How to clean and care a Solid Surface countertop

Solid surface countertops are usually made of acrylic, marble dust, bauxite, epoxy or polyester resins, and pigment. Sometimes called “synthetic stone,” they are popular choices in new home construction and remodeling.

Solid surfacing is typically available in matte, semigloss, and gloss finishes. If your countertops were glossy originally, all you should have to do is clean the surface with soapy water, an ammonia-based window cleaner, Softscrub, or Lysol spray.

Solid surface countertops come in a huge variety of colors, making it easy for homeowners to find a style they like. Unlike laminate countertops, solid surface types are seamless.

To clean solid surface countertops:

• Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe them down.
• For dirty or stained areas, use mild dish soap and water. Also acceptable are ammonia-based cleaners such as most glass or general purpose cleaners.
• Towel dry the surface to prevent water spots.
• For Difficult Stains: Difficult stains on shiny surface countertops can be cleaned with a liquid mildly abrasive cleaner, while stains on nonshiny (matte) finishes are easily cleaned with baking soda and water paste. Commercial solid surface cleaning sprays are available for these countertops at most home supply centers. The commercial sprays are formulated to clean difficult stains.

To maintenance solid surface countertops:

No regular maintenance is required for solid surface countertops.

Preventing Stains:

• Solid surface countertops are resistant to heat, but use a hot pad or trivet when setting a hot pan on the countertop.
• Don’t use paint removers, oven cleaners or other strong chemicals on the countertops.
• Use a cutting board. Do not cut directly on the countertop.
• Remove any nail polish using a non-acetone polish remover and then flush the countertops with water.

if you can’t wait that long or don’t want to put in all that elbow grease, hire a professional countertop fabricator, who can bring the surface to a high polish.

for example, they use a precise set of steps that involves a random-orbit sander, progressively finer grits of sanding film (a superfine abrasive sheet), a low-speed polisher, and polishing liquids. Just be prepared to pay a high price for this service, to contain the fine dust that the sanding will generate, and to hand-buff your countertops at least once a month thereafter.