White worktops look beautiful but can be really difficult to keep clean. If you’ve got a white worktop, or ever had on in the past, you’ve probably spent hours scrubbing them in an attempt to keep them looking as good as they did when they were originally fitted. Because white shows up everything, they are so easy to stain. Tea and coffee are some of the biggest culprits but red wine, tomatoes, peppers and turmeric can also leave marks forever, if not tackled properly.
You’ve probably tried all sorts of cleaning solutions, from kitchen sprays to bleach, and everything else in between. Here are our top tips on how to clean white worktops, with some unique cleaning ideas you may not have thought of before.
- Most household spray cleaners will do the job but be sure to check on the label that they are suitable for your worktop type. Some may damage the surface of granite or quartz.
- If stains are deep and the surface of your worktops has a mottled texture, try spraying with a bleach based cleaning spray and leave overnight. In the morning, scrub the surface with a sponge, soap, and warm water.
- If your worktops are made from a porous material such as slate, marble or wood, avoid using bleach. It’s corrosive and may risk eventually damaging the surface.
- Mix a thick paste by combining bicarbonate of soda with water and apply this paste gently to the stained area with a cloth. Baking soda is slightly abrasive so don’t scrub it in, particularly if your worktop has a shiny finish. This will avoid any tiny scratches being left. Leave the solution overnight and then wash away with soap and water.
- Magic erasers are produced by lots of different cleaning brands and remove stains and scuffs from most washable surfaces around the house. They are often perfect for deep worktop stains. All you need to do is wet the eraser with water, squeeze out the excess and apply to your stained area.
- A novel technique is to use denture cleaning tablets. Grind the tablets up into a thick paste along with water and apply to the surface. The granular nature of the paste has a scouring effect which helps loosen tough stains. Simply rinse off after a few hours.
- Solvents such as nail polish remover or paint thinner can sometimes be used on laminate, but test on a small inconspicuous area first to be extra certain no damage or discoloration will be caused. When using solvents always ventilate the room well to remove harsh fumes and wear gloves to protect your skin.
- If you use any solvent or chemical based cleaner, make sure the solution doesn’t run into the seams of a laminate worktop, it can soak into the substrate and cause damage or weaken the adhesive.
- Avoid using abrasive materials like steel wool, all you will do is scratch the surface which will ruin your worktops appearance and also make stains more likely in the future.
- Prevention is better than a cure. Always wipe up any stains as soon as they happen and avoid leaving out any food or bottles of liquid (particularly oils and wine) on your worktops. Keep everything stored away and your worktops regularly cleaned and you will avoid having to tackle hardened stains in the future.
White worktops look classy and stylish. By following these simple tips, you will keep them looking that way forever. For more information on how to clean granite or marble, read our recent blog post.
Written by Mike Pye
