We maintain cleanliness
To put the countertop in order, remove all household appliances and sweep away debris, so it will be easier for you to wash the far corners. If liquid is spilled on the countertop or there are stains from tea, coffee or milk, wipe them off with a damp cloth.
If the stains cannot be easily cleaned, soak a rag in hot water and treat the dirty area again. The best way to keep your countertop looking attractive is to try to remove stains immediately.
Stains
Made from acrylic stone
When installing a countertop in the kitchen, for example, made of acrylic stone, you should be aware of the risk of unwanted stains. After all, the kitchen is a place where any surface is exposed to negative factors.
How to care for an acrylic stone countertop so that stains do not appear on it? Firstly, such products must be protected from exposure to high temperatures. If you carelessly place a pan with hot contents on the countertop for a certain period of time, it will leave behind a whitish stain.
Plain countertops require the most attention. The defect is most noticeable if you place hot food on a dark-colored acrylic stone countertop:
- - dark gray;
- - black;
- - chocolate.
The risk of thermal stains forming is lower for materials of light shades with a grainy pattern, stains, inclusions and a “stone” texture.
Secondly, prevent contact of the product with acids. After all, various acids, for example, acetic acid, can leave matte marks on the acrylic surface. Accordingly, care products for acrylic countertops should not contain aggressive acids.
From liquid stone
Liquid stone countertops are also susceptible to staining from contact with hot cookware. More often yellowish spots appear, for example, from leaving a hot frying pan for 10 minutes.
From quartz
Quartz agglomerate does not tolerate direct ultraviolet radiation. Experts do not recommend placing such countertops outdoors for barbecues. Due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, the surface gradually becomes stained.
But there are also advantages:
- 1. Quartz is probably the best material for countertops. The almost complete absence of pores prevents the surface from absorbing all kinds of odors, oils, and various liquids. Therefore, no stains or mold will form on the product, including from hot conditions.
- 2. The material is resistant to aggressive chemicals and caring for a quartz countertop does not require much effort. There is no need for special cleaning products that do not contain harmful acids.
Home remedy
You can prepare your own product and clean your artificial stone countertop with it. Try to achieve a balanced composition; there should be no acid or active chemicals. Pour warm water into a basin, add dishwashing detergent and alcohol.
The composition should consist of three parts detergent and one part alcohol. This product with alcohol will perfectly degrease and disinfect the countertop. Mix the solution with warm water and treat the countertop with it. All stains should come off; if they are poorly washed, repeat the procedure again.
What not to do
To use it successfully, a person must know simple rules. If you adhere to them, the product will last a long time. Things to remember:
- You should not start cleaning with the use of chemicals. In some cases, using a soft sponge and soap is sufficient.
- Hard sponges and brushes leave behind scratches in which food gets clogged over time.
- Baking soda is the first cleaning product that is always on hand. If it does not help in cleaning the product, they move on to using more aggressive agents.
- Food remains cannot be scraped off with sharp objects.
- A substance containing aggressive components should not be in prolonged contact with surfaces.
- Protect a light-colored sink from coffee and tea stains. Also avoid contact with liquids containing coloring pigments. Even if drops get on the surface, you should wipe them off immediately.
A broken faucet can contribute to the appearance of limescale. A stream of water constantly flowing over the surface leaves behind rust stains. Therefore, the tap must be repaired. It is not recommended to throw heavy dishes into the sink. Blunt impacts contribute to the appearance of cracks.
Special means
You can try cleaning the countertop with ammonia, vinegar, or special products for artificial stone products. But it is necessary to make gentle solutions from them so that it does not corrode the texture; wipe especially dirty places with it.
Then use a light-colored cloth to wash all dirty areas, try to use a cloth that does not leave fibers on the surface. An artificial fiber rag is very suitable for these purposes.
Saturate the cloth thoroughly with the prepared solution so that it is wet and begin the initial cleaning of the countertop. Wring the damp cloth dry and wipe your countertop again, as many cleaning products can leave behind a white residue. Wipe it until it becomes shiny. Change cloths if they become damp and polish the surface only with a dry cloth.
