How to Clean the Various Types of Kitchen Countertops

The kitchen countertop is the workspace of any kitchen. As such, it’s going to get dirty more quickly than just about any other part of your kitchen and you have to know how to keep it clean without damaging its surface. This can prove to be more tricky than you might imagine, since all countertops are different. For starters, there’s the butcher block countertop. These are highly useful counters, but they’re not easy to clean. Oiling is necessary to maintain its sheen, and you’ll have to get into sanding in order to remove stains. For daily cleaning, a vinegar, salt, and lemon combination is a great tool.

Keeping Stone Countertops Looking New

Marble is a popular countertop for its beauty and it’s relatively easy to clean as well. Put warm water and gentle dish soap in a spray bottle and you’re ready to go. Avoid acidic cleaners like vinegar or lemon, however, since this will etch its surface. For granite, you will be fine using gentle dish soap, microfiber and isopropyl alcohol. There are a ton of special cleaners advertised for granite, but the consensus is that this simple homemade concoction is just fine. Quartz is more durable than the other common stones, meaning it can be easily cleaned with soap and water.

Steel, Laminate, and Tile Countertops

Synthetic countertops like laminate are very easy to care for. Nowadays, they can be made to look like just about any style too, which makes them increasingly popular. Be sure to wipe spills immediately to avoid staining and get into cleaning it daily with a non-abrasive cleaner. Stainless steel can be a bit maintenance-heavy, but all you really need is cleaning cloths and basic soap and water. Just don’t drive yourself crazy cleaning up every fingerprint! For tile countertops, make sure you spend extra time with scouring pads and bleach to keep the grout looking its best.