The Counters Blog

We have just learned to be more careful to use our marble cutting boards to help protect the stone. To use this product you also just spray and wipe with a soft rag or paper towel. For your deep cleaning, maybe once a week, try scrubbing your countertops with your favorite mild dish soap and water. This leaves your counter tops looking and smelling amazing! We are redoing our bathroom and the tile is up but waiting for the frameless shower door. Maybe different marble types are more resilient than others. Your home doesn’t have to cost a fortune to look amazing. Many people warned me about the cons of marble, but the beauty of marble won me over. Yes, the marble etches very easily with hot water, citrus, etc. They have many yummy scents, but my favorite it their peony! Work up a some light suds then rise with water and a soft rag. Meyers on marble surfaces, although we do love their products and use them elsewhere in our home! Maybe it does have something to do with the type of marble you have. You can throw fabulous parties that don’t break the bank.

How Do I Keep My Marble Kitchen Counters Clean and Shiny? by answers.yahoo.com

Green stone can be serpentine and serpentine is not affected by acid, nor is granite. There are special spray cleaners that are formulated for stone that are spray-on, wipe-off. You can strengthen the mix gradually if the haze won’t come off. Remember anything that dissolves substances on your counter top will also dissolve organic counter tops as well. What is the best way to clean marble counter tops in a kitchen? The dull finish that you see sometimes is probably from residual soap/grease from wiping your counters with a dishcloth. Marble safe ones or distilled white vinegar, reduced half and half with water and a soft cloth. The best advice is to clean spills right away with a wet cloth and use the vinegar solution to clear the haze.

How To Clean and Maintain Marble Tile by builddirect.com

This method prevents debris from grinding into the stone while you work. Acidic substances can corrode marble, so avoid harsh cleaners or anything that is acidic, like cleaners that contain lemon or vinegar. To prevent this, clean up spills immediately, especially if the liquid is acidic. Note that you should never mix these chemicals together, as doing so can produce a lethal gas. Regularly check areas where metal touches your marble, as rust can be extremely difficult to remove. For thick paint, use a commercial “heavy liquid” paint stripper, which you can find at a hardware store. Regular dust mopping should be part of your maintenance routine. When pulling hot foods out of the oven, place them on a trivet rather than right on your marble counter. What’s more, you can keep a rubber mat underneath metal objects. Marble is a durable stone that has lasted through the ages, and it can look magnificent in your home for years to come if you use these care and maintenance tips. It’s good to be aware, though, that marble is susceptible to damage from irritants, such as acidic substances and metal. The mop should have a soft and fluffy head that traps dust – microfiber dust mops are a great choice. However, if you want to vacuum, make sure the wheels are intact and no rough edges will scratch the floor. You can find neutral cleaners at your hardware store, and use them whenever you need to wash your marble tile. A soft cloth is perfect for cleaning counter tiles and backsplashes. Additionally, once you’ve finished mopping, wipe down the surfaces with a cloth to help them dry as a way to prevent water spots. However, if your marble tiles become stained, you may be able to remove it. Marble can withstand heat, but protecting it from oven-hot food is still recommended. This will help minimize the presence of dirt and debris that may scratch marble tile floors. That way, a metal coat rack or indoor flowerpot won’t leave stains on your marble surfaces. This will prevent stains and is especially important if you spill acidic food or drink. Do you have any other tips for keeping marble tiles looking clean?

