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 work-space by giving it a daily wipe with a damp cloth. Still, there are a lot of different worktops and each requires some special treatment. We have compiled useful tips to clean any kitchen worktop with minimal effort and to keep it looking like new for the years to come.
Cleaning your worktops on a regular basis
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 and don’t let nothing stay for too long.
Disinfection is also important. You use your counter-top 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 important. Wipe the area with a clean cloth and you are ready to go.
Cleaning wooden worktops
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.
A wooden worktop is multi-functional. 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.
There are two main ways to remove stains from a wooden worktop:
- One is a mixed solution of salt and lemon, applied with a soft sponge over the stain. It has the power to remove even the most stubborn ones.
- Another very widely used one would be a rag with a bit of something oily like mayonnaise or petroleum jelly over the stain. It needs to stay there for a couple of hours in order for the oily substance to displace the water in the wood.
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.
Cleaning Granite Worktops
Granite counter-tops have many advantages. They are hard-wearing, they fit almost every kitchen style and are very diverse.
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.
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 counter-top shiny.
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.
Note:
It’s not recommended to use disinfectant wet wipes although they do seem easy and affordable for most users. Their main ingredients require the worktop to stay wet for at least 10 minutes to clean it. This is very difficult to do, as most of them contain alcohol and dry up fast.
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.
Cleaning Quartz Worktops
These countertops are becoming the next big thing in kitchen renovating. 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. 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.
Avoid using acidic substances and bleach when cleaning your quartz worktop.
Cleaning Marble Worktops
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.