In maintaining our family’s health safety, cleanliness is the vital key to achieve this goal. Especially to where we usually prepare our meals, it is essential to see that each Countertop, surface, and food preparation areas are clean as much as possible. We don’t want to sacrifice our family’s health only because of poor kitchen hygiene. Also, dirty kitchens are prone to pest infestation, so before that happens, ensure your kitchen’s cleanliness now and then.
But how can we do that? What are the benefits we get in cleaning our countertops? Are cleaning materials enough to make our kitchen clean and neat? What are the things we need to ponder? Are there cleaning materials for a proper countertop?
To answer these eternal questions, we provided tips and guides that you can read on how to clean kitchen countertops naturally. But before that, we must know what countertops are and what is the best one. Scroll down to read the essential details about countertops.
What are countertops?
A countertop is also known as a worktop or kitchen bench. It is a horizontal surface used for food preparation areas and positions at an efficient height for easy and comfortable use.
Generally, the Countertop is installed above and held by cabinets for easy access to stocks and utensils. There are various materials use for countertops that differ in their purpose and durability.
Kitchen countertops could also build in the freestanding island, dining areas, and tabletop incorporated with kitchen tools like free spans for added purposes. The Countertop’s straight top and good boundaries can have decorations that add warmth and style to the kitchen.
As mentioned before, countertops can come from a different range of materials. The price of a countertop also varies on material use. Also, materials have a significant factor in their durability. To give you more insight about countertops, the list of materials used are as follows:
Natural Stones
Granites, limestone, marble, soapstone, gabbro, quartz, and slate are the common natural stones use to make countertops. These materials are also called dimension stone slabs. Cutting equipment is used to form the natural stone countertops: grinders and hand-held routers to trim the edges that reduce the need to ship unwanted materials. Also, preparing and cutting the natural stone before delivery lessens the time in fixing the client’s order.
Wood
Hardwood and softwood can consider in making countertops. Wood materials are believed the eco-friendliest option in choosing a kitchen surface. However, it’s a big NO to use wood surfaces in commercial food production because it is more hazardous. The wood quickly absorbs bacteria, and once scarred by a knife, it’s not easy to disinfect and fixed.
Manufactured Materials
Concretes such as precast is also used to build a countertop. Also, under manufactured materials like high-pressure laminates are considered in making one. Tiles, terrazzo, and cultured marbles use in making countertops as well.
The high-pressure laminate countertop is also known as the ‘plastic laminate countertop.’ It is a material made-up of more wood than plastic that fused Kraft paper, melamine resins, and decorative papers.
Metals
Stainless steel, copper, zinc, and aluminum are examples of metals used in making a countertop. These materials are typically made-up and built on-site too. The downside of prefabricated materials is they are difficult to install, and the treatment on their edges differs. However, the materials are usually thicker, so putting up multiple layers on its borders is unnecessary.
Crafted Glass
Crafted Glass is a material used in making a kitchen countertop. The good thing here is they may be customized and produced according to the client’s preference and installed. Its texture comes in different choices like linear or sanded. Crafted glass customized edges include the fire-polished ending, bushed refined, and rough.
The good news too this material is it is extremely heat resistant. It can handle up to 700 degrees.
What Countertop is easy to maintain?
Now you know what materials you can use in building your Countertop, you must consider what Countertop is easy to maintain. Let face it. It is crucial. Cleanliness will make our kitchen look good and save our family from potential pests and health risks.
And of course, if you are a working mom or a busy person, cleaning your Countertop will consume some of your precious time if made-up in a material that always needs time to clean.
Here are the lists that Countertop is ideal for giving you a short time cleaning to offer you more idea.
The Soapstone
This natural stone is excellent and naturally unpenetrated. The only maintenance you need if you have a soapstone countertop is to apply oil. It is the proper way to prevent it from darkening.
Another good thing I soapstone is it doesn’t blemish easily and can’t take too much heat. Not all people prefer soapstone as their Countertop; however, the countryside style and its unique design still catch other people’s eye.
