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You don’t need to seal German smear; the mortar is already acting as a sealant for the bricks. You can seal the mortar, though, if you wish to further protect the area from stains, moisture, and dirt or make it easier to clean and maintain. Note that a sealant will make the mortar appear more glossy.

Most jobs take 4-8 hours, but larger areas or heavily damaged surfaces may require multiple sessions.

How often you need to reseal marble countertops depends on the quality and color of the stone, the traffic on the surface, and the type of sealant. Sealing at least once a year is the general rule of thumb. However, if your large family loves to cook or the countertops are in a busy family bathroom, you might have to reseal them every six months (or more). The surfaces of your rarely used guest bathroom might not need resealing for a few years.

If you would rather use vinegar to clean the stone fireplace instead of dish soap, this mixture should work fine. Vinegar is slightly acidic, however, so it may etch some kinds of stone without quite a bit of diluting. For a stone fireplace, dilute it to about one cup of vinegar for every gallon of hot water. It’s a smart idea to test the diluted mixture in an inconspicuous area of the fireplace and watch for etching. You can use vinegar to clean quite a few different items around your home, and it’s especially good at removing stains.