Do: Use a
Cutting Board
Again, avoid the possibility of scratching the solid surface and protect your
knives. Cutting on the stone will dull and damage your knives' edges quickly.
You should never use your granite counter as a cutting board. Don't: Use
Generic Cleaning Products
Generic cleaning products including bleach, glass cleaners, and other
degreasers and common household cleaners that you buy at your local store
contain acids, alkalis, and other chemicals that will degrade the granite
sealer leaving the stone more vulnerable to staining. You can get an affordable
cleaner Weiman Granite Cleaner & Polish like this for less than $4 at
Walmart.
Don't: Use
Vinegar, Ammonia, Lemon or Orange as Cleaners
Most common and
name-brand household products are not suitable for cleaning granite countertops.
It is best to avoid using anything that isn’t specifically recommended for
granite. Simply use warm water and a soft cloth, if nothing else. Avoid
ammonia-based cleaners and vinegar.
Don't: Use
Bathroom, Tub & Tile or Grout Cleaners
The powders and even the "soft" creams contain abrasives that will
scratch and dull surfaces.
Don't: Sit
or Stand on Your Countertops
Unlike a laminate countertop surface, granite, marble and quartz solid surface
countertops are very hard, but not flexible. Additionally, they DO NOT have a
plywood backing, so when too much weight is applied in one spot, it could cause
a crack.
Don't: Store
Liquids or Toiletries Directly on Your Countertop
Cooking oils, hair products, perfumes, colognes, nail products, creams,
lotions, and potions tend to spill or leak and often go overlooked. Even when
sealed, a substance that remains on the granite surface for an extended period
may stain the granite. Practice proactive granite countertop care by storing
these products on a shelf or decorative tray like they do in fancy hotels!
GLASS
STOVE TOP:
Let’s
face it—glass-top stoves can be hard to keep clean without routine maintenance,
but we love the extra counter space they can provide as well as the sleek look
and usual easy wipe down. A few drops of water spilled while cooking can create
crusty halos around your burner that won’t simply wipe away clean. Burn marks
can build up over time until your stove constantly looks dirty. It’s a
frustration we all share. Thankfully, there’s a solution—and it’s an easy one.
You
can use a mixture of white vinegar (to remove the grease) and then baking soda
to rub away caked on stains. Bon Ami powdered cleanser (easily found at any
grocery or super store) is another great option. Because a ceramic glass top
stove isn’t coated in another material (like a window or mirror is), it’s okay
to use a mild abrasive cleaner like Bon Ami or baking soda to remove residue
and stains.
To
make your glass stovetop look new in minutes, first wipe it down with a wet
cloth. You can wipe it with white vinegar to remove grease. Then, sprinkle the
surface with Bon Ami powder cleanser or the baking soda and give it a good
scrub with a soft cloth or the soft side of a sponge. If the stain doesn’t rub
away at first, apply more Bon Ami and continue working it until it disappears.
Please
note: the cleaning of a glass-ceramic cooktop should be uninterrupted; with
plenty of water used to keep the surface moist. All the cleaning solution,
including any residue, should be completely removed from the surface once
cleaning is completed. Bon Ami, or any cleaner, should not be left in contact
with the cooktop for an extended period of time.
When
all the stains have been rubbed away, wipe the surface clean using a wet cloth.
For a streak-free shine, dry the surface using a clean, dry cloth.
STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES (DISHWASHER/REFRIGERATOR/MICROWAVE):
To get your stainless steel appliances shining like new,
you’ll need to invest in some microfiber cloths. These super-soft, non-abrasive cloths will last you a long time
— especially since you can throw ’em in the wash and reuse them! You’ll also
need white vinegar (in a spray bottle, preferably), paper towels and mineral
oil like olive oil.
1. Gather your supplies: This task (and most others!)
will be so much easier if have all of your supplies collected and ready to go.
2. Determine the direction of the
grain: I know that we usually
reserve the term “grain” for wood; however, stainless steel also has a grain.
Look closely. It will either be running horizontally or vertically. To clean
your stainless steel, rub in the direction of that grain.
3. Do a preliminary clean of your
appliance with vinegar: Spray your appliance
liberally with vinegar.
4. Wipe it down: Using either a paper towel or a
very soft cloth, wipe the vinegar off in the direction of the grain. This
should remove the initial debris from your appliance and start to shine it up a
bit.
5. Dip your soft cloth into a little
bit of oil: You don’t need a ton, as
you can always come back for more.
6. Polish your appliance: With your oiled-up cloth, wipe
in the direction of the grain. You will start to see all of the marks
disappear! Now you have a shiny new appliance again!
You can also
purchase a pretty inexpensive Stainless Steel cleaner from the store but it
should always be a two-step process, one that cleans, and one that buffs or
shines.