Laminate – Everyday Cleaning

How to Remove Stains from Laminate

One of the greatest assets of laminate countertops is that they are so easy to maintain – even when disaster strikes in the form of red wine or a kid’s craft projects gone awry.

 

Everyday Cleaning

Keeping your laminate countertops clean is usually pretty simple. Just wipe off with mild household cleaner or dish soap. If your laminate is high-gloss and you want to polish it up, you can use a mild glass cleaner.

 

3 Steps to Remove Tough Stains

For tackling stains, follow these three steps:

• Apply the cleanser and allow it to draw out the stain.
• Clean using a rotating motion. If a cotton cloth or sponge doesn’t do the trick, try using a nylon-bristle brush or plastic scrubbing pad (not steel wool).
• Rinse with water and dry. Remove all cleanser from the surface.

 

Recommended Products

For everyday cleaning and tough stains, we recommend mild household cleaners like:

 

Fantastic® All Purpose Cleaner

 

Pine-Sol® (original formula)

 

Hertel Multi

Some stains respond well to a paste of baking soda and water.

You can also use solvents like denatured alcohol (available in hardware stores) safely on laminate as long as you follow the directions on the product packaging.

 

Cleaners to Stay Away From

Laminates are pretty forgiving, but for best results, there are some cleaning products and tools you shouldn’t use. These include:

• Abrasives like scouring powders, scouring pads, steel wool and sandpaper
• Acidic or basic cleansers like ceramic cooktop cleaners or chlorine bleach
• Exterior glass cleaner – mild, interior glass cleaner is fine

These products can permanently dull, scratch or discolor the surface. They can also damage it so that it becomes more susceptible to staining in the future.

 

A Few Notes of Caution  

• Acidic or abrasive cleaners can damage laminate surfaces; do not use them.
• Drain cleaners containing lye will permanently damage any Laminate surface. If you spill a drain cleaner, wipe it up immediately and rinse several times with water.
• Hair, textile and food dyes can cause permanent stains. If dye should happen to spill, wipe it up immediately with dishwashing detergent or an all-purpose cleaner.
• Never place pots or dishes directly from the oven or burner on an unprotected laminate surface; such extreme heat can cause cracking or blistering.
• Do not work with oven cleaners on an unprotected countertop. Wipe spills away promptly and rinse several times with water.
• Rust removers contain harsh chemicals that will quickly cause permanent damage. If a spill occurs, wipe off all residue immediately, wash thoroughly with soapy water and rinse several times.
• Steel wool and other abrasive pads will damage Laminate. Don’t use them for cleaning and don’t store steel wool pads on your countertop; the metal can rust and leave stains.
• Toilet bowl cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can cause permanent damage. If spills occur, wipe up immediately, wash the surface with soapy water and rinse several times.