How to Clean Bathroom Countertops: 5 Daily Tips (+ Long Term Care Instructions)
Bathroom countertops go through a lot. Water stains. Hairspray residue. Toothpaste drops. They’re the focal point of the bathroom and most frequently used surface. So, how do you keep them clean without damaging the material? Find out in this blog.
There’s nothing worse than a dirty bathroom. It’s one of the most important rooms of your home to keep sanitary, besides the area you prep, cook and eat food. This means there are certain things you need to do every day—and other things on a periodic basis—to keep your bathroom clean and shiny, including your toilet, sink, shower and countertops. Because there’s nothing better than clean bathroom countertops.
But what do you actually need to do? And how do you do it without harming the beautiful natural stone or manufactured material you invested in? Keep reading for a list of five tips to help you properly maintain clean bathroom countertops. We’ll start with general cleaning tips to guide your daily habits, and then we’ll touch on the unique upkeep characteristics of various recommended materials.
How to Clean Bathroom Countertops: 5 Daily Cleaning Tips
#1. Clear Your Countertops
It might be tempting to keep your daily use products on your countertops. After all, you’re going to use them again later anyways, right? But to prevent any build up, it’s best to keep your countertops as clutter-free as possible. If you leave items on the surface too long, they’ll inevitably become part of the countertop. You’ll clean around them and won’t be as thorough—which goes against your goal of clean bathroom countertops.
#2. Use Gentle Cleaners
Don’t use anything too harsh on your countertops, especially natural stone. Most only require gentle cleaners. Usually, a gentle soap and warm water are all you need to clean up most messes.
Stay away from solutions like white vinegar, glass cleaner, bleach and hydrogen peroxide. These harsh cleaners can dull and weaken your countertop material, which impacts its overall durability and visual appeal by making it more prone to stains.
#3. Use Gentle Cleaning Tools
Like the tip above, you should use gentle cleaning tools as well. Steel wool and other abrasive cleaning tools can leave scratches that not only ruin the look of your counters but also give a nesting ground to germs.
#4. Don’t Neglect Corners
Seams, joints and corners are inevitable in bathroom countertops. So, don’t be shy about digging in there when you’re cleaning. If left alone, they can become another place where mold and germs congregate.
#5. Clean Spills Right Away
Just because it’s a bathroom, doesn’t mean you’re free to let water (or other spills) sit on the countertops. So, when something spills, don’t wait for it to dry. It may not look like much, but if you leave water alone for too long, the deposits can build up and leave unsightly watermarks and risk mold and mildew.
Long Term Care for Specific Countertop Materials
When it comes to bathrooms, some countertop materials are more ideal than others. But as long as you maintain your surfaces according to the specific material’s requirements, you have a lot of options. Including:
Solid Surface
This material is almost perfect for bathrooms. It’s known for its hygienic nature and is easy to wipe down and keep looking beautiful—perfect for homeowners who don’t want to be bothered with tedious upkeep.
Solid surface, made from acrylic, is non-porous, which is a must-have quality for bathroom countertops. This means it’s stain-resistant and does not require any sealing. Due to its unique composition, it’s one of the most durable manufactured materials and one of the most renewable and repairable materials, so you can professionally repair, modify and buff if needed.
Also, solid surface countertops can be customized to fit almost any shape thanks to its thermoformable abilities. This means your shower base, walls and vanity can all be the same material, making cleaning a breeze because you only have to worry about one type of material. Not to mention, it comes in a variety of colors and designs to fit your style.
Just like solid surface, quartz is virtually non-porous and requires no sealing. Its popularity has taken off in the past several years, and one of the reasons why is because of its relatively low maintenance and ease of cleaning.
Quartz is highly resistant to stains and scratches. For daily cleaning, use mild soap and water, or a non-abrasive, non-ammonia formula.
Quartz is a great solution for clean bathroom countertops because of its perfect blend of good looks and function.
Granite
Now let’s get into the natural stones. First, there’s granite: a classic, premium countertop material. Granite is great for anyone who wants a unique aesthetic. Each slab is unique, with gorgeous coloring and patterns that will make any space your own.
Contrary to common myths, granite is also fairly low maintenance. It’s the most durable natural stone, and it’s heat resistant (good for hot curling irons!). While it also resists stains pretty well, granite countertops should be sealed periodically to prevent spills from soaking into the stone over time. We recommend getting lighter colors sealed once a year and darker colors sealed once every 2-3 years. Sealing might seem daunting at first, but it is a simple process and your countertop supplier can help if needed. Once they’re sealed, they will be easier to clean and even more hygienic.
Marble
This beautiful natural stone makes for a stunning bathroom, but it does need more upkeep than the options above. Its composition is softer and more porous, so it’s recommended to reseal periodically to help guard against any potential staining brought on by everyday use.
Very gentle and very frequent cleaning is best for marble. Again, use only mild cleansers with a neutral pH applied to a cleaning cloth first rather than directly onto the top, avoiding those with abrasives, ammonia or other harsh agents. Clean spills promptly and use trivets for any of your hot tools.
Marble is not optimal for high-traffic, high-activity areas, but, if maintained properly, this material will make for a lovely half or guest bathroom.
Conclusion
As long as you keep clean bathroom countertops, they will serve you well for a long time. Keep these tips in mind during your daily cleaning habits and be sure to reference your material’s manufacturer or supplier recommendations for long-term maintenance.
Do your bathroom countertops need more than a deep clean? Maybe it’s time for a bathroom renovation. Contact Eastern Surfaces to get started or inquire about our care & maintenance and repair services.
