How to Clean Countertops and Keep Them Looking Their Best

Some countertops are easygoing and low-maintenance (like quartz), but some require constant attention. You might regret not putting in the effort if you don't. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But soon—and throughout the lifetime of your countertop.

While I am joking, you need to take good care of your countertops, one of the major workhorses in your kitchen. Otherwise, your investment could be scratched, cracked, or stained.

So it's critical to know what you should and shouldn't do with your specific counter.

In this article, we explain how to clean countertops of different types and keep them looking great. If you're shopping, you should consider all of these tips, including cleaning and removing stains without damaging your counter, repairing cuts and scratches, and other useful advice.

Butcher Block

Wood countertops offer a warm and quiet kitchen (dishes don't clink against them), but they can require more maintenance depending on their finish. In our tests, butcher block counters with varnished surfaces scored Excellent for stain resistance, but the varnish can be scratched or melted under extreme heat. You can chop and slice on an oiled butcher block, and hot cookware can be placed on it safely. It scores Poor in our staining test and needs to be oiled regularly to prevent warping.

Clean It

After each use, wipe the surface with a clean towel and warm soapy water. To sanitize, mix 1 teaspoon of bleach in 1 quart of water.

Use light sandpaper or fine steel wool to buff out stains on varnished butcher blocks. If the stain is deep, you may need to re-laminate the surface.

You can remove oil-covered stains by rubbing the butcher block with a damp sponge or paper towel. To remove stubborn stains, you should sand down the area with fine-grit sandpaper and re-oil the spot. Sand parallel to the wood grain to avoid tearing the fibers. For stuck-on messes, use a bench scraper or metal spatula.

Maintain It

In addition to refinishing or oiling butcher block, sanding and relacquering are necessary if damaged. Re-oil the butcher blocks every month to protect it. Use a cloth or paper towel to apply an even coating of food-grade mineral oil. Let the oil fully penetrate overnight, then wipe off any excess.

After oiling the wood, apply an even layer of beeswax-based wood cream. Do not use cooking oil to treat butcher block, as it can turn rancid. After oiling the wood, apply an even coating of beeswax-based wood cream. Do not use cooking oil to treat butcher block, as it can turn rancid.

It's important not to cut on varnished butcher blocks or to place hot cookware directly on them (use a trivet). The heat can melt the varnish, as it did in our tests.

When you use oiled butcher block counters, you can cut right on them and place hot pots right on the surface. The material may wear unevenly if you consistently work in the same spot.

Repair It

Fine-grit sandpaper can remove nicks and light scratches in both types of butcher blocks. Relacquer or re-oil the area once it has been repaired. 

A coating protects the wood. Oiled wood is susceptible to water damage, so never leave liquids on it since they can soak into the countertop and cause it to warp. When this happens, oil liberally on the concave side and tape plastic (cling wrap or dry cleaning bags) on the convex side. Oil the open side every day until the wood has evened out.

Concrete

Despite its tough appearance, concrete can chip and scratch easily, and, if not properly maintained, can develop hairline cracks. 

It is important to treat the concrete with a topical sealer or penetrating sealer, as it is porous, like most natural countertop materials. Topically sealed concrete counters are well-protected against stains and get an Excellent rating. CR's heat resistance tests show that it is only Fair. Penetrating sealers give concrete counters an Excellent rating for heat handling but a Poor rating for stain resistance.

Clean It

To clean both concrete counters, use a sponge or towel and mild liquid dishwashing detergent. The sealant in the concrete can be worn down by abrasive solutions, such as ammonia or bleach, or by acidic solutions, including citrus and vinegar.

In most cases, food stains like mustard or juice can be removed with bleach. Soak a cotton ball or paper towel in bleach, place it on the stain, and place a heavy glass over it. If the stain is oil-based, more aggressive methods may be needed, such as poultices made of an absorbent powder and liquid solvent, which draw the stain out of concrete. (They are available at hardware stores.)