Our Simple Method For Cleaning Quartz Countertops by justagirlandherblog.com

Maybe it’s because our townhouse had so much less countertop area (and also because we use our kitchen island in the new house constantly!), but it seems like our new quartz countertop has been more difficult to keep clean. Again, we are sure to rinse the surface thoroughly with water after using the mixture and then drying it completely. Quartz is incredibly resilient so you don’t have to baby it. Combine 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol, 2 cups water, 8 drops dish soap, and 4 drops scented lavender (optional). All of those leave a light stain that looks like a scratch, but its actually just a stain from whatever contacted the quartz. I have a pen stain which i can’t get off and also an ash from a candle made a grey stain. It seems quartz streaks, and leaves smudges behind depending on what cleaner is used. I let the wax cool then scrapped it up with a none metal spatula. What do you suggest to get all of the wax off so it does not ruin the countertop and that area is smooth once again? I would reach out to the manufacturer of your quartz slab and ask for their recommendations. The advantage of this over something like granite is that it’s stain resistant, harbors less bacteria, and doesn’t need to be sealed. Simply wiping them down with a wet rag leaves a lot of streaks and grease spots. Then we are sure to rinse the surface thoroughly– don’t skip the rinsing step or your counter surface may look streaky– and dry it completely. Just make sure you don’t use any abrasive sponges or cleaners; it could dull the polished surface of your quartz countertops. Also remember to keep your marble sealed and renew the sealant often. My best discovery was to spray it on the shower screen, leave for 10 minutes and use a light scoured then rinse off with water. It drives my husband crazy if the counters look hazy after cleaning them. Could you name a brand or two that you’ve had good luck with? I was wrapping some ribs in foil on the counter and the foil left grey marks on the quartz. I keep a small bottle of it and the scrubber under the sink. I set a glass down with red wine in it and in a few seconds there was a red ring. It had been burning for a while so there was quite a bit of the melt on countertop. It got a lot of it up but a thin layer of residue/wax remains. They should be able to point you in the right direction!

