The countertop is a queen of the kitchen which doesn’t only provide essential function but also plays a huge role in creating the room’s overall look. Therefore, it’s always important to maintain your beloved countertop from time to time.
As you may have known, kitchen countertops are made of various materials so the way to treat each one of them is different. You can’t regularly maintain a countertop made of a particular material similar to one another.
In this article, we share with you some steps to maintain kitchen countertops which are made of some popular materials. Just keep scrolling to check out our complete tutorial on how to maintain kitchen countertops below!
How To Maintain Kitchen Countertops
How to Maintain Wood Countertops
Prepare these supplies:
- Distilled white vinegar
- Lemon
- Nonabrasive cleaner (optional)
- Salt
- Warm water
- Microfiber cloths
- Metal scrapper
Regular cleaning:
- If you want to use a more natural cleaning solution, you can mix a few drops of distilled water and warm water. It’s a safe cleaner that you can use to clean your wood countertops on a daily basis.
- When there is some food residue on the countertops, you can use a metal scraper to clean them off.
- Always rinse your wood countertops by using clean water and letting them dry completely.
Removing stains:
- Sprinkle some salt on the stained area of the countertop and cut a lemon in a half.
- Directly rub the stained area with the lemon.
- Wipe the cleaner residue with a mixture of clean water and distilled vinegar.
Sealing the surface:
- When you find some scratches on the surface of your wood countertop, sand it down and reapply the sealer.
- Always choose a less toxic sealer to avoid further damage.
How to Maintain Granite and Marble Countertops
Prepare these supplies:
- Dish soap
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Warm water
- Microfiber cloths
- Tape
- Plastic wrap
Regular cleaning:
- Mix a few drops of mild dish soap and warm water.
- Apply the cleaning solution by using microfiber cloths till the surface looks nice and shiny.
Removing stains:
- To remove oil-based stains, you can make a baking soda paste and hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean water-based stains.
- Apply the cleaning solution to the stained area directly and let it sit overnight or even for a few days depending on the severity of the stains.
- Rinse the cleaner by using water.
- You may need to repeat the step if the stains are difficult to remove.
Sealing the surface:
Though marbles and granites are known for their great durability, they need to be resealed on a regular basis. Reseal them at least once a year or every few months by using a manufactured sealer.
(Read also: How to Clean Patio Cushions in No Time | Simple Home Guide)
How to Maintain Laminate Countertops
Prepare these supplies:
- Mild liquid detergent
- Baking soda
- Water
- Microfiber cloths
Regular cleaning:
- Mix the water and mild detergent.
- Wipe the countertop to make it shiny again.
- Keep in mind to never use harsh detergents which contain alkali or acid since they can damage your laminate countertops.
Removing stains:
- Mix baking soda and water till you have a paste consistency.
- Apply the baking soda directly onto the stained area and let it stay for around 5 minutes.
- Simply rinse the paste by using a soft cloth. Do not scrub it off.
Regular sealing:
This kind of countertop actually doesn’t require any sealing process since they are extremely durable. However, always use cutting boards when you use knives since the surface still can get scratched.
How to Maintain Quartz Countertops
Prepare these supplies:
- Mild dish soap
- Nonabrasive glass cleaner
- Water
- Nonabrasive sponge
- Microfiber cloths
Regular cleaning:
- Regularly cleaning quartz countertops is actually not difficult at all, you just need to mix mild dish soap and water.
- Use a non-abrasive sponge to wash the countertops.
- Rinse by using a soaked microfiber cloth.
Removing stains:
In general, the quartz countertop is actually stain-resistant but sometimes you still see some grease, food drips, and other stains around. You can still use the mixture of soap and water to clean them up but for more severe stains, you might need to use glass cleaner.
Regular sealing:
There’s no need to reseal quartz or engineered stone countertops. They may be offered at expensive price tags but they don’t really require tricky maintenance, so it’s actually quite reasonable.
How to Maintain Granite and Marble Countertops
Prepare these supplies:
- Mild dish soap
- Baking soda
- Lemon oil (optional)
- Stainless steel cleaner
- Stainless steel polish
- Water
- Microfiber cloths
Regular cleaning:
- Stainless steel is known for its superb durability, that’s why you find it in most commercial kitchens all around the world. To clean it up, you just need to regularly wipe its surface by using the mixture of dish soap and water on a microfiber cloth.
- Don’t ever use steel wool and scrubbing pads since they may scratch the surface.
Removing stains:
- Mix baking soda and dish soap.
- Use a microfiber cloth to remove the stain.
Regular sealing:
Of course, there’s no need to seal a stainless countertop. To keep it looks like new, you just need to polish it by using lemon oil or stainless-steel polish. Apply the polisher with a microfiber cloth in the direction of the grain.
How to Maintain Soapstone Countertops
Prepare these supplies:
- Multipurpose cleaner
- Mineral oil
- Microfiber cloths
- Fine-grift sandpaper
Regular cleaning:
Soapstone countertops are well-known for their ability to withstand scratches and stains, you just need to clean the surface with a multipurpose cleaner. All types of multipurpose cleaner actually work as long as it doesn’t contain any harsh materials.
Removing stains:
Just like regular cleaning, you can simply use a multipurpose cleaner to remove stains. If you find some scratches, use very fine sandpaper and apply mineral oil afterward.
Regular sealing:
Some homeowners choose to use mineral oil to maintain the look of soapstone countertops. If you prefer the used look though, you can just leave it alone.
So those are some ways that you can use as a reference to clean and maintain your kitchen countertops!
