Countertop Care & Maintenance

Laminate (WilsonArt / Formica)

• For daily maintenance, clean the countertop with a damp cloth or sponge and a mild soap or detergent. Rinse surface with warm water and then wipe dry.
• Difficult stains (coffee, tea, etc.) can be removed with a soft-bristled brush and mild household cleaner. See list below for recommended cleaners.
• Persistent stains can be removed by applying a paste of baking soda and water with a light-bristled brush. Lightly scrub for 10-20 strokes. Excessive scrubbing or exerting too much force can damage the surface, especially glossy finishes.
• Never use an acidic or abrasive cleaner on your laminate countertop. These can damage the surface.
• Recommended cleaners: Windex, Glass Plus, Fantastik, Mr. Clean, and Formula 409.

Solid Surface (Corian)

• For daily maintenance, clean the countertop with warm, soapy water or an ammonia based cleaner (not window cleaner). Rinse surface and then wipe dry.
• In order to prevent hard water marks, rinse and dry countertop after each cleaning. Also, clean spills up before they dry on the surface.
• To disinfect your countertop, you can clean with diluted household bleach – 1:100 (5 TBSP of bleach to 1 gallon of water)
• Remember to never place hot pots, pans, etc. directly on the countertop and always use a cutting board!

Quartz (Cambria / Silestone / Zodiaq)

• For daily maintenance, clean the surface with warm, soapy water and a soft cotton cloth.
• Do not use abrasive, strong alkaline or acid cleaners. Do not use abrasive or harsh scrub pads.
• Recommended cleaners (as recommended by Cambria): Clorox Anywhere, Clorox Anywhere (hard surfaces), Clorox Disinfecting Kitchen Cleaner, Clorox Wipes Bleach Free Lemon Fresh, Formula 409 Orange Power Daily Kitchen Cleaner, Goo Gone, Simple Green D Pro 3 Cleaner, Windex, Windex Multi-Surface Cleaner with Vinegar, 3M Glass Cleaner, Denatured/Isopropyl (rubbing) Alcohol, or Saniten N-313.
• The use of hot pads is recommended to prevent heating the stone surface.

Granite

• For daily maintenance, clean the surface with mild soap and warm water.
• If desired, you can use a neutral cleaner such as stone soap or mild dishwashing liquid. Too much cleaner or soap can leave a film or streaky appearance, so be sure to rinse and dry the surface after using a soap solution.
• In order to avoid staining the surface, wipe up spills immediately.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners.
• Do not use ammonia, vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners that contain acid.
• Reseal your granite countertop annually. For heavily used surfaces, you may want to reseal the granite semi-annually. Be sure to use a non-toxic sealer on surfaces used for food preparation.
• Extremely hot pans should not be placed directly on the granite since the surface quickly absorbs & distributes heat.

If you have any specific questions about the care or maintenance of your new countertop, feel free to contact our Kitchen & Bath Department. We would be more than happy to help!