Today's
Bathroom-Countertops
The most common type of bathroom-countertops are Plastic
laminate countertops. Plastic laminate countertops are
easy to maintain just follow the handyman tips below to increase their
life and prolong their beauty.
Handyman-Tips for laminates:
Use a damp cloth and mild soap to wipe off spots, glass rings, and
other spills. Spotting can occur or caulk can deteriorate prematurely
if water stands on the seams or back-splash so don't let water stand in
those areas.
Laminate bathroom-countertops are bonded to a wood
or particle-board substrate so be careful not to disturb that bond.
Over time, standing water could penetrate that glue bond through seams
and lift the laminate off its substrate. Ladies... be especially
careful with curling or flattening irons or other bathroom appliances
to avoid damaging the laminate with heat. Also, cigarette burns are
next to impossible to remove without some serious DIY-advice or
professional help to replace the laminate entirely. Damage caused by
leaks in the caulk is preventable so see the caulking section below for
more info.
DIY-Bathroom Safety-Tip:
Don’t sit or stand on bathroom-countertops. Bathroom vanities are not
built to carry the excessive weight which can cause warping, drawer
malfunction or cause the top to pull away from the wall.
Solid
Surface Countertops
Solid surface bathroom-countertops are becoming
more and more popular because of their wear-ability. In other words,
most are repairable. They can be machined with typical woodworking
tools such as sanders, routers and saws. If damaged, (scratched,
burned, cracked, stained) most patterns can be patched. Patching
requires a section of the countertop to be removed and a "patch or
Plug" glued in place, the seams sanded out resulting a like new
appearance. I consider the most notable manufacturer to be DuPont who
makes Corian but several other manufacturers make solid surface
countertops like: LivingStone, Formica Solid Surfacing, or Samsung who
makes a product called Staron.
Even though they are heat-resistant, it's a good
idea to avoid placing hot items directly on the surface. To disinfect
wipe it with diluted household bleach. The DIY-bathrooms mix
is 1 part water to 1 part bleach. Once you've disinfected the surface,
rinse it thoroughly with water and wipe it completely dry. Ladies, if
your cosmetics cause a stain, simply use denatured alcohol to remove
it. Once you've removed the stain flush the surface with soapy water
and wipe it dry. Avoid prolonged exposure to nail polish remover. If
nail remover come in contact with the countertop, flush the surface
thoroughly with soapy water.
Natural Stone Bathroom-Countertops
Natural stone is a very elegant and beautiful
choice and can be found in the kitchen as well as the bath. The great
thing about installing them in the bath is that they are not exposed to
the abuse found in the kitchen such as getting scratched by knives or
stained by prolonged exposure to lemon juice. Read below for a
breakdown on some natural stone countertops.
Marble is very porous
and when installed in the kitchen it requires regular discipline to
ensure its quality since it can stain or scratch easily if cut upon.
Since we're talking about bathroom-countertops, treatment with a stone
sealer is necessary but not as often as would be required in the
kitchen.
DIY-Bathroom Handyman-Tip:
Marble is a very cool surface and can be slippery especially when wet.
Staining – Light
colored stone is a little more susceptible to staining and should be
sealed properly. Things that can stain (red wine, oil, acidic fruits)
should be wiped up quickly.
Scratching – Marble
will scratch easier than granite, but less easily than laminate or
solid surface options. You don’t want to cut directly on either
surface. Granite will dull your knives, and marble will scratch. The
difference with stone is that the scratches are removable. Like
anything that requires maintenance, if you need some re-polishing every
5 years, is that so bad?
How to clean granite bathroom-countertops: Granite
is easy... simply use soapy warm water and a sponge. Rinse your sponge
(or use a micro-fiber cloth) with clean water and wipe away any soapy
residue. Using abrasive pads will scratch or dull the polished finish
so avoid them altogether. If you ever get a red wine stain don't
fear... you can get it out.
To remove wine stains You will need 1 cup of
molding plaster and just enough bleach to make a paste (same
consistency as toothpaste). Apply the paste to the wine stain and let
sit for 30 minutes. Once the time has passed, take a sponge wet with
warm water and wipe away the paste making sure to wipe away any residue
left behind by the paste. Hopefully the wine stain has disappeared.
Marks caused by felt-tipped markers can be removed by using acetone and
a clean cloth. Dab a little acetone on the cloth and wipe away the
stain.
DIY-Bathroom cleaning of general stains: 1 cup
flour, 1-2 Tbsp. dish soap, & water to make a paste. Apply
paste to stain, cover with plastic and let sit over-night.
Oil based stains: 1 cup flour, 1-2 Tbsp. (12%)
Hydrogen Peroxide, add water to make a paste, apply paste to stain,
cover with plastic and let sit over-night
Organic Stains from coffee, tea, fruit etc: Mix
12% Hydrogen Peroxide with 2-3 drops Ammonia apply directly to the
stain and sponge away residue
Most natural stone bathroom-countertops require
sealing so Check with the manufacturer to find out how often you should
re-seal you counter tops.
Handyman Tip: I want
to emphasize that you should never use steel wool, vinegar, polish, or
liquids containing acid on the surface.
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