Maintain It

On concrete counters; always use cutting boards and trivets. Cutting directly on topically sealed concrete countertops can damage the sealer, and acids like citrus and vinegar can etch the stone. Hot cookware can discolor the sealer. You can also place a hot pad between the counter and heat-producing appliances.

The best way to protect and maintain the concrete is to apply a food-safe wax monthly (no matter how it was sealed). When water no longer beads up on the surface, it's time to rewax. Apply a thin layer of wax in a circular motion with a damp sponge or cloth, then buff it with a dry cloth in the same circular motion.

Repair It

Fill in minor scratches with acrylic sealer and a wonderful artist's brush. Remove any excess sealer with a cotton swab while it is still wet. You can also use wax to hide minor scuff marks. Once the touch-up is dry, blend it with fine-grit sandpaper or borrow a nail buffing pad from your manicure kit.

Minor etching can be removed with a fine-grit sandpaper. If the damage is extensive, you will need to hire a professional to sand, fill the pinholes with grout, and reseal the area.

Likewise, a professional must fill the cracks and chips with epoxy and then refinish and reseal them.

Granite

This stone is harder and less porous than other natural surfaces, such as marble and soapstone, making it more resistant to stains and abrasions. Granite can withstand a lot of abuse and garners top scores in our ratings for withstanding our stain, heat, and scratch tests. Most granite countertops don't need to be sealed, according to the Natural Stone Institute, but a sealer will make it even more moisture-resistant than it already is.

Clean It

The most effective way to maintain granite is to wipe it down daily with a nonabrasive sponge or cloth dipped in warm water and mild dishwashing liquid. Dry it with a microfiber cloth to avoid streaks. Don't use acidic cleaners, including vinegar, as those chemicals can damage the stone.

Spray a 50/50 solution of water and rubbing alcohol on the countertop and let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes before wiping it down with a damp cloth and drying it with a microfiber cloth.

Maintain It

If you want to seal your granite countertop, follow the instructions that come with it. You need to clean granite, rinse, and dry it thoroughly. You'll spread or spray on a sealer and let it soak into the stone for 5 to 15 minutes before wiping off any excess and buffing the surface with a dry cloth. Check the product to see if you need to reapply the sealer. Whenever water no longer beads up on the surface, reapply it.

Repair It

The stone's surface can be buffed with dry super-fine steel wool. Deeper scratches and nicks should be repaired and repolished by a professional.

Wet the surface with water and sprinkle granite polishing powder on top (available at hardware stores) to remove etch marks left by acids. Rub the surface with a damp cloth or buffing pad until the etch marks disappear, and the character shines. If the rest of the counter was previously sealed, wipe it thoroughly with a wet cloth before resealing it (if it was previously sealed).

Natural stone repair kits often contain a syringe of epoxy and the tools you need to repair a small crack or chip on your countertop. You can find them at home improvement stores. Generally, you'll need to clean the damaged area with an ammonia-based cleaner and dry it thoroughly before filling it with epoxy until it is level with the surface. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully. Remove the excess filler with a razor blade when it has dried for at least 24 hours. You can hire a professional if you want to avoid repairing it yourself.

Laminate

This countertop material is made of layers of paper or fabric bonded to composite wood and laminated with resin. Its patterns and colors are endless. In CR's tests, laminates excelled at resisting stains and heat. Though low maintenance, they're not fuss-free; they're easy to scratch and nick.

Clean It

Whenever possible, use a soft sponge or cloth and mild dishwashing liquid mixed with water to clean laminate surfaces. Avoid steel wool, which will dull and scratch the finish. Harsh chemical cleaners, like bleach, can also abrade and permanently discolor laminate surfaces.

While laminate is one of the most stain-resistant materials in our countertop tests, stains can still happen. Remove the color by applying a paste of baking soda and water for 5 minutes on the area. The paste will be slightly abrasive, so do not rub it. Wipe up the paste with a damp cotton cloth and rinse with water.

