Guide · Home care
Countertop Care
A friendly, practical guide to caring for laminate, stone, solid surface and butcher block counters, from heat and knives to stains, sealing and safe cleaning.
Where to start
- Counter chipped or stained?
Most chips and stains can be helped when shared early. See if a counter is chipped or stained.
- Not sure what your counter is made of?
See care by counter type.
- Want simple daily habits?
Work through the countertop care checklist.
The short version
Counters are where life happens, and a few simple habits keep them clean, food-safe and beautiful.
Always use trivets and cutting boards, and wipe spills quickly, especially wine, coffee, oil and acids.
Clean with warm water and mild soap, keep water off seams and edges, and know whether your counter is laminate, stone, solid surface or wood.
Share chips, cracks, loose edges or water damage early so they can be repaired the right way.
Rules about repairs and normal wear differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at the rules where your home is. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1Always use a trivet
Never set hot pans directly on any counter. Heat can scorch, crack or discolor it.
- 2Always use a cutting board
Knives scratch laminate, dull on stone and leave marks on wood.
- 3Wipe spills quickly
Wine, coffee, oil and acidic foods can stain or etch some counters if left sitting.
- 4Know your surface
Laminate, stone, solid surface and wood each need a slightly different touch.
Countertop care checklist
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. Your counters should stay beautiful for years.
If a counter is chipped or stained
- Take a breath. Most chips and stains can be helped when they’re shared early.
- For a chip or crack, save any broken pieces in a bag.
- For a stain, blot gently and skip hard scrubbing or harsh chemicals.
- Keep water away from a chipped laminate edge so the core doesn’t swell.
- Take photos of the damage, one close up and one from a distance.
- Share it in writing so it can be repaired the right way.
Sharing it early was exactly the right thing to do.
Care by counter type
- Laminate: mild soap, no heat and no knives. Keep water off the edges and seams so the core doesn’t swell.
- Granite and quartz: mild soap and a trivet every time. Heat shock, worn sealant and harsh cleaners can still damage granite, and direct heat can discolor or crack quartz.
- Marble: avoid acids like lemon, vinegar and wine, which can etch the surface.
- Solid surface: mild soap, trivets and cutting boards.
- Butcher block: wipe and dry promptly, and oil it now and then with a food safe oil so it doesn’t dry out and crack.
When you’re unsure, warm water and mild dish soap are safe for nearly every counter.
Guides that go well with this one
Things this guide mentions
This guide asks for a trivet right beside the stove, a cutting board for every knife and a mat or tray under the dish rack. These are examples only. Please pick what fits your home and follow the maker’s instructions.
Like it on paper?
The printable checklist for this guide is fillable, with a screen version and an ink saver print version. Keep it on your phone or pin it to the fridge.
How much do you remember?
4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.
Go deeper with The Perfect Seasonal Home Care Checklist Workbook
Simple, step by step checklists you can write in, one topic at a time, to help any home stay warm, safe and dry through every season.
Keep the full guide handy
The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.
Download the PDFTake it with you
- Bunklow Home Guide 054: Natural Granite Countertop Daily Cleansing and Sealer Integrity TestingA printable guide to natural granite countertop daily cleansing and sealer integrity testing, in plain steps.See it in the shop
- Bunklow Home Guide 056: Engineered Quartz Countertop Thermal Care and Non-Abrasive CleaningA printable Bunklow guide to engineered quartz countertop thermal care and non-abrasive cleaning: plain steps, how often to check, and when to call a pro.See it in the shop
- Kitchen and Laundry Checklist PackThe Kitchen and Laundry checklists in one pack, fillable on screen or printable.See it in the shop
More guides
This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal or food-safety advice. Please follow the maker’s care instructions. Bunklow does not inspect properties or make repairs.