Ensuring that your kitchen countertops stays on track is no simple task. It can become a little stressful not knowing how to maintain your countertops. At Cosmo, we understand the concern this can bring in regard to the actual length of your renovation timeline. That’s why we strive to educate our customers on what can be expected. By implementing some of these helpful tips below it will assist you in properly planning for your kitchen countertops.
Regular Countertop Cleaning
Stone countertops are a beautiful addition to any home. Their intricate designs and patterns bring a touch of nature indoors while their hard surface can stand strong against just about any task. However, over time, everyday wear and tear can take its toll on countertops. If you neglect to take care of them, they may lose their shine, become scratched, stained, and begin to cloud. And while they may still do the job that they are intended to do, you will have lost that beautiful touch of nature in your home’s design. Some stone requires more maintenance than others, but overall, cleaning and maintaining your stone countertop is a reasonably easy job, if you keep up with it. With normal kitchen use, proper cleaning and sealing products , your stone will still look good ten years down the road.
Wipe down with a soft rag and mild detergent. Clean the counter with soap and warm water daily, if possible. If you have honed surfaces, wipe them down more frequently, as needed. Honed surfaces tend to make common signs of use, such as fingerprints, more visible.
Scrape away dried gunk. Use a blunt, plastic scraper such as a putty knife. Scrape gently to remove hardened spills or buildup such as gum, grease, nail polish or paint.
It’s a good idea to keep a plastic putty knife in a nearby drawer for quick access, so that you can use it when you notice dried spills on your countertops.
Protect Your Countertop
There are a number of ways to care for your countertops by protecting them from unwanted blemishes. Protect the surface from extreme temperature swings. Always put down pot warmers or stands for hot pots
Avoid Cutting Directly
You should avoid cutting directly on the surface. Use a cutting board instead as this will protect the surface from becoming chipped or damaged.
Use Special Cleaners
Despite the non-porous surface of your countertop, some messes are too big for your everyday cleaning routine. The best cleaner for these messes is still a mild liquid dish soap. Never use harsh chemicals, as these may react with the resins and etch the surface.
Also, avoid using anything abrasive, such as scrubbing cleansers. For a stubborn caked-on, dried mess, it’s safe to let it soak beneath a damp towel until the dirt loosens.
Seal Your Countertops
It is standard to seal your countertops once a year. Many natural stones are porous, and the sealer prevents food juices and other liquid from getting in. They can sometimes cause discoloration or, in extreme cases, etching. We recommend to seal your countertops regularly with appropriate and accredited stone sealers.
Maintaining Quartz
Beginning with the lowest maintenance of the three countertops, Quartz requires very little routine-maintenance. Warm water and dish soap are all that are needed to clean daily spills and stains that your Quartz countertop will endure. Denatured/isopropyl alcohol is handy for those stubborn stains that you are unable to get out with just soap and water. If your countertop lacks a bit of lustre, a simple glass cleaner can be used to restore it to its original splendor.
Maintaining Granite
Granite holds the maintenance middle ground between Quartz and Marble. The first step is ensuring your countertop has been properly sealed. If it was recently installed, it is likely that it has already been sealed, but if not, you should purchase a sealant for it. Most sealants last 10-15 years, so this is not a step you will have to repeat often.
Once your Granite is sealed, the maintenance is similar to Quartz. Cleaning it daily with warm water and soap is still recommended, but make sure you use a PH neutral soap. Any soap or cleaner with an acid-base will eat through the sealant over time, this means staying away from most glass cleaners as well. Baking soda and water will take care of any oil-based stains that you cannot get out with soap and water, and baking soda plus hydrogen peroxide will take care of any water-based ones. If your counter begins to lose its shine, it is recommended to buy a polish intended for Granite.
Maintaining Marble
Marble may require the most care from these three stone options, but it is still by no means challenging to maintain. Like the Granite, Marble requires a sealant, but it needs to be sealed on a more regular basis, at least once a year is recommended. Marble is even more sensitive than Granite is to scratches and to acids, so be sure to use a nonabrasive sponge or towel and a neutral, mild soap to clean it daily. When faced with more difficult stains, you can use a stronger cleaning product and a more abrasive sponge; just make sure you have sealant ready because the cleaner will take the sealant along with the stain.
A well-maintained countertop can look exquisite and last a lifetime. Make sure you know how to care for your countertops to ensure they stay beautiful and resistant to your everyday wear and tear.
We encourage you to go online and browse our wide selection of countertop surfacing options in our inventory available on our website to help you get an idea of what type of material and color is right for you. From granite and marble to compact surface and quartz, there is no doubt that you will find the right countertop surface for you.
