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Kitchen counters are some of the most heavily trafficked and high-touch surfaces in any living space. A counter can serve as a prep space, a clutter magnet, and a place to display that fancy new KitchenAid mixer you got for your birthday. Anything that’s used so frequently in such a varied fashion is going to need pretty regular cleaning. Here’s what you need to know to keep the vital task from becoming overwhelming. Diamond Resin Dry Polishing Pads
Cleaning cloths: Microfiber cleaning cloths, paper towels, or even your everyday kitchen towels will work just fine. You’ll want at least two—one for applying the soap and rinsing off the suds, and one to dry the counters when you’re done.
Dish soap: When you’re doing regular cleaning tasks like wiping down a kitchen counter, it’s best to use gentler soap to avoid degrading the surface (or its sealant) that you’re trying to clean. Dish soap is a perfect candidate for this kind of task, and, conveniently, you likely already have some in your kitchen.
Disinfectant: Cleaning does not mean the same thing as disinfecting. And for high-touch surfaces like kitchen counters, it’s good to disinfect regularly—especially if you often handle bacteria magnets, such as raw meat. We have a guide to surface cleaners, which goes over some of the things to look for. But if your counters are made of natural stone—like granite or marble—you’re going to want to stay away from acidic cleaners, such as citric acid, vinegar, and bleach.
Kosher salt and half a lemon: This is only for cleaning particularly stubborn stains from wooden countertops.
Sealer: If you have natural stone countertops like granite or marble, you’ll need to refresh the protective layer that keeps moisture from seeping into the porous stone.
Wood conditioner: As with natural stone, with a butcher block countertop you’ll need to periodically refresh its protection. There are a lot of conditioners out there; Howard Butcher Block Conditioner is a good example. Just make sure that the one you use is food-grade (it should say so on the packaging).
The time it takes depends on the size of your countertops, what they’re made of, and how frequently you clean them. But around 30 to 45 minutes is a reasonable expectation. If you’re dealing with particularly stubborn stains, it may take longer.
Even though there are more-specific cleaners that work best on certain surfaces—Granite Gold, for instance, is a popular cleaner designed for use on granite—general everyday cleaning can be done with really basic kitchen staples. “If you just get a moist cloth with some dish soap, you can use that on wood or pretty much any generic countertop,” said Mike Swanson, cleaning merchant at The Home Depot.
First, clear your counter, primarily of crumbs or other debris that has accumulated. And you should also move any appliance or item that lives on the countertop. Just because you can’t see what’s under your coffee grinder, that doesn’t mean there’s not a pile of old grounds hiding there.
Then grab your cloth of choice—most kitchen towels are fine, as are microfiber cloths. Add some dish soap, and dampen the cloth with warm water. Wipe down the counter, and reapply dish soap if the suds run out before you finish the whole counter.
Afterward, thoroughly rinse out your cloth until the soap is gone. Rewet it with warm water, and use it to rinse the soap suds off the countertop. Immediately wipe off the counter with a dry cloth, removing any remaining dampness.
When the counter is dry, use a disinfecting wipe or surface cleaner to remove any lingering contaminants that may remain. As we say in our guide, it’s important to leave the sanitizer on for the period specified on the packaging, to let it do the full work of decontaminating. The Lysol Kitchen Pro Antibacterial Cleaner we recommend needs to be left on for two minutes for the surface to be disinfected.
If your counters are natural stone, make sure the sanitizer you’re using doesn’t contain anything heavily acidic like bleach, vinegar, or citric acid. Those solutions can disproportionately damage the sealer on your counter or even harm the stone itself. It’s always a good idea to do a spot test before using a new disinfectant on your counter.
Sometimes the steps you take in your regular cleaning routine aren’t enough to get your counter spotless. Or there are times you catch a spill just a little too late, and it’s already left a mark. In these cases, a little more effort is required.
When you’re dealing with stains on wooden countertops, like butcher block counters, use a similar method to our advice for cleaning wood cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, pour a little kosher salt on the stain, and use the lemon to lightly rub in the salt, letting the juice saturate the stain. Then wipe everything away with a moist cloth and dry off the spot.
The best way to remove most stains will depend not only on the countertop you’re cleaning but also what originally made the stain. Check with the countertop manufacturer to see whether it has a particular recommendation.
Swanson suggested lightly scrubbing with baking soda and warm water. But don’t overdo it with the scrubbing. Baking soda is an abrasive cleaner and can damage sealant if you scrub aggressively. Overall, though, this method can work for a wide range of stains. As always, try out any new cleaning technique on a small part of your counter first, to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage.
If you have a marble or granite countertop that requires a sealant, it’s important to regularly reseal it. The manufacturer will likely have guidance on when and how to best seal your counter to keep it shining. Generally speaking, a natural stone counter will need to be resealed about every six months.
James Austin is a staff writer currently covering games and hobbies, but he’s also worked on just about everything Wirecutter covers—from board games to umbrellas—and after being here for a few years he has gained approximate knowledge of many things. In his free time he enjoys taking photos, running D&D, and volunteering for a youth robotics competition.
Marble Floor Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).