Kitchen Counter Cleaning Mistakes: Are You Making Them?

Cleaning your kitchen counters might seem like a simple task. However, there are common mistakes many people make that can damage your counters or perhaps not leave them as clean as you think they are. Are you making these kitchen counter cleaning mistakes?

1. Not sealing stone counters regularly – Stone countertops, such as granite, need to be sealed on a regular basis with a sealing spray and a good buffing with a microfiber cloth. How can you tell if your counters need to be sealed? Try the water test. Put a few drops of water on the countertop. If the water soaks in, it’s time to reseal. If the water beads up and stays on the surface, your sealant is working fine. Granite and other forms of stone are porous so keeping them sealed protects them from damage from cleaners and also microbial damage.

2. Not drying the counters – Leaving the counters wet after cleaning not only causes unsightly streaks and water marks, it can also allow bacteria to begin re-growing on the surface you just cleaned (bacteria loves water/moisture). After cleaning counters, dry thoroughly with a microfiber cloth for a streak free and germ free clean.

3. Using acidic or bleach cleaner on stone counters – Remember we mentioned that natural stone, such as granite, is porous? That means acidic cleaners or strong base cleaners like bleach can strip the sealant and get into those pores in the stone. Avoid vinegar and citric acid-containing cleaners as they can leave your counter looking dull and also begin stripping away the sealant. Bleach is a base rather than an acid but impacts the stone in the same way. Your best bet is water and dish soap or a special cleaner made for cleaning granite or stone counters.

4. Not following contact time – If you look on the back of the container, your cleaner should list a contact time for proper disinfection. This is the amount of time your counter needs to be wet with that product for proper disinfection to take place. Leave it on less than that time and you could be leaving dangerous germs like Salmonella behind on your counters. Always read the instructions and follow the contact time listed on the product.

5. Not cleaning underneath appliances and counter items – All of us have appliances such as toasters and coffee pots that live on our counters. It’s important to move everything off the counters at least once per week and clean underneath everything. Crumbs, water stains and spills can collect under or around these items if you never pick them up and clean underneath, leaving dirt and grime behind even after you’ve cleaned your counters.

Cleaning the kitchen counter isn’t complicated but simple mistakes can leave the counter not as clean as you think or can even damage the material your counter is made from. These are the top 5 most common kitchen counter cleaning mistakes. Have you been making these mistakes? If you don’t have time to clean or need help with a good deep clean, call The Clean Up Club and we’ll be there to help you clean it up!