The Homeowner's Countertop And Flooring Maintenance Guide
Caring for your floors and countertops is simple if you’re armed with the right information. If you use the wrong product or wrong approach for the type of countertop or flooring that you have, you could end up discolouring, warping, or wrecking them. To avoid a costly replacement, read through how to care for each type of countertop and flooring.
Keep your floors and countertops looking beautiful for years to come with this simple maintenance guide.
Countertops
Day to Day Cleaning
For all countertop types (except wood), warm water and mild dish soap are all you need. Mix them in a spray bottle. Spray your counters and wipe them down with a soft sponge or cloth. Make sure to dry it completely with a microfiber cloth afterwards, as you don’t want water heading for the seams and edges where it can warp your counter or affect your sealant.
For a wooden countertop, combine warm water with a splash of distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the counters and wipe them down with a soft sponge or cloth. Dry completely.
For stainless steel, you’ll want to use a microfiber towel and a product made specifically for stainless steel to buff it out and make it look nice and shiny again after cleaning. Always buff in the direction of the grain.
For soapstone, the water and dish soap will work well, but you can also simply use a multipurpose cleaner as it’s a nonporous material and won’t absorb the chemicals.
Disinfecting
One of the best ways that you can keep your kitchen counter clean of bacteria is to keep them dry. Bacteria and mould thrive in wet environments.
Use isopropyl rubbing alcohol of at least 70% and spray down your countertops to disinfect them. Wipe them clean and then dry your counters with a microfiber cloth.
Stain Removal
To avoid stains, always use cutting boards to rest and cut foods on. Of course, stains still happen! Here are the best ways to remove those stubborn spots on your beautiful counter.
Wood / Butcher Block
When it comes to stain removal, all you’re going to need is a lemon and some salt. Cut the lemon in half. Sprinkle salt directly onto the stain. Use the lemon half, cut side down, and rub the salt on the stain. Use your water and vinegar mix to clean the salt and lemon off the counter and then dry completely.
Marble and Granite
If your stain is oil-based, then you’re going to want to make a paste out of baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the stain and then cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit, covered overnight. If the stain is particularly stubborn, try letting the paste sit for a couple of days. Use hydrogen peroxide and a soft cloth to clean up water-based stains.
Laminate
Make a paste out of baking soda and water. Apply the paste directly to the stain. Let it sit for at least five minutes. Rinse off with a soft cloth, but DON’T scrub.
Quartz or Engineered Stone
One of the benefits of Quartz is that it’s pretty much stain-resistant! If you do happen to come across a stubborn stain, try using glass cleaner. Don’t use abrasive scrubbers!
Stainless Steel
We’ve all had moments of cursing the name “stainless” steel before. Make a paste out of dish soap and baking soda and then rub with a soft cloth, going with the grain. Rinse it off and dry completely, buffing it with a microfiber cloth.
Soapstone
Soapstone is not a porous substance, so you don’t have to worry about stains. If there is a stubborn spot, you can usually get most stains out with a multi-purpose cleaner.
Resealing
Sealing helps to protect your countertop from water damage, including cracking, warming, and moulding. Water will bead up on the surface of a properly sealed countertop. If you notice that water is no longer beading up nicely, then it’s time to re-seal!
Wood / Butcher Block
Solid wood and butcher block countertops need to be sealed regularly to prevent warping and cracking. Use a food-grade oil or wax and apply as directed. If you notice scratches or dings, sand down the wood and reseal it.
Marble and Granite
Follow the directions on the sealing product. Make sure that you get all areas of the counter, including corners and backsplash. Open all windows in the kitchen as the fumes can be quite strong. Make sure that you buff out the excess sealer until it is completely dry and not at all tacky. For marble counters, you’re going to want to re-seal it every few months, whereas granite only needs it once a year.
Laminate
Laminate doesn’t need to be sealed as it’s an uber-durable material.
