Maintaining Your Kitchen Countertops

If you have recently invested in a new kitchen countertop, one of your primary concerns should be proper maintenance. For instance, natural stone countertops made of granite and marble can become faded and dull over time if you do not take the time to care for them. On the other hand, a properly cleaned and maintained countertop can last for years without showing too many signs of aging.

Habitual Cleaning

Knowing what you can and cannot use on your kitchen countertops can also make a world of difference. For example, natural stone countertops should never be cleaned with lemon, vinegar, or other acidic cleaners. A stone soap or a cleaner with neutral pH level is what you want. You also want to avoid using abrasive cleaners or any cleaners that are inherently harsh. Abrasive products are especially bad since they will wear away at your countertop. This is even worse for counters that have a protective sealant such as granite or laminate.

Pick Up Helpful Habits

Some great habits to keep your counter shining include using coasters under beverages, never placing hot items directly on the counter, and placing mats under objects that could potentially scratch the counter. Also remember that more acidic substances such as juice and alcohol should be handled with care around the counter and any of these spills should be cleaned promptly.

The Deep Clean

Feel like you’ve let your kitchen countertop go ignored for a little too long? A properly executed deep clean can be ideal for those who haven’t found the time for a more habitual cleaning approach. Using a heavy-duty cleaner that is safe and compatible with your countertop, you should be able to remove the majority of stains and blemishes. Clean thoroughly and remember to dry the surface afterwards. This can be a great way to get back to a clean slate though you shouldn’t wait too long before you do it.

Maintenance

While cleaning is all of the maintenance some countertops need, natural stone counters like granite and marble will need to be resealed once every few years so that they can continue to withstand stains. There are a variety of sealants on the market such as topical sealers and stone-enhancing sealers. You may want to check with your countertop’s manufacturer to see what they recommend you use and avoid. Not sealing your countertop can lead to all kinds of stains and blemishes since the porous surface of the stone will be exposed.

Having you been keeping your kitchen countertops up to snuff? Always consider the above advice and you should be able to have lustrous counters for years!