like and have tested in the post
Deanna Wu says
I tried clicking on the link for the walnut oil from the Milk Paint company. It seems as though they don’t sell that product anymore. Do you have any product suggestions? Or can you just use regular food grade walnut oil?
Corinne says
They still make it, it seems the link is temporary broken
Chris says
Have you tried SimpleCoat? Just wondering if it’s actually nontoxic.
Corinne says
It’s 100% proprietary so I really don’t know what that is. If you know someone from the company, they can send me a sample!
Brittany Beck says
Hi Corrinne, I am with SimpleCoat and would love to work with you and send you sample. Would you be able to email me at [email protected]?
Isabella says
Corinne,
Thank you so much for sharing all of this valuable research and knowledge.
Here is a question for you- I made an outdoor fountain from a large standing ceramic pot. The pot is glazed on the outside, but I need to seal the inside which is unglazed porous terra cotta. I want to use a cost effective and environmentally safe sealing product to protect (birds and wildlife). What do you recommend for this application?
Dyer says
Hi,
Thank you for this very in depth article – you have certainly done your research and work!!
I have a granite countertop (dark browns, blacks, golds and very little white/grey – I’m also not concerned at all about coloration). I do not know if it was sealed at the factory – I know very little about that. I also don’t know how or even IF it has been sealed by former owner on a regular basis or at all. I DO know it has a lot of “pits” or “cavities” – I presume that means it needs sealer? Not sure if you know the answer to that but my other question is if you think castor oil would work?
I ordered some organic castor oil for something else (and can’t use it) but I saw all these natural oil you mentioned above and wondered if you knew/thought castor oil might be an option.
Thanks!
Corinne says
No that is a non-drying oil, I would not use it.
Diane says
If you were looking at quartz or quartzite would you choose quartz over quartzite, because of sealing and more care and risk of stains? Quartzite comes in more colors and such but ease of care and also no worry with care, or MCS is important!
Corinne says
I prefer natural stone but only if it either doesn’t require a sealer or you can use a natural sealer like the walnut oil (so no light colored stone that isn’t naturally dense).
Laura Toppazzini-Bazan says
Thanks so much for this very informative article!
What is the safest counter top (toxic wise)? Do you recommend SILE STONE?
Corinne says
Countertops are all listed and reviewed here! https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2019/06/a-non-toxic-kitchen.html