Quartz or Engineered Stone
Much like laminate, Quartz doesn’t need to be re-sealed! It will stay looking beautiful for a long time.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel also doesn’t need to be re-sealed, but you’ll want to polish it regularly with a stainless steel product and a microfiber cloth, making sure to go with the grain.
Soapstone
Since soapstone is non-porous, you don’t need to re-seal it, but soapstone is one of those substances that will change over time. You can choose to use a mineral oil regularly to “re-seal” the product, which can help give it additional protection against stains. This will make your counter look darker with each application. Otherwise, if you choose not to add mineral oil, the soapstone will still change its appearance and get glossy and shiny over time.
Flooring
High-traffic flooring will need to be cleaned more regularly. You can place rugs and mats in areas that see a lot of action to trap the dirt there and to protect your floors.
Sweeping/Vacuuming
To remove dirt, crumbs, hair, and dry debris, you’re going to want to be sweeping or vacuuming at least once a week. For more high-traffic areas, like kitchens, you’ll probably need to sweep more often, especially once it’s ant season.
If you’re vacuuming hardwood, make sure that you’re using an attachment that is meant for hard floors that will not scratch your flooring.
Mopping
Make sure if you’re dipping into a water and cleaner mix to replace frequently so that you’re not trying to clean with dirty water.
Hardwood
When you mop your hardwood floors, look for cleaners that are specifically designed for hardwood. Also make sure not to use too much water cleaning hardwood, as water can warp your flooring. Instead, use a barely damp mop.
If your hardwood has a hard finish on it, make sure that you don’t use any chemicals that might remove the finish.
Tile
Try not to use a sponge mop for tile flooring because you could be pushing dirty water into the grout. Instead, opt for a flat mop. Use a mix of warm water and mild dish soap or a gentle cleaner meant for tile floors.
Use a grout cleaner and brush when you start to notice that it’s getting a little dark. Make sure to follow the instructions on the cleaning product and try not to scrub too hard. Once a year make sure to check for cracks in grouting and fill as necessary.
Laminate
Use a damp (not dripping wet) mop on laminate flooring. You can buy laminate floor cleaner or you can use a mix of warm water with mild dish soap or baby shampoo. Oil-based cleaners can leave marks or streaks on your flooring. Use a dry mop or microfiber cloth to dry your floors after mopping.
Since laminate flooring cannot be refinished it’s a good idea to stay away from anything that can remove the protective coating. So don’t use floor polish, abrasive scrubbers, or acidic cleaners.
Linoleum
Unlike other floorings on this list, linoleum can be cleaned with a mix of vinegar and warm water. Adding in a couple of drops of mild dish soap to the mixture is a great idea too! After you’ve cleaned the floor, dry it with a dry mop or microfiber towels.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a resilient flooring. Mix together hot water and apple cider vinegar to mop your floors. The nice thing is that you won’t have to worry about soapy residue and vinegar can disinfect the floors.
Stone
Avoid using cleaners with acidic ingredients like lemon or vinegar. Instead, you can simply clean with a mix of warm water and a mild dish soap. Acidic cleaners can discolour the stone, so avoid those.
Carpet
Carpets can trap dirt and bacteria so it’s a good idea to vacuum multiple times a week. You can freshen your carpets by sprinkling them with baking soda. Let the baking soda sit for an hour or two before vacuuming it up. You can also add a couple of drops of essential oils to the baking soda and allow the essential oil to fully absorb before sprinkling your carpets with it. This will add a subtle scent.
When spot-treating carpets for stains, always make sure that you’re using products that are specifically formulated for carpets. Other fabric stain cleaners are meant to go into the laundry or be rinsed off. Carpet-specific cleaners dry up and can be easily absorbed back up after the stain is gone.
To prevent your carpet from getting permanent indentations, make sure to move around heavy furniture semi-regularly. You can give your room a new setup and fresh look by rearranging your furniture.
