The year of the COVID-19 epidemic, and we are in it, as long as we are keeping things clean, it’s important to learn the proper method to how to maintain and clean your countertops. The cleaner the countertop, the longer your countertops will last you, in effect saving you money. As an added bonus, you are killing germs and staying healthy too.
It’s important to understand that there is no one universal way of cleaning countertops. Laminate, solid surface, stone, or granite countertops require different cleaning solutions.
With laminate, washing your countertop with mild dish soap and soft cloth or sponge is all you need, especially if you are cleaning them on a daily basis. Remember, the more you use and wash them, the more you break down the surface. The less wear and tear will help your laminate countertops last a long time. Basically, wipe any crumbs or visible dirt off the counter with warm water and a sponge or cloth. Then with warm soapy water scrub your counter with the sponge or soft cloth, rinse and repeat. If you are dealing with stained countertops, a tablespoon baking soda and water should take care of the stain. Spread it over the stain for about five minuses, then wipe down. If it doesn’t work, check the manufacturer’s instructions to see what they recommend. Another great tip, wash and rinse, then wash again. Don’t spread the direct around in other words. If you want to kill germs, spray a solution of equal parts isopropyl rubbing alcohol and water. This mixture will not harm most surfaces and acts as a disinfectant and kills bacteria on contact.
Solid surface countertops, which are slightly more expensive than laminate, are non-porous, seamless, so nothing sinks in. These countertops are generally very easy to keep clean. When cleaning solid surfaces, it’s cleaned relatively the same way that laminate countertops are cleaned, with a damp soft cloth or sponge and dish soap wipe off any debris before washing the counter with soap. Rinse with water and repeat the process, then dry. Vinegar or ammonia-based cleaners such as most glass or general-purpose cleaners are also acceptable.
On a side note, the solid surface material can scratch easily, so chopping boards should be used at all times to help prevent this. If by chance you do scratch your countertop, this can easily be buffed out by mild abrasive cleaner and sponge. Hot surfaces can burn the solid surface countertop as well, so using a hot pad or heat resistant cutting board will help protect your countertop. One advantage of choosing solid surface countertops is the fact that they are man-made there a lot of colors available.
With granite or stone countertops, you will again wipe the crumbs off with a warm wet sponge, then wipe the surface with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly. You can even use a 50/50 solution of isopropyl alcohol and water, however, do not use vinegar, Windex, bleach or lemon cleaners on granite surfaces can be acidic and can eat away at the surface.
Overall, your countertops, no matter what type of material, can last a long time, providing you take care of them properly. Just like changing oil in a car, if you maintain your countertops, your countertops will last, and you’ll get your money’s worth out of them. During this pandemic, it especially important to make sure your countertops are spic and span. Here’s to your health and your countertops. If you have any questions about how to care for your countertops, contact the countertop experts at Top Shop Countertops.