Maintain It

This countertop only requires a little maintenance. Don't cut food directly on it or drag pots and pans across it. That will leave visible marks on the surface, and stains can settle into any cuts and scratches. 

Repair It

Laminate countertops cannot be repaired if they get scratched or cut.

Marble

This stone is porous and soft, so it's prone to stains, abrasions, and heat. Many engineered materials try to mimic it, but it's the diva of countertops. Almost all of our countertop tests give this stone a Poor or Fair rating. You might have to spend a lot of time and effort removing stains and repairing the damage. The good news is that most of the damage can be improved. 

Clean It

It is best to use a soft sponge or dishcloth dipped in warm water and mild dishwashing liquid. To avoid streaks, use a microfiber cloth to dry. Do not use abrasive or acidic cleaners like vinegar because they can dull or permanently etch the stone.

Even if marble is sealed, red wine and coffee can stain it quickly, so clean up spills immediately. Blot the spill with a paper towel; wiping will spread it. Wash it thoroughly with plain water and mild liquid dishwashing detergent and rinse several times.

If the stain has set in, clean oil-based ones with acetone, bleach, household detergent, or ammonia. (Don't mix any of these chemicals.) For coffee and tea stains, mix some hydrogen peroxide with ammonia. Clean ink stains with bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Rust stains need a poultice, available at hardware stores, to draw out the color. Follow the instructions below to repair etch marks if the marble is carved after the treatment.

Maintain It

It is important to seal the marble and wipe up spills immediately. To determine whether the sealant is still good, leave a few drops of water on the surface for 15 minutes. If the water soaks into the stone, it is time to reseal.

Follow the directions provided with the sealer for sealing the marble countertop. You should clean the marble thoroughly with mild liquid dishwashing detergent, rinse, and dry thoroughly. You'll either spread or spray on the sealer and let it absorb the stone for 5 to 15 minutes before wiping off any excess and buffing it with a dry cloth. 

Trivets are your friend when placing hot pots and pans directly on the countertop.

Marble is very susceptible to scratches, so always use cutting boards when preparing food.

Always place coasters under wine glasses and coffee cups to prevent stains from acidic foods like citrus, vinegar, and tomatoes. Acidic foods will quickly etch marble.

Repair It

The stone's surface may be buffed with super-fine steel wool. Deep scratches and nicks should be repaired and repolished by a professional.

To remove etch marks caused by acids, wet the surface with water and sprinkle marble polishing powder (available at hardware stores). Rub the powder on the stone with a damp cloth or buffing pad. Continue buffing until the etch mark is completely removed and the marble shines. Rinse thoroughly and let dry completely before resealing.

The repair advice for granite above describes how to fix a small chip or crack in a granite countertop using a natural stone repair kit.

If you are in Orlando and looking to remodel or resurface your countertops, allstonefl.com provide the best Orlando countertops services. They are experienced in countertops installation.

Quartz

This hardy countertop combines the best of synthetics and nature. It is constructed from stone chips, resins, and pigments, resulting in a stone-like appearance and durability that can withstand a lot of abuse. Quartz is strong (it wins many of our countertop tests), waterproof, and doesn't need to be sealed.

Clean It

You can clean the countertop with a damp cloth or paper towel and, if necessary, a small amount of nonbleach, nonabrasive cleanser. You can also use rubbing alcohol and water to clean the counter.

Use a non-abrasive cleaner such as Soft Scrub to remove stubborn messes.

To fight food stains, mix 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, 1 cup of flour, and enough water to make a paste. Let it dry for up to 24 hours before removing it with warm water. To remove ink stains, moisten a cloth with Goo Gone or another oil-based product and rub it into the paint. Rinse thoroughly with warm water to remove any residue.

Maintain It

Quartz is practically maintenance-free compared to many of the other countertops on this list. All you have to do is avoid dropping heavy objects on it, which could crack or chip it. So be careful with those cast-iron pots and pans.

Repair It

If your quartz countertop gets a small crack or chip, you can repair it yourself with a repair kit you can get from a home improvement store.

Get in touch today!

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