How To Glaze Kitchen Cabinets With Pictures by wikihow.com

S tore them safely away from the work area to protect them from splatters. If you have cabinets high above your head then you will need a ladder to access them easily. Remove all the drawers and door faces off the cabinets by unscrewing the hinges. This will prevent them from getting paint on them and keep them looking clean. This keeps the cabinets looking clean and finished even though they have an antique look. After applying wood putty into the holes and cracks, allow it to dry and sand smooth. If you are going to be using new hardware that will not fit in place of the old, you must also fill the screw holes with wood putty. Cover counters, walls and floors with plastic drop cloths or canvas tarps. Wash the cabinets thoroughly and allow them to dry completely. You must thoroughly remove all this using a degreasing cleanser before glazing your cabinets. There is no need to sand before glazing painted cabinets but if you are repainting your cabinets then you will need to sand them first. Apply the paint color of your choice and allow it to dry thoroughly. If you want your cabinets to be a cream color, then choose a shade that has more of a white tint than a yellow. If you are repainting make sure you cover all surfaces including the edges of the cabinets and the inside of the doors to provide a more polished look. Make sure you cover all surfaces including the edges and crevices. Seal the paint by using a clear high gloss spray-on lacquer. This step can be helpful if you are using white or cream paint as the base for your cabinets because it prevents them from darkening. Darkening is a common problem experienced by those attempting to glaze their cabinets because the glaze can penetrate the paint and turn it darker. Tape along the edges of the backs of the cabinet doors and drawers. The tape will ensure that the edges are cleanly painted and finished. You can buy premixed glaze, which is the easiest option, or you can make your own custom colors. If the store does not contain the particular shade of glaze that you are looking for you can make your own using plain glazing medium and paint. Oil-based glaze dries slower so can be easier to use for glazing projects. Be sure to read the glazing medium manufacturer’s instructions with regard to paint types. To make a very dark glaze combine three parts paint to one part glaze. To make a light glaze use one part paint to three or four parts glaze. You can use a rag, a brush or sponge applicator to apply the glaze to the cabinet. Wipe the area using a cloth rag or paper towel to achieve the look you want. For example, if you want a thicker glaze along the edges then you can use a cheap brown paper towel with minimal absorbency to wipe down the glaze. The longer you leave the glaze before wiping, the darker the finish will be. Glaze that is left for too long and becomes too dark will look streaky rather than resulting in a nice antiquated look. Rather complete the door in smaller sections to ensure an even look. After finishing a section check the glazed area to make sure it looks like you want it to. Check the manufacturer’s label on the glaze for the recommended time. You can use a urethane, varnish or lacquer to finish the cabinets. The finish can help prevent scratches and other damage on the cabinets. Reattach all the hardware including pulls and knobs and admire the new look of your kitchen cabinets. Consider replacing hardware with more rustic or aged-looking knobs, pulls and other hardware. Can you glaze o ver stain, or does it have to be over paint? What is the process to white lacquer to high gloss the cabinets? They also dry much faster than oil-based glaze, so work in very small sections at a time. These will give you a bit more time to paint because they dry slower than water-based glazes. Paints can release fumes that are harmful for your respiration. Once the lacquer dries, tape along the edges of the backs of the cabinet doors and drawers to protect those areas from glaze and ensure clean lines. Work in small sections until you finish glazing the cabinets! Glazing can give an antiquated look to your cabinets, create depth in the finish or make a stain look darker. Move furniture out of the room or as far from the work area as possible. You should also remove all the hardware such as door handles. You will usually only glaze the doors and drawer faces of the cabinet and not any pieces on the inside. This will protect the rest of your house from any paint or glaze splatters. Over time cabinets, especially kitchen cabinets, can become coated with smoke, oil and other deposits. After cleansing apply a deglosser to remove any remaining residue. Oil-based paints work better for kitchen cabinets because it dries to a harder finish than water-based paint, making it more durable and easier to clean. This will provide a nicer, cleaner look once the glaze is applied. Allow the doors to dry for 24 hours before applying paint to the other side. You can use a small paintbrush to do these small areas. Allow the paint to dry for at least 24 hours to ensure that is completely dry before proceeding. Spray the lacquer in a clean, even coating over the cabinet surfaces. Although brush-on lacquer can also work, it is more difficult to use. With gray or other darker colors this step is not necessary unless you really don’t want them to darken. After the lacquer has completely dried, tape the backs of the cabinet doors and drawers so that you won’t accidentally glaze those areas. Choose your glaze color based on your personal preferences and so that it complements the rest of the kitchen’s décor. You can use either oil-based or water-based glazing medium. The type of paint you combine will depend on the glazing medium you select. Most manufacturers will recommend four parts glaze to one part paint but you can vary this to achieve your desired color. For a medium glaze combine one part paint with one part glaze. Test your glaze on a poster board or scrap board with the same base color to ensure that it is the correct color for your needs. Whether you have bought a premixed glaze or prepared your own, you must make sure that the glaze is thoroughly mixed. Apply a thin coat of glaze to the cabinet, using either circular or straight motions. Some of the glaze will settle into any seams or grain lines in the wood. You can use materials with different absorbencies for wiping down the glaze to achieve different looks along the seams. If you want a thinner glaze, then you can use a soft paper towel or rag to lightly wipe down the glazed area. The glaze will dry very quickly once it is applied so complete only small sections at a time. Always remember to “wipe on, wipe off” so that you end up with a beautiful finish. If you don’t like the effect, you can remove oil based glaze with paint thinner and latex/acrylic based glaze with hot water and start over. Allow the cabinets and drawers to dry for at least 24 hours to ensure they will not be damaged. Apply a coat of clear high-gloss or matte finish using a brush and allow it to dry. This is optional as most glazes are very durable, but it may be necessary in busy or large family kitchens. Test the finish on a small section to make sure it looks good and will not change the color. Hang up all the doors and drawers into their appropriate positions. If your hardware is shiny and new then it might look a bit out of place next to the new glaze. Do the cabinets have to be painted first before glazing? Latex/acrylic based glazes have a milky look when first applied, but they will darken a bit and dry clear. If you use an oil-based glaze, choose a natural bristle paintbrush to ensure proper coverage. Before applying glaze to the front of the cabinets, experiment on a painted piece of scrap wood to make sure you have the color you want. Be sure you have adequate ventilation, especially when using oil-based glazes. Then, apply glaze with a brush to a small section of the cabinet and use a clean, lint-free cloth to wipe the surface down until you achieve the look you want. To create this article, 11 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time.