Advantages and disadvantages of the material
Among the advantages are:
- First of all, it is worth noting the minimal maintenance of artificial stone. Detergents that can be combined with building materials are available in almost every home, so there is no need to buy special, expensive formulations.
- Eco-friendly and hypoallergenic. The production process uses safe building materials that meet international standards. Manufacturers who value their reputation have all supporting documents on hand and provide them at the customer’s request.
- Low porosity and high density. This characteristic prevents the development of harmful bacteria on the surface of countertops or other stone products.
- UV resistant. When exposed to ultraviolet radiation, the surface does not fade or lose its characteristics. High-quality dyes that are used in the process of preparing the compositions do not change color or fade.
- Waterproof. The surface does not absorb moisture, which prevents the development of mold and the appearance of darkened areas. This property allows the composition to be used for casting kitchen sinks and other items that are constantly in contact with water.
- Resistance to mechanical stress. It is possible to split the material, but it is quite difficult. Regular cutting or beating of meat will not damage the surface. The coating is difficult to scratch, so you can safely cut food on it.
- Temperature resistance. If you place a hot kettle or pan on the surface, it will not change its properties. The countertops can safely withstand temperatures up to 200 degrees. Although manufacturers claim this property, to maintain an attractive appearance for a longer time, you should refrain from using the material as a hot pad.
- No seams. Solid slabs prevent liquids from flowing in and any debris from getting into the cracks, making the cleaning process easier.
Another undoubted advantage is that most products are made to order, which allows the customer to indicate all preferences and wishes. In finished products, for example in sinks, all the smallest details are calculated so that the buyer can purchase a product that will serve him for decades. One of the main disadvantages is its high cost of artificial stone and weight. Since high-quality components are used in production, the finished product cannot be cheap.
Soda
Using baking soda to clean faux stone countertops. If the stain is old, then it may not be cleaned off with simple means; in this case, you can try cleaning with soda. It is used in many household situations, and it does a good job of cleaning many dirty, old stains.
Try preparing this composition: take 200 grams of soda, add five tablespoons of dishwashing detergent and a little hydrogen peroxide. The consistency of the composition should resemble sour cream: it should not be liquid. Start cleaning the countertop, after some time the stain will go away. Then wipe everything with a clean damp cloth and polish it until it shines.
Our tips will help you cope with dirt, stains, even old ones. Listen to them - and your kitchen will shine with pleasant cleanliness!
Removing scratches
Sooner or later, even with careful use, scratches will form on the surface. This mainly applies to acrylic sinks; granite sinks are much stronger. How to restore the original appearance?
Paste GOI
You can try polishing small scratches with GOI paste. To do this, we use a drill with an attachment. You can also polish it by manually applying the paste to a soft cloth.
Sandpaper
In cases with large scratches or other deep damage, you can use sandpaper of various grain sizes, preferably moisture-resistant. First, we take fine-grained sandpaper for primary sanding—from 200 to 125 microns, and finish with a zero grade of 80-40 microns. When processing with sandpaper, you need to wet the surface with water, this will achieve a more delicate sanding. Ideally, after sanding, you need to polish with GOI paste or use a colorless car polish.
Emergency measures using sandpaper will be needed not only because of scratches. Absolutely unpredictable situations may arise: Someone threw a cigarette butt into a stone sink, or decided to burn paper in it. This also happens, especially when using outdoor sinks.
Special household chemicals
There are many cleaning products on the household chemicals market that can renew things.
- Сillit Bang . Anti -stain detergents
- Sanfor+ white. For light-colored sinks
- BIOSOL Na6 Specially for granite stone sinks
- Akrilan premium from Baga
- Ceramite from bugs based on chlorine.
- Akem i Several different cleaners. From mild soap to intense cleanser.
- Shumanit cleaner for granite stone.
- Prosept Cooky spray
How to care for a marble countertop
Using marble, you can make a room look sophisticated and add a modern touch to it. Marble looks especially good in white rooms. Marble, as a material for countertops, is softer than granite and is quite easy to clean. When purchasing marble, pay attention to how it is sealed, as it may have been damaged in transit and may have suffered damage. Marble is an expensive material, so you need to take special care of it. If you spill liquids such as coffee or orange juice, blot the spills as soon as possible.
