Countertops serve a variety of purposes. They give your kitchen or bathroom a new look, make meal prep easy, enhance the aesthetics of your space and increase the value of your home. Regular countertop care and maintenance is important for its value, so knowing how to upkeep your countertop is key
Various Cleaning Tips
1. Granite
First check to make sure the countertop is sealed. To check the sealant, leave a few drops of water on the surface. If the water droplets bead up, it’s sealed. If the droplets have been absorbed, it’s time to reseal! Use a gentle approach for cleaning by using warm water, mild or gentle dish soap, and a soft washcloth. Avoid using harsh or abrasive cleaners and sponges that will weaken the sealant.
2. Quartz
Avoid using harsh cleaning solutions, abrasive cleaners and scouring pads. Glass cleaner is very effective on quartz as it doesn’t leave any streaks. Simply spray a mild surface spray glass cleaner and wipe up with a soft paper towel or cloth.
3. Marble
Avoid products containing acid, including lemon juice and vinegar. Mix warm water and gentle, non-abrasive dish soap and apply to surface. Wipe the countertop with a hot, wet dish cloth and dry with an absorbent towel. Marble countertops will also leave dull spots on the surface which is known as etches. To correct, buff the marble with dry Grade #0000 steel wool. Anything deeper than a water spot, light scratch or nick will require a professional’s help.
4. Laminate
Take a non-abrasive brush or sponge, add warm water and add mild dish soap. Begin wiping down your countertop and use baking soda if there are difficult spots to clean – do not scrub, or you could damage the surface. A great finishing touch is to mix water and vinegar and spray the countertop down. Allow the solution to sit for 2 minutes and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
5. Butcher Block
While using mild soap, warm water and a sponge may wipe food and liquids away, undiluted vinegar is a useful tool to sanitize the butcher block. If you are seeing stains, sand the area of your butcher block and reseal with food-safe finishes.
Tips for a Healthy Countertop
Wipe up spills immediately
Gently scrape embedded food particles
Use cutting boards, placemats and potholders
Avoid harsh chemicals
