Where there is cooking, there will be spills, and if you love to prepare food (and do it often) your kitchen will hardly ever look as perfect as those pictured in home decor magazines. However, that doesn’t mean you should give up on having a spotless kitchen.
Keeping your kitchen clean and germ-free is essential for a healthy living. If you’re too busy to roll up your sleeves and get to scrubbing, you can always hire professional Kansas City residential house cleaning services.
Kitchen countertops require special attention as they come into contact with food on a daily basis, easily collecting bacteria and other germs. By using the adequate cleaning agents and disinfectants you’ll make sure your surfaces stay pristine and safe at all times. The same applies to kitchen appliances — to work well and look good they require proper maintenance.
Here’s what you need to know about disinfecting and deep cleaning your countertops:
What to use to disinfect countertops?
After thoroughly cleaning your countertops using a microfiber cloth (damp with warm water and dishwashing liquid), you need to disinfect them. This way you’ll ensure you’ve completely eradicated bacteria and other harmful germs.
When choosing your disinfectant, you should bear in mind the material your countertops are made of, so as not to select a product that could potentially damage them. Since countertops are food contact surfaces, try to choose milder, but effective options if possible — you don’t want any pesticides or similar toxic chemicals nowhere near your food.
If your countertops haven’t been painted or shellacked, it should be safe to use isopropyl rubbing alcohol at a concentration of at least 70% to disinfect them. Simply spray the countertops with the disinfectant, let it sit for a while, then wipe them dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
How do you deep clean countertops?
Depending on the material your countertops are made of, there are several deep cleaning methods and supplies you can use:
Laminate countertops
We recommend avoiding harsh chemicals when dealing with laminate countertops. You can easily clean laminate using a microfiber cloth with water and gentle, natural liquid detergent.
A home-made paste of baking soda and water will do the trick when it comes to removing stains. Once you apply the paste to the stain (no scrubbing, as baking soda has mild abrasive properties), leave it there for at least five minutes, before wiping off with a clean, soft cloth.
Marble and granite countertops
Marble and granite countertops dislike acidic and abrasive cleaning products. You can clean them using warm water and mild dish soap. Use a microfiber towel to bring out their shine.
To remove water based stains you can use hydrogen peroxide, while the previously described baking soda recipe helps remove oil-based stains from marble and granite countertops too. The process takes more time, however:
- apply the paste to the stain,
- place a plastic wrap over it and tape the edges,
- let it work overnight (or better yet — for a couple of days)
- rinse off
If the stain prevails, repeat the process. Don’t forget to test this method on a smaller area first, just to be sure that the stone color and finish will remain intact.
Wood countertops
A delicate specialty cleaner, or a home-made solution of warm water with a spot of distilled white vinegar will do wonders for your wood countertops. Carefully remove any sticky food bits with a scraper, and always wipe the surface dry with a clean cloth after washing.
Here’s a great natural recipe to pull out stains from your wood surfaces:
- sprinkle salt over the stain,
- rub it in using a lemon half,
- rinse with water and vinegar
- pat the surface dry
Reliable Kansas City residential house cleaning services
If you’re looking for dependable and capable professional cleaners, you don’t have to look any further. Sunflower maids is here to assist you with all your cleaning requirements, whether you seek a one-time or a recurring service.
There are so many better ways to spend your day rather than stuck at home, cleaning the latest mess in your kitchen. You could set up a nice family picnic by the Kansas River, play catch with your kids, go on a hike, or simply appreciate the sun.
You can have your cake and eat it too — give us a call. Book today!