Like anyone else, you want a clean, shiny, and smooth kitchen countertop to make your kitchen look fantastic. Are you thinking of using an oven cleaner to help you achieve this result? Oven cleaner reacts differently with different countertop materials.
Can I Use an Oven Cleaner on My Countertop?
You should not use an oven cleaner on wooden, tile or stainless steel countertops. You can use them on Formica and Stone Countertops, although it is still not advised. Keep reading to find out the effects of oven cleaner on kitchen countertops.
What is Oven Cleaner?
Before we dive into the effects of oven cleaner on kitchen countertops, it is essential to get familiar with what an oven-cleaner is.
Oven cleaner is merely a cleaning solution meant to clean dirt, grease, and other food particles in your oven that can’t be cleaned simply by using water and dishwasher soap. All the credit goes to its strong chemicals.
Usually, oven cleaning products may contain lye or sodium hydroxide, a dangerous and harsh chemical. You may also find other chemicals such as ethanol, butane, MEA (monoethanolamine), sodium carbonate, or turpentine. Similarly, many again come with fragrances, emulsifiers, and foaming agents.
A combination of these chemicals results in a cleaning solution in the shape of spray foam that helps soften the food leftovers on the oven’s walls and surface. This allows you to scrape them off quickly, making the cleaning of your oven an easy job.
Oven Cleaner Effects on Different Types of Kitchen Countertops
Although it has strong cleaning abilities, an oven cleaner can affect your kitchen countertop depending on the material type. These cleaners react differently with each material. Some are more prone to damage compared to others. Regardless of the material, oven cleaner will eventually affect your countertop if you continue using it.
Oven cleaner can cause the kitchen countertop to get corroded and result in a color change. If you wish to have your kitchen countertop in good shape, strictly prohibit using an oven cleaner for cleaning the countertop.
Have a look at the effect of oven cleaner on kitchen countertop materials.
Wooden Countertops
Wooden countertops are indeed the most prone to damage material because of their varnish coating. Due to the coating, wooden countertops are shiny, water-resistant, and prevent micro-organisms absorption. The chemicals present in the cleaner can easily penetrate through the top layer of varnish coating to dissolve it, making it sticky and gummy, resulting in a damaged wooden countertop.
Tile Countertops
Prolonged exposure to chemicals (like those in oven cleaner) can cause a tile countertop’s top glaze to be eaten away and may weaken the grout.
This will damage the countertop, along with a change in its appearance.
Stone Countertops
Stone countertops such as polished granite and marble are undoubtedly the most durable than the rest of the countertops. However, still, it is not advisable to use an oven cleaner to clean a stone countertop.
Though stone countertops can withstand harsh chemicals and the chance of severe damage is low still, the chemicals can damage the finish and cause the stone’s shine to fade away.
Formica Countertops
Like stone countertops, the ones made with Formica have a low chance of suffering damage. They are created from thermally fused melamine resin, painted, and then lubricated to mimic the look of stone or wood.
If you use an oven cleaner to clean the Formica countertop, then rinse and wash the cleaner immediately after use, the chances of corrosion and damage will be relatively low. However, the chemical can definitely harm the color, may result in discoloration.
That’s why using an oven cleaner is not advisable.
Stainless Steel Countertops
Using oven cleaner to clean the stainless steel countertops is not a good idea. The cleaner’s chemical (lye) can react with the steel resulting in various damages. It can cause permanent discoloration, leave stains on the surface, release flammable gases that irritate eyes and skin, and pose a fire threat (in the worst scenario).
How to Fix Stains of Oven Cleaner on Countertops?
If your stain is deep, it may not be possible to remove the oven cleaner’s effects without completely refinishing the surface. However, here are a few tricks you can try:
1. Apply vinegar
If you accidentally spilt the cleaner on your countertop, try vinegar to clean the area. Vinegar, being an acid, can help neutralize the sodium hydroxide and slow down the damage speed.
2. Mix dishwashing soap and baking soda
Light stains from the steel countertops can be removed with a paste of baking soda and dish soap. Rub the paste into the affected area with a soft cloth moving it in the grain direction.
3. Apply baking soda and water
Make a paste using baking soda and water to remove stains from granite and marble countertops. As baking soda is abrasive, avoid scrubbing it, pat it on the affected area, cover it using plastic wrap, and leave for a few days.
4. Buff in beeswax
Buff in beeswax to remove stains from wood countertops. This helps restore shine and leave a protective layer to block bacteria and the water.
These methods can help minimize or hide the stains left by the cleaner. However, if you are not lucky enough and the stains are too deep to remove, you will have your countertop refinished. This will restore them to their original shape and create a protective layer to prevent future damages.
Best Way to Clean Kitchen Countertops
Choosing a natural product over a chemical product is always advisable. Using a home-made cleaner, you can easily avoid oven cleaner’s effect on a kitchen countertop without compromising its cleanliness.
Here’s how you can make home-made cleaner:
- Step-1: Add four water elements into a spray bottle (14 oz. or 400 ml).
- Step-2: Add one element of white vinegar into a spray bottle (3.5 oz. or 100ml).
- Step-3: Add some dish soap into the spray bottle.
- Step-4: Close the spray bottle and stir.
- Step-5: Spray the solution onto the kitchen countertop and clean it using a microfiber cloth.
Congratulations! There you have it, your new kitchen countertop all clean and shiny.
Now that you know the effect of oven cleaner on kitchen countertop materials avoid using it for cleaning and instead opt for a home-made cleaner. If you are not satisfied with a home-made cleaner, look for the natural and non-toxic countertops cleaner. This will help elongate the life of your kitchen countertop, keeping it shiny for years.