Quick Cleaning Tips For Busy People Who Have No Time To Clean! by lifescarousel.com

We often find ourselves over overworked, over-scheduled and over-stressed. These 11 quick cleaning tips will help you find a balance between your busy life and a clean home! Does your kitchen need to be spotless before you go to bed? Dishes in the sink don’t bug me as much as crumbs on the floor. But it’s that one (or 2) tasks that make you roll your eyes and huff and puff when you see it. It’s super easy to make and can be used on just about anything (except granite or marble). I also ask everyone to take their shoes off as they enter the house so that the dirty isn’t tracked all over the house. There are so many choices of color and texture that you are bound to find one that you love! And remember we’re trying to find quick cleaning tips, so chasing the same piece of lint for 5 minutes isn’t going to help us! My kids use it to clean their rooms as it’s so lightweight and easy to steer. Going over the different types could be an entire article just on its own! I have 3 dogs and 4 cats, so my floors have to be cleaned every day! But this isn’t very environmentally friendly and it can end up costing a fortune! I like the car detailing cloths as they tend to be bigger, thicker and cheaper than the household ones! The other secret to shiny stainless steel is microfiber cloths (again)! I guess it’s because it seems like it should be such a quick and easy thing to clean, but it always seems to take forever. It will then work, much like it does on your car and the water/soap just runs off the walls and door without leaving a residue, keeping your shower cleaner for longer! Pour a small amount of disinfecting cleaner into the bottom of your toilet brush holder. It takes seconds (especially if you have the cleaner already in the holder) and it cuts down on build-up that might take more time and effort to clean at a later date. Once you’re done the cooking, all you need to do is carefully remove the foil and throw it away. I hook the spray bottle in the waistband of my pants – spray, swish, spray, swish. It’s also wonderful to get into a made bed at the end of each day. These are completely free to you and help support the running of this site. It’s only natural that some things get forgotten about, or just pushed down the list of priorities. Our homes are meant to be places that we can relax, unwind and reset. Do you have to have clean bathrooms or your skin will crawl? That’s the thing that you need to figure out a quick and easy way to clean! She would spend hours each day cleaning the house and always used the exact right cleaner. I don’t have the time (or money) to use 10 different products just to clean my bathroom. All the ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store and each bottle will only cost you a few cents! If the battery power is too low, then your vacuum just won’t have the power to do a good job. You just press a button and let it do its thing! Simple things, like hiding loose wires so it doesn’t get caught on them (things you’d need to do for a regular vacuum anyway). I actually have 2 of them now – one for upstairs and one for downstairs! I converted to microfiber cloths for all my cleaning a few years ago. I know the blue ones are for the kitchen, the green ones for the bathroom and so on. I love the modern look and they aren’t as expensive as they used to be. This is probably my second “cleaning trigger” after floors! They tend to leave a film on the surface or leave streaks and they are really expensive! It not only keeps the brush clean and sweet smelling but also if you want to give your toilet bowl a quick swish, then you already have the brush loaded up with cleaner. Another quick cleaning tip is to swish out your toilet bowl every day. You can spray the foil with cooking spray so that your food doesn’t stick. The pan is clean and doesn’t even need to be washed! She really was a domestic goddess and always had an immaculate home. An untidy bedroom can look neater with a made bed, but even the tidiest room will look messy if the bed is unmade. Using a spray and the microfiber mop is like having a swifter wetjet, without the cost of the pads and solution! Probably because my own mother kept her house very organized and clean! But when you’re busy, you can’t do everything the “old” way!

