Today, kitchens are multipurpose areas. Nowadays, they are not used just for cooking. We can spend hours in our kitchens performing different activities from cooking and eating up to studying and working on the computer. Therefore, we try to design them as practical and comfortable as possible.
Because of the constant and different uses we have for it, it is unavoidable that your kitchen countertops suffer some damage or get stained. Anything from a knife scratch to a wine spill can become a mess if we don’t act immediately.
Not all countertops are the same. You should perform different procedures and clean techniques, depending on the material your kitchen countertop is made of. Otherwise, instead of cleaning the mess, you might make it bigger.
Here are some easy tips you can apply to keep your kitchen countertops clean avoiding stains and other damages.
Greg Hammel 5

What to Do?

Regardless of the material of your countertop, you should never let any spill sit. Stuff like grease and cooking oil can harden and stick to a surface if they are allowed to dry out. Everything is much easier to clean if it is done right away.

Granite clean granite countertop

Granite is an igneous rock, and its natural properties and its wide range of colors make it a stylish choice for today’s countertops.
Never use acidic cleaning products and anything vinegar-based because it can damage granite. It is recommended only using warm water, a good amount of soap and a wet sponge or soft cloth to clean the surface.

Wood

Wood is beautiful and elegant, but it is also more fragile than stone. Always wipe up all spills quickly to prevent stains and keep countertops as dry as possible. A good habit is rubbing linseed or mineral oil into the wood to protect it from moisture, about once a month or so.
You can also mix 1/2 cup baking soda in 1-quart warm water. Rub the paste into the wood using a synthetic scouring pad. Rinse well and blot up excess moisture. When dry, restore the finish by using boiled linseed oil rubbed in with a fine steel wool pad. Treat the countertop with two coats of oil, applied 24 hours apart, blotting up excess moisture after each application.

QuartzQuartz Countertop at The Kitchen Showcase

Quartz is a very tough, material. A quartz countertop should be resistant to scratches, stains, and scorches because of its polished finish. Nonetheless, avoid spills to sit in.
Clean the surface softly using mild household cleaners. Make it a point to avoid harsh cleansers, and always use a nonabrasive cleaning sponge or pad to remove any stubborn stains.
 

Marble

Treat marble with a specialized stone sealer to reduce its porosity, and wipe up wine, fruit juice, and other acidic food spills immediately to prevent permanent surface etching. Abrasive cleaners will mark the surface of marble, and oil polish and soft waxes may discolor it.
While many commercial cleaners are available, borax rubbed into the surface with a moistened cloth will also clean marble. Rinse with warm water and buff dry with a soft cloth.
These are only a few examples of the different cleaning options and techniques you can apply to specific countertop materials. Remember there’s no single, one-size-fits-all tip for cleaning countertops.
Follow us for more tips on how to clean steel, acrylic and other countertops made of different materials and keep your kitchen nice and shiny.