How Do You Care for Stainless Steel Countertops?
Most kitchens have countertops made of stainless steel. The material is a staple for many kitchens, especially, since they’re tough and hold up well to heat. You’ll see them in both commercial and residential kitchens. The metal countertops also bring a nice modern touch to the area. However, you’ll want to make sure you take proper care of your countertops if you want them to last longer. here are some of the ways you can do that.
Clean the Countertops
You can use water and a microfiber cloth. However, if there are stubborn stains on the countertop, use a few drops of dish soap to soften them before you wipe them off. A glass cleaner works on stainless steel surfaces, so that’s a good choice if you want your countertops clean and polished to a gleam. There are also stainless-steel cleaning solutions in the market. Whatever cleaning solution you use, always rinse it off.
Wipe Away the Moisture
Buff-dry your countertops to keep water spots from happening. Exposure to excess moisture doesn’t just lead to water spots, though. It could also ruin the protective layer on your stainless steel, especially if the water has mineral deposits, which is what happens when the material is exposed to hard water. Wiping down helps prevent that. Using warm water and a microfiber towel also works.
Be Careful of Debris
You want a clean stainless steel countertops kitchen look. But when you wipe off any debris, dirt, or mess from the countertop, you’ll want to be careful. A light touch is better. Otherwise, you could end up putting scratches and other marks on the countertop. Coarse salt, oysters, and even sand from shellfish could scratch the surface. The good news is you can easily remove some of the marks with a little glass cleaner. However, when it comes to the bigger scratches and dents, it’s best to hire a professional to deal with them.
Look Out for Signs
It’s also a good idea to look out for signs of damage like rust as early as you can. By checking out signs, you can address those issues right away, nipping problems in the bud. That helps you avoid costly repairs as it keeps the problems from snowballing into bigger ones. Some of the fixes are easy, so you’ll want to check the manufacturer’s instructions. However, if you’re not quite certain, then make sure you get pros to do it for you. Regular cleaning helps keep rust stains away, The Spruce says.
Hire Pros
If your countertops have been around for ages, though, and they’ve weathered the decades, they might not be in the best shape. Think about upgrading them with new ones. There are plenty of options that you can pick in the market. If your countertops are outdated, think about installing new ones. Hire pros to handle the job for you. Mistakes during the installation process could deal irreversible damage to the countertops, so forget about taking a DIY approach to the project. A professional contractor has the tools, know-how, and experience to handle this for you.