An oven is used for a variety of purposes in a kitchen. This means that it has different stains on it. These stains are difficult to get rid of. However, several companies have developed strong cleaning agents that remove stains.
It might be tempting, at times, to apply oven cleaner on the countertop to clear the stains. Your lazy mind has forced you to try the oven cleaner on the countertop because this will save you a lot of time and effort.
Performing an effective cleaning process must be your ultimate goal, but you should not apply oven cleaner on the countertop. The corrosive and toxic oven cleaner will damage the countertop, and your kitchen interior will get ruined.
We will discuss the impact of oven cleaners on various countertop materials. This article will answer all of your questions.
Contents
- 1 What is the effect of oven cleaner on kitchen countertops?
- 2 How should I clean my countertop?
What is the effect of oven cleaner on kitchen countertops?
Why is oven cleaner so toxic and dangerous?
Your oven goes through a lot. It has to suffer oily sessions, gravy stains, food splashes, baking material spillage, foul odor, residues, and thick sugary remnants.
You need a solid chemical to work as an agent to wash all these things. The interior of an oven needs a toxic but effective solution to this problem. However, you should not use it on the countertop because the manufacturer develops these cleaners without considering the need to maintain the finishing of your kitchen counter.
Stone countertops
Problem
Stone countertops are more resistant to stains and damage than any other material. They can sustain a lot of chemical substances, but you should ensure that the oven cleaner you are about to use is not the most concentrated and does not include hydrogen peroxide.
One of the most obvious reasons behind such admirable durability is that they are stones. Stones can sustain even harsh environmental conditions, so oven cleaners can be used if you have no other option. However, we suggest avoiding an oven cleaner to clean the stone countertops.
The most common countertops available on the market are either granite or marble. They have natural colors and textures. This means that it is tough to take colors away from this kind of countertop. Quartz countertops are also popular as these are the only artificial stones available to serve as your kitchen counter.
However, quartz countertops are not durable because they are colored using artificial pigments. Applying oven cleaner on these countertops is risky as it can discolor the pigments. Generally, you should know that stone countertops are the most resistant to oven cleaners, but the material should not be artificial.
Solution
Selecting a stone countertop cleaning material is not a thumb rule that you need to follow in every situation. Your cleaning agent should depend on the type of stone.
You should search the internet before applying a chemical as a cleaning agent on your stone countertop. Never trust your sixth sense because most tough-looking stones are vulnerable to certain chemicals.
Use the old-school technique if you are confused about the cleaning agent or limited options. Prepare a soap-water solution or use a mild cleaning liquid to remove stains on the stone countertop.
You should also try granite sealers to seal the pores on the surface. You need to apply it on the surface. This will make your granite countertop challenging to stain or penetrate.
Tile countertops
Problem
Tiles are an excellent substitute for stone countertops. They look polished and durable. However, they are not commonly used as kitchen counters due to their difficulty in cleaning. Dirt tends to stick between the grout lines. Removing dirt from these cavities is hard, so people use oven cleaners in utter frustration.
If you have faced the grout line dirt issue, we can assume that you must be smiling while cleaning the countertop with an oven cleaner. However, little do you know your smile will fade away.
Tiles are used as countertops only because of the finishing and polish. Spraying and rubbing oven cleaning on the tiles will remove the upper layer. This will mess up all the finishing, ultimately ruining the interior of your kitchen.
Solution
Cleaning tiles is hard, but it is possible. You should get a bowl of semi-hot water and mix the soap in it. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle to avoid over-application. Use a sponge or a cloth to rub out the stains on the tiles.
You should rub it thoroughly to make sure that it gets shiny. It is better to avoid hard sponges and rough cloth as this can cause scratches on the tiles.
Regarding the grout lines, you should use a pin or a brush to clean them. If you still feel that the dirt is not coming out, you should search for the tools available on the internet for the said purpose.
Stainless steel countertops
Problem
Stainless steel is used in modern kitchens, especially in restaurants more vulnerable to stains. Despite its popularity, stainless steel is not always compatible with oven cleaners.
It all depends on the formula of your oven cleaner. The cleaner will form stains if it includes oxides or other corrosive ingredients. Applying a reliable oven cleaner will make the situation even worse. This also ends another debate, i.e., stainless steel is not always stainless.
