The number of kitchen countertop options out there is very astounding. You have wood, soapstone, granite, marble, quartz, engineered stone, and a lot more to choose from! Each of these types of countertops has its advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, all require a different level of cleaning and maintenance. So for instance, before you talk to a quartz countertops dealer, it is important to know the cleaning/maintenance requirements of quartz. This rule would apply to any material that you buy.

In general, regardless of the type of countertop, you would not want to expose the surface to sunlight and heat. Furthermore, you must also resist scratching it.

What should you know about cleaning different countertops?

Well, general cleaning methods may be the same for all countertops. However, in order to keep your particular countertop in the perfect shape, you must adopt some specialized cleaning techniques.

These cleaning techniques differ for every material. In this article, we put together cleaning information for a range of different countertop materials.

Cleaning wood countertops

The tools that you need to clean wood countertops include distilled white vinegar, nonabrasive cleaner, spatula, lemon, salt, microfiber cloths, and warm water.

Make sure of a nonabrasive cleaner, along with a mixture of distilled white vinegar and warm water. In order to scrape off any food residues, make use of a metal pastry scraper or a spatula. However, make sure that you are very gentle with it.

After cleaning, wipe the counter off so that it remains dry.

Cleaning quartz, granite and marble countertops

The tools that you need to clean quartz tops, marble, and granite countertops include dish soap, baking soda, microfiber cloths, plastic wrap, hydrogen peroxide, tape, and water.

For everyday cleaning, simply use mild dish soap with warm water. In order to shine the stone up, you can use a microfiber after regular cleaning.

When dealing with marble and granite countertops, avoid using acidic or abrasive cleaners. This is because acidic cleaners may etch the stone and strip the sealer off at the same time.

Cleaning laminate countertops

To clean laminate countertops, the materials that you require include microfiber cloths, baking soda, water, mild household cleaner.

Begin with cleaning the countertop with a soft damp cloth and household cleaner. When you are dealing with laminate countertops, always avoid harsh products that include alkali and acid. Also, avoid scouring pads and steel wool as it may scratch the surface.

To remove stains, simply use a paste of water and baking soda. Directly apply this paste and let it sit on the stain for 5 minutes before rinsing it off. Remember! Do not scrub because baking soda could be abrasive.

Cleaning soapstone countertops

The tools that you need to clean soapstone countertops include microfiber cloths, fine-grit sandpaper, mineral oil, and multipurpose cleaner.

Natural stone like soapstone happens to be nonporous. This means that it is resistant to scratches and stains. Hence, you can make use of any cleaner for as long as the cleaner is not abrasive.

In the case of soapstone, you can remove most of the stains using multipurpose cleaners. In order to remove tough stains or scratches, simply use fine sandpaper. However, do not use sandpaper that is rougher than 80 grits. After sanding, do not forget to apply some mineral oil.

Ending note

Having some knowledge of the cleaning and maintenance require of the countertop material prior to the purchase is very important. This is especially true in the case of granite and quartz countertops, since they can be expensive. Furthermore, your local granite installers Potomac may also be able to help you out with it.