DIY Faux Granite Countertops by loveandrenovations.com

I started with the darkest color and used a sea sponge to dab it all over. It was pretty easy to see where there was too much or not enough of a certain color, and it is a very in exact science. It’s amazing what a simple little update can to do totally transform a room. First, there were some small pieces of dirt and other randomness that got onto the counters before the poly was dry – that left perfect little spots where the stuff could pop out and leave a chip. You know how when you put on a really think application of nail polish hoping it will last longer but it actually chips right away? Our to-do list in this room is still long, but we already have most of the materials to get started on the next project (beadboard backsplash!) so it’s really just a matter of finding the time and motivation to get it done. It lasted a year before it began peeling in the area of “wetness” in front of the sink. It’s so affordable and so much simpler than it looks! You’re probably rolling your eyes at me right now and calling me all sorts of stupid names. It took approximately 5 minutes to patch the areas that were messed up, so it really wasn’t a big deal. Fingers crossed we get it done sooner rather than later! If you want to see what we’re up to now, check out all of the posts about our new house! They were the basic 90’s bathroom sink & counter in one, with chips l, wear etc. We used several coats of polyurethane to ensure durability. I was shocked, actually), & it made it so much better on the eyes….

Major DIY’s In The Kitchen: PART 1 Countertop Resurfacing « Joe and Cheryl by joeandcheryl.com

The guy at the hardware store said it should work just as well. I love how the sealer really brings out that stony coloring! Stay tuned for the full before and after reveal where you’ll get to see them in the context of the whole kitchen. We’ve been living with the new countertops for about a month and a half now, and they’ve been holding up great! This is not something that will likely happen unless you are cutting food driectly on top of the surface, so just avoid doing that and always use a cutting board. Since the surface is irregular anyway, you don’t even notice it (i had one small scratch i had to patch up). I was wondering if you could share the name of the polyurethane you chose for sealing. You’ll know there’s liquid absorption when you see a darkening of the concrete when it makes contact with liquid. Its just enough shine, but it not so glossy that you’ll ever see a fingerprint. I get tons of compliments from friends and they are very functional and low maintenance. They are very helpful and will be happy to provide you with a list of local retailers. This alone was no big deal and would have been super easy to re-seal with a spot of sealer. I always have a plate or a cutting board between the counters and my food. I let it fully cure after all coats were applied, before really using the counters. You can pretty much layer this stuff forever if you wanted. I did not read her blog entry very carefully, but from the photos, it appears that she used a high gloss sealer to finish her countertops. I used a matte finish sealer which hides imperfections much more easily. My only issue is that the cat, kids, or husband seem to have scratched the surface! I noticed you had not removed the old one when you were updating the countertop. Also, if you are using satin finish sealer, it will dry looking much less shiny than when it’s wet. Also, it doesnt scratch easily, but pressure from a sharp knife will create a scratch or gouge. But scratches are pretty easy to fix just by touching up with some polyurethane. You won’t see any liquid absorption once the two layers are applied. I love the way your counters turned out and really enjoy the difference in color and texture you achieved in your ardex counters. Would you mind commenting on the troweling techniques you used while applying your ardex? I think that helps contribute to the organic look of the lights and darks. I was wondering if you would give us another update on how they are holding up. But polyurethane is a standard sealer for most wooden furniture and tables. I believe you can add a powdered concrete/plaster tint to your concrete mixture for other color options. I mentioned this in an update in the post and on some of the comments above, but my only complaint to this point is that the polyurethane yellows over time. I have not noticed this problem at all, but it might have something to do with the type of sealer she used. I have read many of the blogs, and am all set to start my kitchen countertops.

Sources:

• Source – answers.yahoo.com
• Source – carraraitalianmarble.com
• How To Clean and Maintain Marble Tile – builddirect.com
• Cleaning Quartz Countertops Easy Cleaning Tips Clean Kitchen Caesarstone London Grey Quartz – justagirlandherblog.com
• Remove Yellow Cooking Odor Stain From White Kitchen Cabinet Doors – wikihow.com
• Speed Cleaning Tips For When You Are Short On Time Easy House – lifescarousel.com
• This Post Will Walk You Through Exactly How To Completely Change The – loveandrenovations.com
• Major DIY s In The Kitchen PART Countertop Resurfacing – joeandcheryl.com
• Videos – How Do I Keep My Marble Kitchen Counters Clean And Shiny