Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and with it, your kitchen’s busiest (and dirtiest) time of year. Keeping the countertops, floors, and appliances clean throughout all the craziness can be a challenge. Knowing how to best clean your kitchen counters can help remove grime and grease and keep them shiny all month long.

For some countertops, sealing can make all the difference, too–making it harder for stains to set in, and making it much easier to keep clean. Keep in mind that the different materials out of which countertops can be made have very different properties, and need to be treated differently in some instances.

Granite

Granite countertops are best cleaned with special granite cleaner, or just plain soap and water. If you want to sanitize, as well, you can use a small amount of bleach mixed with water. Just make sure you use a soft cloth rather than an abrasive scrubber.

If there are stains to be removed, a paste made from baking soda and water generally does the trick. Scrub gently with a toothbrush. Keep in mind that it may take a few applications before the stain is removed. In order to prevent stains in the future, sealing is a great idea to keep the counters clean and shiny. Just be sure to use a sealant designed for stone.

Laminate

Like with granite, laminate counters should be cleaned with soap and water or a specialized cleaning solution. Avoid abrasive cleansers and scrubbers, as they may damage the counter. Bleach may damage the coloring, so it isn’t a good idea for most laminate countertops. A toothbrush can help you reach tough spots along the seams and edges.

Set-in stains can be tough to remove on laminate countertops, and they generally aren’t sealable. However, to get rid of grease, try vinegar and water. For grimy buildup, try a paste made of baking soda and water.

Ceramic Tile

Try a mixture of soap, water, and white vinegar to clean. The vinegar will keep the soap from building up on and between the tiles. Again, abrasive cleansers and scouring pads are a bad idea.

Grout stains are usually the most problematic for those with ceramic tile counters. Grout stains easily, and can also hide bacteria and keep it safe from everyday cleaning routines. It’s important to clean it well, and often. Use a toothbrush to apply a solution of a small amount of bleach in water, and scrub thoroughly. The tile itself won’t need to be sealed (as long as it’s glazed tile), but the grout should be sealed to keep out water, bacteria, and prevent staining.

Need Some Help Getting Your Countertops Looking Like New?

Call Coit Cleaning and Restoration to get your countertops thoroughly cleaned and sealed so that they will stay sparkling clean through Thanksgiving and beyond.