Your kitchen is the heart of your house. It requires daily maintenance and gentle care. And your kitchen worktop, being the main area of use, needs a bit more when it comes to cleaning. You can preserve the initial state of your workspace by giving it a daily wipe with a damp cloth.
Still, there are a lot of different worktops and each requires some special treatment.
So, if:
Then read on!
Here we have compiled useful tips to clean any kitchen worktop without much effort and to keep it looking like new for years and years to come.
Before we begin, we have some cleaning basics that work for most surfaces. You need – dish soap, a soft cloth and around a minute from your day. Wipe up after each use of the worktop to prevent spills from settling in. Take care of a spill the second it touches the surface. Let nothing stay for too long.
Disinfection is also important. You use your countertop to prepare meals, and as a rest for your arms while you wait for the coffee to get ready. However, the surface can turn into a germ-spreading environment if it’s not taken care of. That is why cleaning your kitchen worktop regularly by using a special antibacterial detergent is crucial. Wipe the area with a clean cloth and you are ready to go.
And now, as we mentioned earlier we will get to know the worktops and all their maintenance requirements. The most popular are granite, wood, marble, quartz, laminate, stainless steel and soapstone.
Granite countertops have many advantages. They are hard-wearing, they fit almost every kitchen style and are very diverse.
For daily cleaning your granite worktop, dip a clean microfiber cloth into a mix of warm water and dish soap. Then gently wipe the entire surface from end to end. Beware all common household products you use for home cleanings such as lemon, vinegar, and anything else that is acidic. They slowly but surely dissolve the coating and eventually reach the sealed layer.
When it comes to disinfection and stain removal, granite is not a tough one to take care of. Most of the time, the general daily cleaning would be enough to keep your countertop shiny.
A lot better would be to use a disinfectant for granite. If you do not have one, don’t worry. Mix up a 50/50 solution of 91% isopropyl alcohol and water to have a deeper clean and get rid of all the bacteria that might have spread. In the rare case of a stubborn stain, the best course of action would be to make a paste out of baking soda and water.
Make it with the consistency of sour cream and apply to the stain. Leave it for 24 hours and when it’s done, wash the area with some warm water and mild soap.
A sealed granite worktop is a durable worktop. If it’s not, your surface would soak up most of the spills and cleaning will be a lot harder than it should. You can make an easy test if you want to see if your granite is sealed properly. Pour a bit of water and if it soaks up in the granite, then it’s no good.
A wooden worktop is multifunctional. It matches with a country-style kitchen and fits a contemporary look as well. The best type would be the hardwood worktop as it beats all the other kinds in durability. If it’s sealed properly, it could last for years to come.
Before you start cleaning your worktop, gather all the food residue first. A common cleaning choice is vinegar. Although most people use white vinegar, it’s not recommended as it may cause wear to the surface and a good substitute would be apple cider vinegar.
There are also detergents especially designed for wooden worktops. Don’t chop directly onto it and never place hot pans. The wooden countertop is not resistant to heat and damages.
There are two main ways to remove stains from a wooden worktop:
Last but not least would be oiling of your wood surface. You can use Danish oil, Tung or Linseed. Your oil of choice will fill the surface grains and act as a wood preserver and sealer. It’s recommended that you use between 5 and 7 layers of oil.
The drying time is around 24 hours, depending on the material and the air temperature. Once a month is enough in terms of frequency and should keep your worktop looking nice and clean.
Marble is very easily damaged by any kind of acid, which has the power to eat away tiny bits of the surface, creating those dull spots called etches. Putting this aside, marble is one of the easiest surfaces to take care of. You can clean it with anything that is not acid based. Mix up warm water and dish soap, wipe the surface with a cloth and go over it with a dry towel to blot the remaining moisture.
Again, like granite, if it’s properly sealed, no stains should be able to stick there and a simple wipe up after the spill should take care of it.
These countertops are becoming the next big thing in kitchen renovating. They are non-porous. This feature immediately eliminates any chance of residue to stick on the surface. It also prevents chips, cracks, and etching.
Due to its durability, quartz worktop is one of the easiest surfaces to clean. Hot water and cloth are enough to ensure that your worktop is up to standard. Avoid using soap too often as it may cause build up of residue. You may use it in case of a stubborn stain. Put a bit of dish soap over the stain for around ten minutes. After that, go over it with a non-scratching cloth.
One of the best things about this material would be that there is no need for it to be sealed and resealed after a certain period of time.
There are many reasons why people choose laminate as their worktop. One of them being price and that it very successfully imitates other worktops which originally might cost a lot more. It’s a great way to refresh your kitchen with zero efforts and it’s very easy to maintain. It’s not as durable as the other surfaces but its price compensates for this.
A simple soapy solution applied to the surface and left there for a couple of minutes is enough for your daily cleaning ritual. As long as maintenance goes, this is all you need to keep your worktop nice and clean.
Even though stainless steel worktops are mainly used in industrial kitchens and bars, there are people that find a certain charm in them and decide to have one in their homes.
The regular cleaning requires only dish soap and a damp sponge. This worktop does not get stained as nothing can penetrate the surface.
Its main problem would be the scratches and possible cavities if you use too much pressure over it. It’s bendable so don’t chop anything directly on it. One streak is enough and the scratch is there forever. Once a week, try to clean it a little bit more thoroughly. The products you need are probably in your kitchen already.
What you need is water, dish soap, a cloth, vinegar, baking soda and a small soft brush. Spray the soap solution, wipe it down with the cloth after a couple of minutes and dry it with another unused cloth. Pour the baking soda onto the surface. Go over it with the vinegar-dipped brush. In the end, wipe up with a microfiber cloth to prevent streaking of the worktop. If you wish, you can use some olive oil for a shiny finish.
These countertops are the easiest one to get used to and take care of as they are resistant to heat and stains. These qualities make them popular with restaurants and chemistry labs.
Again, soapy water is the way to go when it comes to its regular cleaning. Mix it up in your sink or any type of bowl and use a microfiber cloth for wiping with minimum scratches.
In case scratches do appear, there is always a way to take care of them. You need fine sandpaper, warm water, a sponge and olive oil. Sand out the scratched area, once with the dry sandpaper and once with a wet one. When you’re finished, clean up with the sponge. To bring up the natural dark colour, put some oil and scrub it over the spot you have sanded.
These are the common worktops we choose and some useful ways to clean them. Still, our lives are full of adventures and sometimes even the easiest of tasks could be a bit too much. In cases like this, you can simply turn to Fantastic Services!
We always include countertops cleaning and polishing as a part of our expert one-off deep cleaning service. No matter what your choice of worktop is, we can clean it!
Arrange a professional visit with us!
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What are your secret tips and tricks for those surfaces? Which ones do you find the easiest to maintain and the most tricky ones to clean? Let us know in the comment section!
Images source: Depositphotos
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