Call nowFrom holiday cooking such as casseroles and festive desserts, your stone countertops will see all types of messes this holiday season. You’ll be cutting produce, mixing ingredients, and showcasing your best dishes right on your countertops. It begs the question- will holiday cooking ruin your gorgeous stone finish? Our article dives in and even tells you how to protect your stone countertops and keep them looking their best during the holidays.
Top 5 Things to Keep Off Stone Countertops
Here are a few scenarios you might encounter during the holidays that may affect your stone countertops:
- Acidic spills: As you prep meals for the holidays, you might use certain ingredients like citrus fruits, vinegar, or tomato sauce. If you spill any of these acidic liquids, you could risk damaging your stone countertops.
- Slicing directly on your countertops: Stones like granite, quartz, and marble are tough and can withstand the blade of a knife. However, over time, your countertops could develop scratches. As a result, this could dull the appearance of the stone. You could also be ruining your knife blade. To protect your countertops, use a cutting board.
- Placing pots and pans directly on your countertops: While stone is quite resistant to heat, try not to get into the habit of placing hot pans directly on your countertops. This can reduce the overall lifespan of your finish.
- Being too busy to wipe up spills as you go: You’ll likely be overwhelmed with tons of holiday cooking and baking tasks. As a result, you might reserve cleaning the mess until you’re done. Doing so could increase the chances of staining.
- Overwhelming your countertops with excessive weight: Putting excess weight on your countertops can cause cracks. If you’re bringing out your heavy cookware for festive cooking, be careful. Even a tiny crack can become a significant split over time.
How to Protect Stone Countertops During Holiday Cooking
Add a Second Layer of Protection
Whether they’re granite, marble, or quartz, stone countertops provide a durable surface to use on a daily basis. However, protecting the finish is vital, especially if it’s going to come in contact with a lot of spills.
That’s why re-sealing your stone countertops is so important. Below are just a few benefits of adding that extra layer of protection:
- Prevent stains
- Reduce etching
- Build resistance to everyday dirt and spills
- Preserve the natural beauty of the stone finish
So, consider re-sealing your countertops before the mess begins.
Wipe Up Spills Right Away
Whether the substance is oily or acidic, it can splatter all over your countertops and leave a stain.
During your holiday cooking session, clean up spills as they happen with a mild cleanser or hot, soapy water.
Protect Stone Countertops Against the Heat
As we stated earlier, stone countertops are strong and durable, meaning they can take the heat. But to preserve the life of your stone finish, you can use:
- Trivets
- Hot pads
- Silicone mats
- Coasters
Do Some Stone Countertop Deep Cleaning After the Festivities
After all the festivities are over and you’re done hosting, thoroughly clean your countertops to remove residue, dirt, dust, and debris. This will make sure your countertops are free of all potentially damaging liquids. Use a mild detergent and a soft micro-fiber cloth to do the cleaning. That way, you’re being gentle on your countertops.
When the holidays come around, no one wants to worry about potentially damaging their stone countertops. Follow these best practices to prevent damage and extend the life of your stone finish.
