A very popular choice of kitchen countertops is wooden or butcher block countertops. Many homeowners prefer wood countertops over granite and quartz countertops. Wood counters look extremely rustic and add a nice appeal to the entire kitchen. If you have these countertops and want to maintain their cleanliness, then keep on reading.
Every Day Cleaning
One of the main things that will keep your countertops in a clean and pristine condition is cleaning them every day. The same goes for wood countertops. You want to clean them every day as soon as you retire from the kitchen and call it a night. This will keep the countertops clean and free from any type of stain.
You don’t need anything fancy to clean the countertops; just a soft microfiber cloth and some water and soap dissolved together. Make sure to wring the cloth properly so that there isn’t any excess moisture on the rag when you wipe the countertops with it.
Food Stains And Debris
For stains on wooden countertops, try to clean and wipe them away as soon as you see them. This will prevent stains from occurring. Another thing that can be a hassle to clean is dried food on the surface of the countertop. With wooden countertops, you need to be careful and not use any type of harsh scraper or things made of steel. Try to use a soft toothbrush and go back and forth over the dried food until it gets loose and then clean it up with a wet rag and some soap to remove the stains if there are any.
Disinfect The Countertops
With wooden countertops, you will need to disinfect them, especially if you use them as a cutting board and cut things like fresh meat and vegetables on them on a daily basis. For disinfecting the countertops, the best thing to use on wood is vinegar mixed with a bit of lemon.
Mix a small amount of vinegar in some water and add a few drops of lemon juice. Once you mix this up, apply it to the countertop with a clean towel or tissue paper. Leave it for some time and then wipe off the countertop with a wet washcloth with some detergent.
Keep The Countertops Dry
With wooden countertops, you want to take care of keeping the countertops dry at all times. You don’t want to leave them wet, because moisture and water will damage the countertops. You also want to think about the placement of the wooden countertops in the kitchen and keep them away from the sink and dishwasher where there will be an abundance of water.
If you keep these countertops dry, then they will last for a long time and give you a bigger bank for your buck.
Use Lemon And Hydrogen Peroxide
If the countertop has stains that are not being removed by simple soap and water, then it’s time to use something a bit more powerful. Hydrogen peroxide is a great thing to use on wooden countertops and it helps to remove those pesky stains which are not easily removed by soap.
In order to lessen the abrasiveness of hydrogen peroxide, you will need to add a bit of lemon juice. This is going to prevent the hydrogen peroxide from ruining the wood. Apply a small amount of this mixture to the stain and wait for 5 minutes. Clean it up with a wet washcloth and you will see the stain disappear immediately.
Avoid Abrasive Chemicals
Another thing you want to avoid using on wooden countertops is abrasive chemicals. Products and cleaners which contain bleach and other harsh chemicals will only damage the wood, instead of cleaning it.
Try to use simple things around the house like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and normal dish soap for cleaning the countertops. These things will give better results, are inexpensive and they will not damage your expensive wooden countertops over time.
Conclusion
There you have it! Cleaning wooden or butcher block countertops is very easy as long as you keep them away from excessive moisture or water. You will see how long they last if you take care of them well. Get more tips from granite installers Rockville about how to take care of wood countertops.