What First-Time Homeowners Need to Know About Maintaining Countertops

General Category

Dec 9

You’ve just moved into your new home, complete with a dream kitchen and spa-like bathroom. You now have the responsibility to keep your home looking its best. In this blog, we will share what first-time homeowners need to know about maintaining countertops in their kitchen and bathroom.

Countertop maintenance tip #1: Use a material-appropriate cleaner

There are many kitchen countertop materials available. Finding the type of countertops you have ensures you use a material-appropriate cleaner to protect them from damage.

Most real estate listings and new build homes highlight features like upgraded countertop materials, so this is a good place to start to identify the types of kitchen countertops or vanity counters you have. The right cleaner will help protect the delicate surface, keeping your counters looking their best and maintaining their value.

Countertop maintenance tip #2: Remove crumbs and debris first

It’s always best to start by removing dry crumbs and debris before you apply wet cleaners or water. Cleaning the counters with particles on the surface can leave tiny scratches and pits, making the material more vulnerable to stains and causing the counters to lose their sheen.

Scratches and pits also create a hiding place for germs and bacteria, making it harder to thoroughly sanitize worktops in food preparation areas. Germs and bacteria increase the risk of spreading foodborne illnesses. If the debris is dry, it is quite abrasive, so avoid using a brush or your hand to brush it away. Instead, use a clean, damp cloth to capture the crumbs more easily.

Countertop maintenance tip #3: Avoid abrasive cloths

Using a soft cloth, such as a reusable microfibre cloth, a soft sponge, or paper towels, helps protect counter surfaces from damage. Since you should be wiping down your counters after food preparation several times a day, constant exposure to an abrasive scrubber will shorten the life of protective seals, natural surfaces, and even basic coatings on materials like laminate. This includes the abrasive scrubbing side of sponges. Only use the soft side on counters.

Countertop maintenance tip #4: Avoid abrasive cleaners

Many kitchen and bathroom cleaners contain abrasive ingredients designed to tackle stains and buildup, such as soap scum. As with abrasive cloths, brushes, and sponges, abrasive cleaners will damage the seals and scratch the surface of counters. When in doubt, use a basic mix of dishwashing liquid soap and water for a gentle, effective cleaner.

Countertop maintenance tip #5: Act fast

Whether it’s tomato sauce and red wine on kitchen countertops or makeup and hair dye on bathroom counters, acting fast to wipe up spills will reduce the risk of stains. The longer a spill sits on a surface, the more time it has for stains to set in. Keeping counter-safe wipes handy lets you quickly wipe up the mess without stressing.

Countertop maintenance tip #6: Clean regularly

Regular counter cleaning removes gritty debris, greasy buildup, and dark-coloured spills that can cause stains. Kitchen counters require more diligence, with frequent cleaning after food prep, to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.

As mentioned in tip #5, having wipes handy makes it easy to keep on top of spills and stains. Keeping wipes under your bathroom sink allows you to wipe away messes like toothpaste and makeup between your weekly bathroom cleaning sessions.

Countertop maintenance tip #7: Use surface protection when painting

As a first-time homeowner, you’ll likely want to add some personal touches to your new home. When painting around countertops, be sure to cover them with a waterproof drip cloth and use tape along the edges to reduce the risk of damage from drips and smears.

If paint does drip onto the counters, follow tip #5 and act quickly to wipe the paint away with a damp cloth. This should remove the paint without any issues. If you find paint drips after it dries, most water-based paints will flake off if you gently rub them. Avoid using an abrasive scrubber or brush; instead, use a non-metal item like a wooden toothpick for splatters or a popsicle stick for larger drops.

Countertop maintenance tip #8: Use surface protection sealants

Natural stone countertops require regular sealants to protect against stains, while engineered materials like quartz don’t. It can be hard to tell whether a material is natural stone today, as engineered counter designs are so advanced that they can fool the average homebuyer.

As discussed, you can refer to the listing to see if the counter material is mentioned. If not, examine your counters to try to spot signs that it is engineered, including:

Follow the patterns to see if they repeat at some point.
Look to see if the pattern is very smooth, distinct, and uniform.
If you have different counter sections, natural stone will show noticeable pattern differences, while engineered stone will be consistent.

Countertop maintenance tip #9: Follow general do’s and don’ts

Use our handy checklist to make sure you’re taking the proper steps to keep your counters looking their best:

Do keep wipes handy for quick swipes to avoid stains.
Don’t use brushes and abrasive pads for cleaning.
Do try to confirm which types of counters you have to ensure you’re using counter-appropriate cleansers.
Don’t place hot pans on the counter to avoid cracks or damage.
Do use a cutting board for chopping and food preparation.
Don’t forget to seal natural stone counters.
Do use gentle, abrasive-free cleansers.
Don’t forget to protect your counters from paint when redecorating.

Countertop maintenance tip #10: Recognize signs you need new countertops

Part of effective countertop maintenance is recognizing when it’s time to replace them. Some signs to watch for include:

Physical damage such as cracks, chips, and severe scratches.
Unpleasant, obvious stains that ruin the look of your kitchen or bathroom.
Your counters are too high-maintenance for your lifestyle.
Warping, mould, or sagging on countertops such as laminate or wood.

Contact the Professionals

Homeownership is a major investment that needs regular upkeep to maintain your property value. These countertop maintenance cleaning tips will help ensure high-end counters retain their value while providing years of enjoyment as long as you live in your home.

For more information about Quartz Co Surfaces’ countertops and installation services, book an in-person or virtual consultation or visit one of our showrooms near you. You can also call us at (905) 892-0395.