A stained steel countertop can be unhygienic, especially when restaurant countertops are considered. However, certain oven cleaners are compatible with stainless steel countertops. It is better to avoid using any oven cleaner on stainless steel, no matter what the ingredients are. Better safe than sorry.
Solution
Warm water and soap on a cloth to clean the stainless steel countertop. These countertops are popular because they are simple to wash. The surface has no pores and develops no stains. It will rarely rust with water so you will face no trouble.
Adding white vinegar to the water is a fantastic DIY trick to clean tough stains. Spray the mixture on the dirty area and wait a bit. Wipe the area after a few minutes. This will make it shinier than before. White vinegar is effective in getting rid of unwanted stains and dirt.
Formica countertops
Problem
Formica is one of the most reliable materials for all sorts of tabletops, not just kitchen countertops. A Formica panel is formed using multiple plastic sheet layers. These layers are tough, but you cannot use an oven cleaner to wipe their stains.
Formica panels are an expensive material. Using strong chemical cleaners on them will deteriorate their physical condition. The color might fade, or the finish can be removed when you rub it after applying the cleaner.
Solution
As expected, warm water and soap solution are ideal for washing the Formica panel. You should also consider other mild multi-purpose cleaning agents. These cleaning agents work fine on most countertops. Formica Corporation has also recommended some easy-to-find and effective cleaning agents.
Wooden countertops
Problem
Oven cleaners will ruin your wooden countertop. Applying it on a wooden panel covered with a laminate sheet will cause more damage than any other countertop material.
Remember the movie scene where Mr. Bean sprays a painting to remove the stain, and the painting gets ruined? The same will happen to your wooden countertop if you spray oven cleaner. The surface will deform into a layer of gum. You will regret applying oven cleaner on this material as this will cost you a lot of dollars to repair.
Solution
Water and soap is the most common and effective way to wash a wooden countertop. Spraying the mixture instead of dropping it on the surface is better. Spray will provide you with control over the quantity of soap solution used.
Once applied, rub it gently. Wipe the dirt with the cloth and dry any excess moisture on the surface. Do not submerge any furniture in water (to prevent irreparable damage to the wood). Apply wood oil on the countertop after the cleaning process, if possible.
I applied the oven cleaner on the countertop.
If you mistakenly apply the oven cleaner on the countertop and damage is caused, it is not the end of the world. You should do the following things:
- Wipe and remove the oven cleaner from the countertop as soon as possible.
- Polish the surface of a stone or tile countertop. This will help remove the damaged area and form a new layer on the surface. This does not work on wood.
- If you have applied the oven cleaner on the wooden countertop, wash it with soap or other specialized wood cleaners. Apply wood oil on the counter to give it a shine.
How should I clean my countertop?
Hot water and dish soap
The classic method to clean a countertop is to take mild hot water and add dishwashing soap. Mix them well. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle to store the mixture. Apply it on the stained portion of the countertop and rub it with a cloth. This method is the most common in the household. However, this method could be more effective for more sticky stains.
Soda-vinegar solution
Another popular and more effective method to remove the stain from the countertop is to apply the baking soda mixture. Preparing the mixture is simple; you must take a cup of baking soda in a bowl. Add equal amounts of white vinegar to the baking soda and blend well to make the mixture more uniform.
Apply the mixture to the stained portion of your countertop. Let it rest for at least a day so that the stain gets dissolves. Wash off the soda-vinegar mixture with warm water and a cloth. The stain will be removed.
Decoloring the stain
The hardest stains to remove are those with colors printed on the countertop. No matter how hard you try, the food particles have been removed, but the color remains.
In this case, you should use a decoloring agent like bleach. Apply bleach on a cotton swab and dab it gently on the stain. The color will start fading, and the suppressed countertop color will reappear.
However, you should consider some essential things. Applying too much bleach on a stain can decolorize the countertop. The decolorization caused by bleach is irreversible. You should make sure that you stay calm with cleaning.
Conclusion
The effect of the oven cleaner on the countertop depends entirely on the material it is made of. You should avoid using oven cleaner on the countertop, irrespective of its material composition. As mentioned in our article, oven cleaners are made for ovens only. They complement the oven’s interior and let you remove the stain.
When it comes to the stains on your kitchen counter, there are other simple methods to remove them. We have already discussed the three most common DIY tricks that you can use. Whether it is bleach, soda vinegar, or wash soap, your countertop is fresh, like a new panel.
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