The Granite
This natural rock is one of the most common and comfortable to maintain. You will never go wrong with its durability and heat resistance. Aside from annual sealing, this countertop material has minimal maintenance. So you can keep your money on buying expensive cleaners if this is your Countertop.
The Quartz
Quartz-made Countertops are the easiest to maintain because they don’t require regular sealing, just like the granites. Also, quartz is not easy to stain and cannot easily penetrate by water. It is the reason why most people preferred quartz as their Countertop. It saves time and budget.
These three natural stones are known for being its sturdiness and easy maintenance. Keep in mind that there is no perfect countertop that could give a hundred percent dirt-free; however, it is your duty to keep it a hundred percent clean as the owner.
Ways to Clean Kitchen Countertops Naturally
There’s nothing that could beat a natural way of cleaning kitchen countertops. If we are suddenly out of cleaning detergents, we seek an alternative. If we have allergies too, natural methods are advisable as well.
Furthermore, there is a wide range of countertops and made-up of different materials. And these materials have different ways of Cleaning. Here are the essential ideas on how to clean kitchen countertops naturally.
Cleaning tips for flawless marble, granite, soapstone, and quartz countertops
Since we mentioned that these natural stones are the easiest to maintain, all you need to clean them is water, dish soap, cloths, and baking soda. We mixed the water and dish soap. Wipe the Countertop with these using cloth, and it will indeed look new.
For stain, baking soda is the perfect tool to clean it. According to our research, too, using a harsh cleaner for natural stone countertops is not advisable. It will only damage the sealer and the stone. Harsh cleaners are also not practical to use.
In addition to how to maintain your ideal natural stone countertop, avoid abusing it. Though we all know that nothing can beat natural stone’s sturdiness, preventing it from total hazard exposure will sustain its beauty and stability. Use a chopping board in cutting your veggies. Do not display it to too much heat. Cleaning isn’t all about just ‘cleaning.’ Cleaning is all about taking good care of it.
Cleaning Wood Countertops
You can clean wood countertops by using warm water, microfiber cloths, vinegar, and salt. Daily maintenance and Cleaning will always make it look good as new. As we go all-natural, erase the thought of using non-abrasive cleaner, but instead, let’s go for warm water and white vinegar. Mixed them and gently wipes them at the surface.
Cleaning the Laminated Countertops
Water, microfiber cloths, and baking soda are practical natural cleaning tools for laminated countertops. Baking soda is useful in removing stains. They mixed it with a small amount of water until it formed like a cream. After that, gently rub it to the mark and let them for about five minutes. Clean it with a soft cloth. You can do this all over again every time stains appear.
A simple reminder, do not let stains or dirt sit longer on your countertops. The longer it stays, the harder it removes.
Cleaning the Stainless Steel Countertops
Cleaning stainless steel countertops only require water, soap, cloths, baking soda, and lemon oil. Some use stainless-steel cleaner, but we will only consider the first suggestions because we go for naturals.
Cleaning stainless steel countertops is easy. Soap and water will do. To make continuous glow and shines on your kitchen countertops, endless wipes are essential. Do not use scrubs in cleaning this Countertop. It will only damage the surface. For stains, you can use baking soda and cloth. Gently scrub the stained area. Repeat until stains detach.
How to Clean Kitchen Countertops Naturally–Other Tips
Non-toxic and natural cleaners are best in cleaning kitchen countertops. Aside from reducing the risks for allergies, it also cheap and effective. Some use essential oils for cleaning countertops too. Aside from having a great smell, they also have anti-bacterial components.
You can make your cleaner by using these elements. All you have to prepare are spray, mix white vinegar, water, and essential oils. Shake it before use to fuse them properly. After that, you can spray it directly on the countertops. Oils will stay at the top of the water when not in use, so shake it well before using.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We do hope that this article provides you the essential ideas on how to clean kitchen countertops naturally. Our tips and detailed information about countertops give you insights on how to handle different countertops in Cleaning. Do not be confused about which is which.
