With spring finally here and summer well on its way, it’s time to finish up your spring cleaning—after a long winter, a clean house can be a great place to come home to. Tackling clutter, mildew stains, or kitchen messes is a great thing to take care of now, before you have more enjoyable things to do in the warmer months.
One of the things to ensure you take care of? Give your countertops, in the kitchen or bathroom, a thorough cleaning. Countertops can harbor lots of germs—and clean countertops are one of the best ways to make a room look better without a lot of work.
If you’re wondering how to clean your counters, you aren’t alone—different countertop materials require different cleaning methods to avoid damaging the surfaces. Here, we’ll break down how to clean different materials—and what to do if you encounter chips, cracks, or other damage.
Cleaning Granite Countertops
Granite is popular for good reason—it’s durable, resists scratching and burning, and can be sealed for additional protection. To clean it, use a soft, non-abrasive sponge, gentle dish soap, and warm water. To disinfect, avoid using bleach, which can damage the surface—instead, use a 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water. Put this mixture into a spray bottle—label it if you plan to store it—then spray, let sit for five minutes, and wipe dry.
Cleaning Marble Countertops
Marble countertops are special because they require sealing to keep the stone looking great. They’re also very sensitive to acidic substances—like lemon or vinegar—and can accumulate scars, or etch, if exposed to these. You won’t get etching off the countertop, no matter how much you scrub—to fix those marks, it’s time to call in a professional.
To clean marble and protect the sealant, make sure to avoid using any abrasive or acidic products—don’t use vinegar solutions. Many stores sell products specifically for use on marble countertops—these can be a good choice, as they’re gentle enough to protect the stone and seal, but also keep your counters clean.
Another good option is warm, soapy water and a soft cloth—mix up a solution of gentle dish soap and water, put into a spray bottle, and apply to the counter. Scrub (gently) with a cloth, and wipe away the soap, then dry with a clean towel.
Cleaning Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are made of ground up bits of stone, and are non-porous and highly durable. That dish soap used to clean marble is also a good bet for cleaning quartz—with mild soap and a soft cloth, you can take care of most cleaning.
While quartz is fairly resistant to staining, heavier messes might require more—using a glass or all-purpose surface cleaner with a soft, damp sponge, can keep your counters safe while getting them clean.
Cleaning Corian Countertops
Corian counters are a man-made material that were designed to withstand hard use. This non-porous surface can last for a long time, and be repaired easily by a professional (looking for Corian countertop repair near me? Check out how we can help!).
These durable countertops don’t need a lot of special care—an all-purpose cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth should take care of most cleaning. Products that contain ammonia are okay for Corian, too. To avoid store-bought chemicals, you can also use warm, soapy water. Wipe up any spills as soon as they happen, and your counters should be good to last for a long time.
I’ve tried everything and my countertops still look worn and dirty. What can I do?
If your countertops don’t come clean with some elbow grease—or if you encounter chips, cracks, holes, rust, burns, or other damage—you might be wondering if that means you need to replace the counters. Or—an even more painful question for many budgets—if replacing the countertops means that you need to replace the cabinets, and do a full kitchen remodel.
Can you replace countertops without replacing cabinets? The answer is yes—and no. For a cost-cutting update, you can replace the countertops, but you run the risk of damaging the existing cabinets—which might not have been built to support the weight of a different material—or run the risk of a countertop manufacturer’s warranty not covering you. Many sellers assume that you’re replacing both counters and cabinets, and won’t cover you with a warranty if you aren’t—something that could be a big problem if you’re buying expensive new countertops and something happens.
So, what can you do if that’s out of budget? Covering the countertops might be a good idea—but you aren’t limited to the peel-and-stick countertop covers that are sold in many stores. If you’re wondering can you cover existing countertops without the results looking cheap, the answer is yes!
The process of countertop refinishing, or the application of faux granite countertops, can be a great way to get your countertops looking great. In resurfacing, the top layer of the countertops is gently sanded away, any damage repaired, and the surface covered with a new semi-gloss finish. Or, if you’d like to opt to update the color of the surfaces, opting for faux granite counters means that the surface can be given a permanent new finish that looks like stone.
How can The Tub Pros help?
If your kitchen or bathroom counters are looking less than their best, we’re here to help with refinishing services that can get your space back to its best appearance and fullest functionality. Whether you’re dealing with minor chips or major cracks, we can help with a variety of surface materials.
And if a damaged sink is making your kitchen or bathroom look worn? We can help with that, too—when you’re looking for kitchen sink reglazing or porcelain sink refinishing near me in the Greater Memphis area, we’re here to help! When you’re ready to get started on your project, give us a call at 901-871-8827 or message us to get started today.
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