How To Clean Epoxy Countertops-Maintenance Tips

Epoxy countertops make any and every interior space stand out like none other, not to mention the fact that they are the best and most sustainable part of kitchen construction. All kitchen interiors are certainly incomplete until and unless they are flaunted with a satisfying addition of suave and shiny Epoxy countertops.

However, with the beauty comes maintenance concerns, and our dearest Epoxy countertops and other similar surfaces aren’t an exception either. Apart from a regular and carefully done cleaning, it’s crucial to carry out maintenance for these surfaces, which includes dealing with accidents, as well. That’s the only way you can make this eye-catching beauty last long and be serviceable for you.

So if you’re new to using epoxy surfaces or are an old user of them, but concerned, regarding issues like staining, scratching, and discoloration, the Pro Flooring Guide is just the right kind of maintenance guide that you need.

Let’s get to know about the accurate ways of addressing Epoxy countertops and surfaces.

Here’s How To Deal With Epoxy Countertops The Right Way

There are several aspects included within our epoxy countertop maintenance guide. Including occasional problems as well as effective durability enhancing tips, in addition to the accurate guidelines about regular cleanup.

How To Clean Epoxy Countertops

Here’s how to do it in an easy and effective way.

Stuff You’ll Need 

• Paper Towels/ Washcloths
• Baking Soda
• Mild Dish Soap/ Countertop Cleaner/ Streak-Free Glass Cleaner
• Acetone Based Nail Polish Remover

Step By Step Guide For Cleaning Epoxy Countertops 

• Addressing The Spills 

Start by thoroughly wiping off any of the spills from the countertop and use either a washcloth or a few paper towels for this purpose.

• Making The Cleaner

Make a paste of Baking Soda by mixing half a cup of it with around 2 tablespoons of water for a suitable consistency.

• Application 

Apply this paste directly onto the countertop with either a spatula or an old rag and let it rest there for the next 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can use an Acetone-Based Nail Polish remover for getting rid of the stains.

• Rubbing And Scrubbing

You might as well, need to rub the affected area a couple of times, so as to effectively get rid of the staining. Remember to go over the stains in a circular and gentle motion.

• Wiping The Cleaner

Wipe off the Baking Soda paste or the Acetone based nail polish remover with a clean washcloth saturated with warm water. Clean the entire surface thoroughly to clear out any residues.

• Using The Store-Bought Cleaner

Take a streak-free window glass cleaner, a mild dish soap, or at best a commercial countertop cleaner and use a clean rag to apply a little amount of it onto the Epoxy countertop. This will work as the accomplishing step of your cleanup.

P.S. You can only stick to this step as well, and ensure carrying out on a regular basis, and your Epoxy countertops shall be maintained really well.

How To Restore Shine Of Epoxy Countertops

In addition to the regular cleanup, Epoxy countertops and surfaces do ask for a reviving treatment in order to retain their shine and beauty. So do consider paying equal attention to this part, as well.

Stuff You’ll Need 

• Mineral Oil
• Washcloth
• Clean and dry fabric (for drying)

Step By Step Guide For Shining Epoxy Countertops

• Mineral Oil Application

Dip the corner of a washcloth in Mineral oil or pour a little amount of it directly onto the Epoxy surface, by being careful to not go pour an excessive amount of it.

• Rubbing And Scrubbing

Rub the washcloth gently over the countertop in thorough circular motions. Make sure to address every bit of the surface, so that there is no difference in the appearance of the entire surface. You might, as well, need to use some more oil to completely treat the entire surface area of your countertop.

• Wiping And Drying

Take a dry cloth and wipe off the entire surface in a clearing motion, so as to take off all the oil from the surface. You can also go over the whole area once again with a dry cleaning cloth, so as to ensure that there is oil residue lingering on the surface.

Maintaining And Sustaining Epoxy Countertops 

Post the regular cleanup, comes the maintenance of Epoxy countertops, which needs to be taken care of, well. This will not just make your Epoxy countertops and surfaces stand out, but will also prevent their aging and ruining ahead of time.

And you’ll simply risk the functionality and durability of your Epoxy surfaces by not doing so, not to mention the wastage of your money, as well.

Dos And Don’ts Of Maintaining Epoxy Countertops 

Dealing with Epoxy Surfaces requires a careful choice of cleaners as well as cleaning techniques. And in the same way, there are certain practices that need to be strictly avoided when it comes to addressing Epoxy surfaces.

Let’s take a look at both.

Dos Of Maintaining Epoxy Countertops	Don’ts Of Maintaining Epoxy Countertops
Always use mild and neutral pH products on Epoxy countertops. These include mild dish soaps, streak-free glass cleaners, countertop cleaners, and Acetone based nail polish remover.	Never use abrasive cleaners on Epoxy resin surfaces as this will simply ruin them way too soon. These include wax-based polishes, all-purpose cleaner, bleach, and alcohol.
Always ensure to use soft fabrics, cleaning cloths, and washcloths for Epoxy surfaces. Besides, Microfiber cloth or Chamois is the safest choice of all.	Do not use harsh and abrasive cleaning tools on Epoxy surfaces such as scouring pads, stiff brushes, or sandpapers.
Steam cleaning is an excellent idea for cleaning Epoxy Countertops, as this helps get rid of all the staining and also restores the appearance.	Never wax epoxy countertops as this will only dull out the surface, way too soon.
Use sparing amounts of Acetone for clearing out scuff marks as well as scratches.	Never use any harsh chemicals atop Epoxy Countertops as those can easily give rise to a reaction, resulting in serious damage to the Epoxy Surface.
Ensure using a cutting board for all cutting purposes and never do the cutting work directly on top of the Epoxy surface.	Never use excessive amounts of Mineral oil or any other cleaner for Epoxy Countertop surfaces.

