By Sharon Franke for Food Network Kitchen
When you walk into the kitchen in the morning for your first cup of coffee or in the evening to prepare dinner, you want to be greeted by a nice clean counter. Keeping your countertop pristine doesn’t have to be difficult. Whether you’re looking to remove sticky peanut butter and jelly, dirt from grocery bags, or potential contaminants from raw protein, here’s our advice for removing dirt, streaks, stains and germs from all types of cooktops.
Do’s and Don’ts to keep countertops in good condition – No matter what material you have
Do put a trivet or thick pot holder or cloth lining under hot cookware or baked goods to prevent heat damage.
Do not Cut directly on the countertop to avoid scratches, cracks, and even worse gasping. Keep a generous size chopping board in the ready state will give you plenty of space for knife work.
Do not Leave dirty pots, pans and dishes on countertops as they can lead to stains, especially if they contain ingredients like tomatoes, wine, curries and mustard.
Do use one remaining spoon or a small plate to hold the whisk, mixing knife and other cooking utensils between uses.
Do clean up spills and stains as soon as they happen as they are easy to clean without scrubbing and are less likely to stain.
Do Be careful with canned food, especially if the surface is wet. If you must leave the can on the countertop, line a paper towel underneath to prevent rust rings.
Do not Use paint remover, oven cleaner, or other harsh chemicals on countertops.
Basic knowledge of cleaning for all types of countertops
Start by washing the countertop with sponges and soapy water, then rinse. Dishwashing liquid is okay too. Then, using a microfiber cloth, take a few seconds to dry the surface to avoid streaks and stains. Most companies that make or sell countertops insist that you need nothing but soap and water for regular maintenance. They also advise against using any corrosive cleaners.
If you use any cleaner, even one specific to the material your countertop is made of, test the cleaner on a small spot before applying it to a large area. great.
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How to clean Laminate (Formica)
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You can use all-purpose cleaners like those offered by Clorox, Lysol, Mr Cleanand Method on Formica countertops, but avoid those that contain bleach. Don’t skip rinsing and drying. When you rinse, be especially careful not to flood the laminate, especially near the seams; you don’t want water to seep underneath and cause swelling.
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To remove stubborn stains, apply a mixture of baking soda and warm water and leave on the stain for 5 to 10 minutes or so, then gently rub over the stain.
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Disinfect laminate surfaces using an antibacterial spray but be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and let the solution sit on the surface for the time recommended on the label before rinsing.
How to clean Granite?
Just soap and water is the trick to cleaning most granite countertops. Avoid vinegar, lemon juice, ammonia, bleach, and glass cleaners like Windex or Glass Plus. Over time, these substances can tarnish and remove the sealant that is always used on granite countertops.
Treat any remaining stains with a mixture of baking soda and water.
If you want to clean the surface, apply undiluted isopropyl alcohol. You should put it in a spray bottle for easy spraying.
How to Clean Quartz (Cambria, Ceserstone and Silestone)
Again, use soap and water to start. Do not use bleach or any product containing it. Also avoid glass cleaners like Windex.
To remove stains, cover them with a paste made from baking soda or The bar owner’s friend and let it sit for a few minutes before rubbing in a circular motion.
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Isopropyl alcohol is your best bet for sanitizing quartz surfaces.
How to clean solid surfaces (Corian)
For stains or stains that you cannot remove with detergent, use Soft rub and apply in circular motion.
How to clean Soapstone
To maintain the paint finish and prevent damage, remove vinegar, citrus, bleach, ammonia, or any strong chemical cleaners.
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Occasionally, rub a very light coating Mineral oil.
How to clean wooden countertops or meat blocks
Before cleaning wooden countertops, you may need to scrape off the residue with a metal scraper.
After rinsing and rinsing, spray the surface with undiluted white vinegar or a solution of 1 teaspoon bleach and 1 cup water and let it sit for a few minutes to disinfect the surface.
To remove spots, sprinkle salt on the area and then scrub the area with the cut side of a lemon. Remember that you may never be able to restore wood countertops to the same pristine condition as other surfaces. You can also embrace the imperfect look of a good used surface.
How to clean stainless steel
Avoid detergents with bleach. Barkeepers Friend is an excellent cleaner for stainless steel; Combine it with water to form a paste to remove stains. Just make sure to rinse thoroughly to remove any residue.
After you have rinsed and dried the stainless steel, rub in a very light coat of Mineral oil This will help it resist streaks, smudges and fingerprints. Pro Tip: Lightly applying mineral oil will also work great on your stainless steel refrigerator.
How to clean marble
Only use soap and water to clean marble. Avoid vinegar, lemon juice, and bleach that can eat into the stone.
To remove stains, leave the baking soda mixture on the stain overnight.
You can clean the surface with a little isopropyl alcohol.
Sharon Franke has been testing and writing about kitchen appliances for over 30 years. Before becoming a cookware expert, she spent seven years as a professional chef at restaurants in New York City. In her spare time, she is busy baking sourdough bread and rustling pots and pans on her own stove.
