The Ultimate Countertop Maintenance Schedule Cheat Sheet – Part 2

Part 1 dealt with the most popular countertops in the industry. Now let’s look at what it takes to maintain the other countertop styles that will make your home stand out:

Onyx countertops

Onyx is beautiful with its bands of translucency, but it has a delicate surface prone to staining and etching. Of all the natural stone materials, onyx countertops need the most care in maintenance work.

Installation day

1. Ask your countertop fabricator how often this particular onyx variety needs to be re-sealed.
2. Based on their recommendation, set a re-seal reminder for yourself on a digital calendar – especially if it’s in more than a year’s time.

Every day

1. Wipe up spills immediately. This is essential especially when the spills are from acidic substances like vinegar, lemon juice or wine.
2. At least once a day, wipe the countertop first with a damp cloth of warm water. Then spray the cloth with a warm solution of non-acidic and non-abrasive soap to gently clean the countertop. Dry the counter with a soft towel that’s free of lint. Good daily cues to remember this task: for the kitchen counter, clean it after doing the dishes in the evening; for the bathroom vanity top, clean it after you brush your teeth at night.

Re-sealing day

1. When the re-seal reminder pops up, check the wear-and-tear of the sealant by sprinkling a few drops of water on different areas of the countertop. If the water remains in droplet form five minutes later, it means the sealant is still doing its job. You can then push back the reminder three to six months and repeat this step when the reminder pops up again.
2. If you notice that the water is absorbed into the onyx in just five minutes, it’s time to re-seal. Because onyx countertops are both costly and fragile, it’s best to call your countertop fabricator to seal it professionally so that you don’t risk damaging the stone. If you notice the surface is marked up with some scratches and dents, ask your countertop fabricator to re-finish it beforehand. After re-sealing, set the next re-seal reminder for yourself again based on your countertop fabricator’s recommendation.

Porcelain countertops

The dense and non-porous surface of porcelain countertops make them highly resistant to scratches, stains, and heat. Best of all, they don’t need any sealing so maintenance is very easy.

Every day

1. At least once a day, clean the countertop with a warm solution of mild dish soap. Good daily cues to remember this task: for the kitchen counter, clean it after doing the dishes in the evening; for the bathroom vanity top, clean it after you brush your teeth at night.

Quartzite countertops

Hard quartzite is very durable, but there are some quartzite countertops made with the “soft” variety that need similar upkeep as marble.

Installation day

1. Ask your countertop fabricator how often this particular quartzite variety needs to be re-sealed as well as what sealant should be used.
2. Based on their recommendation, set a re-seal reminder for yourself on a digital calendar – especially if it’s in more than a year’s time. In general, re-sealing is needed once a year with regular sealants or once every two to three years with high-grade sealants.
3. Purchase or place an order for the recommended sealant.

Every day

1. Wipe up spills immediately. This is essential especially when the spills are from acidic substances like vinegar, lemon juice or wine.
2. At least once a day, wipe the countertop first with a damp cloth of warm water. Then spray the cloth with a warm solution of non-acidic and non-abrasive soap to gently clean the countertop. Dry the counter with a soft towel that’s free of lint. Good daily cues to remember this task: for the kitchen counter, clean it after doing the dishes in the evening; for the bathroom vanity top, clean it after you brush your teeth at night.

Re-sealing day

1. When the re-seal reminder pops up, check the wear-and-tear of the sealant by sprinkling a few drops of water on different areas of the countertop. If the water remains in droplet form five minutes later, it means the sealant is still doing its job. You can then push back the reminder three to six months and repeat this step when the reminder pops up again.
2. If you notice that the water is absorbed into the quartzite in just five minutes, it’s time to re-seal. Follow the instructions on the sealant your countertop fabricator recommended for your countertop’s quartzite variety. If there are no pre-cleaning instructions on the sealant, make sure to clean the countertop as you do daily and dry it thoroughly before sealing. After re-sealing, set the next re-seal reminder for yourself again based on your countertop fabricator’s recommendation.

With this ultimate countertop maintenance schedule cheat sheet in hand, you’ll prolong the time horizon of one of the biggest investments in your house.