Treating discoloration on countertops

Most countertops are made to withstand life but, like all quality and fine materials, they can be damaged, especially if mistreated. In order to prevent this from happening, you should follow some simple steps and make sure that your kitchen countertop will maintain its original beauty and elegance for all the years to come. Normal cleaning will require just a mild cleanser and damp cloth but troublesome stains, spills and discolorations can be removed only by using special cleansers designed to treat the specific material from which the countertop is made.

Some of the most stubborn problems are discolorations. You can prevent them from appearing by avoiding the direct contact of the countertop with hot items. For instance, you should use coasters under glasses containing citrus juice or alcohol because the acid from these specific liquids is likely to discolorate the surface of the countertop. Avoid placing cookware you took out off the cook top or oven directly on the surface of the kitchen countertop because this can discolorate the surface as well. Try and use trivets instead and minimize scratching and discoloring by putting flatware and dishes on some place mats.

The key element in treating the discolorations is to act quickly in order to avoid further damaging effects. For instance, you will have to wipe up spills soon after they happened by using a sponge or wet towel. The stains that are allowed to dry overnight are more likely to cause a discoloration sooner or later. When trying to remove a discoloration, you must avoid using cleaning products that contain acids such as vinegar or lemon, especially if your countertop is made from calcar. You will have to rinse the affected surface thoroughly and dry it by using a soft cloth. You must not use scouring creams or powders in order to clean discolorations because such abrasives are very likely to scratch the surface of the countertop.

Every discoloration of your countertop must be treated wisely in order to prolong the life of this kitchen item. For instance, you can remove some of the surface discolorations by using an appropriate cleaner for the material from which the countertop is made or a mild detergent that you can find at almost any local hardware store or home center. The deeper-set discolorations must be treated with a poultice. Poultice is a pasta like material you will have to spread over the discoloration and leave it right there for more than 24 hours. As this substance dries, it wicks the surface discoloration up from the surface of the countertop.

Once you manage to treat the discolorations, you should go for resealing the countertop, especially if the countertop is made from stone. Keep in mind that even the quality factory-applied sealers are likely to wear out eventually. If you notice that liquids are starting to migrate into the stone surface, you might consider resealing the countertop in order to prevent further damage.