It’s no secret to anybody that the ovens are one of the greasy places in the kitchen. To clean them up it takes tons of scrubbing and special chemical cleaner. By the way, were you who wondered what is the effect of oven cleaner on kitchen countertops? Let’s see!
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What does oven cleaner do to the countertops?
Corrosion
As we have already mentioned before, almost all oven cleaners contain harsh chemicals. Manufacturers should list them in a bit letter so everyone would be aware because these can irritate the skin – don’t forget to wear gloves!
These products are usually safe to use in ovens because the latter is made of stainless steel with a coating of acrylic enamel. This coating works like a barrier between the chemicals and the steel.
The countertops are usually made of quartz. They are not fragile. What is more, quartz is one of the few materials that stay resistant to almost all chemicals and doesn’t change anything.
On the other hand, quartz countertops are engineered stones. It can happen that polymers that bind the quartz together can react to heat or harsh chemicals.
Therefore, when you are going to use your oven cleaner on your quartz countertop you should read the instructions and see if it doesn’t warn you NOT to use it on quartz surfaces. Just check the warning label.
Discoloration
In case you want to fully clean the surface with the oven cleaner, it must first soak into the surface for around ten minutes. This will be more than enough for the chemical reaction to happen.
But be aware that those chemical reactions may leave white marks, blotches, and dull spots that can be highly visible on light-colored quartz countertops. Reducing the consequences will be difficult after that.
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Streaks
Be aware that cleaning your kitchen countertop with an oven cleaner can leave streaks of grease, food residue, and other grime.
Fading and staining
As we have mentioned before, quartz countertops are highly resistant to staining, but they are not completely stained-proof.
Moreover, it is possible that you won’t see the changes on your countertop right after you clean it with the oven cleaner. However, if you keep doing it in the future, it will lead to the facing of the quartz color.
Harm for your health by using oven cleaners
In addition to everything, the chemicals used in the oven cleaners vapor fumes. Manufacturers nowadays try to produce safe cleaners without them, but some still do that and you can usually read about it on the label. In case you use this cleaner too often, the air quality inside your house will decrease.
Moreover, here is the full list of the dangerous chemicals that you should avoid in oven cleaners:
- Turpentine
- Degreasers
- Foaming agents
- Crystallization agents
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Butane
- Monoethanolamine (MEA)
- Monobutyl ether
- Diethylene Glycol
Moreover, the leftovers of those chemicals on the countertops may react with the food that you put on it later and even cause intoxication.
Granite countertops
Just like quartz, granite is a natural stone. It has no polymer resins that may react with harsh chemicals. At the same time, it’s not recommended to use oven cleaner on these countertops because granite has a thin layer of sealant on the surface.
If you will use the oven cleaner on the granite countertop regularly, it will tarnish the stone. One day your granite may start absorbing liquids.
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Marble countertops
It’s a frequent case for marble countertops that they have sealed with a protective layer which makes applying various detergents safe for them. However, the harsh chemicals that you can find in oven cleaners can be harmful to this type of coating.
This also applies to other countertops, including tiles with glazed layers or painted wooden countertops.
Formica Countertops
This is the laminate-esque kitchen countertop surface and it’s one of the toughest ones. However, applying oven cleaner to it is still not completely safe.
By using the oven cleaner on this type of kitchen countertop you can damage their coloring.
What are the alternatives to oven cleaners for countertops?
If there is a greasy stain on your kitchen countertop which is hard to remove and you think that only an oven cleaner can do that, you’re not right. There are actually, some alternatives.
- Windex: this is the glass cleaner and therefore leaves no trace of the application. On the other hand, it doesn’t have as much power as rubbing the stains with the alcohol
- Warm water and soap: a classic choice for everyday cleaning and it can be enough to clean the stubborn stain out
- Baking soda: this is extremely versatile and the ultimate cleaner for basically everything. And it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals!
Wooden countertops
Don’t even think of using oven cleaner on the wooden countertops, the damage will be immediate and irreversible.
What to do if you already used the oven cleaner on the countertops and made some damage
No panic! First of all, polish the countertop with a dry soft cloth until it’s dry. Try to dry out the surface with a fan, if needed.
Try to oil the surface, in case you’ve used the oven cleaner on the wooden countertop.
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Conclusion
Take care of your quartz countertops and apply the proper cleaning in order to guarantee a long life for them and great looks. Be careful when applying an oven cleaner to those countertops because of all of the reasons mentioned above. Quartz doesn’t require that much maintenance, but just be gentle when you are trying to rub the stains from it.