10 Kitchen Cleaning Tips: Countertops

Your kitchen counter is literally the workhorse of the kitchen. Even on the days you do not cook, you probably use your countertop. It's where you put the day's mail. This is where you stand while you wait for the coffee to brew. This is where you unpack your groceries. And on the days you cook, it gets splattered with stray ingredients, covered in crumbs and more. Maybe you sweep up the crumbs every night before you go to bed. But what about a more thorough clean? Here is how to care for your kitchen counter - organised by the different types you have.

1. Bamboo

Give this surface a daily dusting followed by a wipe with a damp cloth. For deeper cleaning, start with soapy water. Stains can be treated with a thick salt paste and rubbed with a nonabrasive sponge. Rinse well and repeat as necessary.

2. Butcher block

Wipe with the nonabrasive vinegar cleaner—be sure not to saturate and risk warping—and dry with a microfiber cloth. For fresh stains, sprinkle some salt on the stain and scrub with the cut side of a lemon half, let rest for a few minutes, then lightly rinse with water and dry. A food-safe oil applied every six months will help protect porous butcher block.

3. Ceramic tile

Acid-based cleaners and aggressive scrubbing can dull a tile’s glossy finish. Simply wipe with soapy water and microfiber cloth, dry, and buff with a dry towel to preserve the shine. Sanitize the grout once a week by spraying with the disinfectant, letting it sit for a few minutes, then scrubbing with a grout brush or toothbrush. Rinse with hot water and dry with a microfiber cloth.

4. Composite quartz 

Don’t let spills dry; a damp microfiber cloth will do the trick, followed by a rinse with clean water and drying to avoid water spots. If food does dry on quartz, carefully scrape it away with the bowl of a plastic spoon and wipe with a nonabrasive sponge, soap, and water.

5. Laminate 

Wipe with soapy water and a microfiber cloth for cleaning daily, or a little baking soda and water on a soft-bristle brush for a deep clean.

6. Lava stone 

Clean this surface with the all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth, and spray with the disinfectant weekly.

7. Paper countertops 

Made from recycled paper are available in a range of sealed and unsealed finishes that necessitate different deep-cleaning methods. Start with a daily wash with soapy water, and consult the directions for your specific type of finish to determine how to tackle stains.

8. Recycled glass

Wipe with soapy water, and immediately remove any acidic foods like citrus if the glass is suspended in acrylic.

9. Slate and soapstone 

These non-porous stones just need wiping with soapy water and a rinse.

10. Stainless steel 

Spray with the nonabrasive vinegar cleaner and wipe with a microfiber cloth with the grain. Abrasive sponges and cleaners will scratch the surface. For stains, gently rub a baking-soda paste with the grain, then rinse and dry with a microfiber cloth.