 

Useful Caring Tips For Epoxy Countertops

You can easily ensure making the most out of your Epoxy countertops and other surfaces with the help of these expert tips and tricks.

• Deal With The Spills

This is the first step to taking care of Epoxy surfaces. Make sure to wipe out even the slightest spills as well as major splashes from the Epoxy countertop. This will not just make the regular cleanups a lot easier but will not prevent huge damages from taking place over time.

• Periodic Restoration

Do ensure using shine restoring elements like Mineral oils and Murphy’s Oil once or twice a month to upkeep the shine and beauty of Epoxy countertops. This will also keep an early dulling out of the surfaces at bay.

• Investing In The Right Product

If possible, get the Epoxy Resin Laboratory Countertops, since those are not highly resilient in nature, but are also designed to last a lot longer than the regular Epoxy surfaces. In addition to that, these specialized countertops also have excellent resistance against chemical reactions as well as fire hazards. This kind of investment will pay you back well and will serve you for extended periods of time, as well.

• Maintaining The Cleanliness

To ensure cleaning your Epoxy surfaces in time and this includes addressing all the spills, splashes, stains, scratches, and every other form of damage your epoxy surfaces get subjected to. Not delaying the cleanliness will prevent long-term and critical troubles and will save you both your time and money.

• Safe And Secure Usage

The way you use your Epoxy countertops majorly decides how much you are going to benefit from them. One major example of this is kitchen usage that involves cutting and spilling, So you need to make sure that you don’t carry out all those chores directly on the Epoxy countertop, in order to avoid any abrasion, scratching, staining, or spilling of food or drink onto the Epoxy surface.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions

Are Epoxy Countertops Prone To Scratching?

Epoxy countertops are, as a matter of fact, highly susceptible to scratching damage as compared to other surfaces. And this somewhat unpleasant reality doesn’t end here for sure, since the epoxy countertops can also develop other forms of damage and defiling very soon, as well. This includes staining and discoloration over time. All this implies the need for watchful maintenance to be carried out for epoxy countertops, so as to keep them away from such damages and also to retain their beauty for long.

What To Use For Cleaning Epoxy Countertops?

Epoxy Countertops require extremely careful dealing since even the slightest misconduct can result in their damage in a short period of time. From choosing the cleaner all the way to picking the right cleaning tools, you need to be absolutely considerate at every single point. Crystal Simple Green, Mineral Oil, Gentle Dish Soaps, and Murphy’s Oil are some of the best recommendations for cleaning Epoxy surfaces. In addition to that, you must strictly avoid the usage of any kind of abrasive elements on top of the epoxy surface, in order to not end up with scratching, staining, or discoloration.

Is It Okay To Clean Epoxy With Alcohol?

Since Epoxy resin is not soluble in water, it has to be cleaned with alcohol or acidic-base element. That explains the recommendation of Lacquer Thinner, Acetone, Isopropyl Alcohol, and Denatured Alcohol for cleaning Epoxy surfaces. In addition to that, Vinegar is also a wonderful option for cleaning epoxy surfaces, if you’re more into DIY recipes rather than store-bought cleaners. However, you need to be careful about the cleaning tool(s) you make use of, as any abrasive tool can easily damage the epoxy surface by scratching it.

How To Restore The Shine Of Epoxy Countertops?

Mineral Oil will do the job for you as it’s excellent for revamping the look and shine of Epoxy surfaces and most particularly countertops. All you need to do is pour a little amount of it onto a soft cleaning fabric and gently rub the Epoxy surface in a thorough circular motion, till you are satisfied with the equal distribution and application of the Mineral Oil all over the dulled out area. In the end, you can go over the surface once again with a clean and dry fabric, so as to wipe off any excess material.

How To Clean Up Spills From Epoxy Countertops?

It is essential to wipe off any spills as immediately as possible, as this will prevent any huge damage from taking place. Ideally, you can use paper towels for soaking up most of the liquid, since those are gentle to the Epoxy surface. As for dealing with the staining, you’ll need to make use of Baking Soda paste. Just mix half a cup of it with around two tablespoons of water to make a paste with appropriate consistency. Take any spatula or cloth to directly spread the paste onto the affected area, followed by letting it stay there for the next 5 minutes. After that, you can wipe off the paste with a washcloth soaked in warm water.

How To Get Rid Of Food Stains From Epoxy Countertop?

Nail Polish Remover will be your ultimate savior while dealing with the food stains such as wine, coffee, or any fruit stain like berries. Take a clean old rag, and saturate a corner of it with the nail polish remover, followed by gently rubbing the stained area. You might, as well, need to apply some more pressure if the stain does not come off in the first place. Keep rubbing gently until you manage to get rid of the stain completely. Besides, you also need to avoid the usage of harsh discoloring substances such as Bleach on top of the Epoxy surface.