Even though granite and natural stone countertops are becoming increasingly popular, laminate countertops are still an excellent choice. They are cost-effective, come in all different colors and patterns and look great, and are easy to take care of, too. If you want to keep your laminate countertops looking their best for as long as possible, consider these tips for taking care of them.

1. Always Use a Cutting Board

One thing that you have to be careful about with laminate countertops is accidentally cutting or scratching the surface. This means that you should always use a cutting board when chopping vegetables, cutting meat or cutting anything else. Keeping your sharp knives off of your countertops can help you avoid damaging the surface, which can both make your countertops look worn out and can make it easy for food particles and bacteria to become trapped inside, where they can be difficult to clean.

2. Avoid Using Bleach

You might like the idea of using bleach to clean your countertops so that you know that they are sanitized. However, depending on the laminate countertops that you choose, there is a chance that bleach could cause the color to fade. Instead, use an all-purpose cleaner that does not include any bleach, or simply use soapy water and a clean cloth.

3. Wipe Up Spills Quickly

Spills on your countertops can cause staining, particularly if you spill something that is dark or bright in color. Luckily, you can help prevent this by wiping up stains as soon as they happen. Not only can this help prevent permanent stains, but it can make cleaning a whole lot easier later on.

4. Be Careful with Abrasive Cleaners

It might be tempting to sprinkle your favorite abrasive cleaner on your countertops so that you can scrub at stains or stuck-on food debris, but abrasive cleaners can cause scratches on the surface of your laminate countertops. If you do choose to use an abrasive cleaner, choose something like baking soda, which is not quite as abrasive as some of the cleaners that are on the market, and avoid scrubbing too hard.

Taking care of laminate countertops is easy if you know what to do. If you'd like to keep your countertops nice and clean while also keeping them looking their best, following these tips can help. Then, you might be surprised by just how much you enjoy this affordable countertop option, and you may also be shocked by how long it lasts, particularly when you think about how little it cost when compared to other countertop options. For more info about countertops, contact a company like Plastic Line Mfg Inc.