Over the period, ovens get oily, dirty, build greasy and stubborn patches all over the oven that are not easy to clean at first. Even while cleaning your kitchen, you have to deal with food slatters, hardened stains, and much more, which is not only hazardous for your appliance but damages your countertop as well. It also causes rusty patches all over your countertop, which may discolor your countertop or damage the wood. It is important to understand the effects of oven cleaner on countertops.
Therefore, it is suggested to go for Quartz or laminate countertops that are solid with build and do not get damaged so easily. However, if you have similar patches all over your appliance or countertop, just simply swiping these patches will not be enough. You will require the right chemical in adequate amounts to clean every inch of it. Here you can find different ways to maintain your countertop and cure it if damaged.
A side-effect of oven cleaner on kitchen’s countertop
Oven cleaning solutions are extremely powerful, which magically clean stubborn stains but damage your kitchen countertop. It will have abrasive effects on sealants, eat away and damage layers of countertop and even render your kitchen an unable corner. Moreover, oven cleaners can adversely damage
- Shine of countertop
- Change the color or discolor your countertop
- Damage the internal structure of your countertop and make it weak
Therefore, it’s always suggested to avoid using such harsh chemicals on your countertop and switch to bit milder and non-abrasive alternatives. That can easily clean your stains and not damage your skin or countertop while using it.
Countertops that get damaged with oven cleaner
While re-styling the kitchen, the first thing that comes to our mind is a solid and unbreakable countertop for the kitchen. Unfortunately, countertops are forced to handle so much weight during day-to-day chores and even witness a handful of spills all day long. So, it’s necessary to go for stain-resistant countertops that require less maintenance.
But meanwhile, we forget to check whether our countertops are prone to oven cleaner or not. Not many people bother understanding what is the effect of oven cleaner on countertops. Below we have shared a list of raw materials that easily get damaged if they come in contact with harsh chemicals like – oven cleaner.
1. Stone and tile
The most commented countertop material stone and titles can not resist damage caused by oven cleaner. They have a sealant that effectively prevents water and protects their internal structure. But stones will absorb the harsh caustic soda and release harmful fumes into your food. Which will not only infuse your food with poisonous but create pores that can seep bacteria or mold quite easily.
2. Marble
Although marble is quite solid material to create a countertop, it also requires an adequate layer of wax to finish and seal the surface’s pores. This creates a fair chance for the caustic soda to cause discolored or damaged countertop if it comes in contact with the oven cleaner.
3. Stainless steel
Even if you are using stainless steel safe from the oven cleaner, it’s only an oven. This is because manufacturers only use good quality steel on the inner side, and to save money, they add a thin layer of stainless steel on the outside. Which automatically gets damaged over the period and even ruins the appliance’s appearance if they get in touch with oven cleaner.
4. Wood
Usually, manufacturing countertops with wood gives you an antique and traditional look to your kitchen. But if it comes in contact with sodium hydroxide, it can easily dissolve the sealant layer wood has that protects it from water damage or moisture.
Harmful chemicals that can damage countertops
Most of the time, people are unaware of toxic chemicals they are using in their day-to-day life, causing real damage to our appliances and kitchen such as – countertops. Below we have mentioned the main ingredients you should look for while checking oven cleaner chemicals.
- Turpentine
- Foaming agents
- Degreasers
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Crystallization agents
- Butane
- Monobutyl ether
- Monoethanolamine (MEA)
- Diethylene Glycol
All these chemicals will destroy the material, but the color will fade. And risk your life by getting infused in your food and causing it to be poisonous for eating purposes. Even leftover and open bottles of oven cleaner residue on the countertop can react with your meal and reflect similar results. And damage the kitchen or eat away the countertop material due to chemical reactions.
How to fix stains caused by oven cleaners from countertop
Now that you have understood how harsh chemicals like – oven cleaner can damage your kitchen and appliances. Below we have shared the main ingredients considered magic alternatives to oven cleaners.
Vinegar
You can add equal parts of vinegar, spray the infected area, and keep it there for some time. Afterward, sweep it with warm water, and here you go, the shine will last longer, and all stains will get removed. If you mistakenly sprayed some oven cleaner on your countertop, clean it with vinegar. It will instantly neutralize the lye and slow down the damage.
Baking soda
Baking soda is another best way to clean your countertop without damaging it. For example, you can easily remove stains from marble or granite countertops by using baking soda with water. However, do not try to scrub your countertop with baking soda. Since it’s abrasive, pat it on the infected area. Cover the area for some days and sweep with warm water afterward. But before doing the treatment, always conduct patch tests to see if the color or finish of stones gets damaged.
All these methods can only slow down the damage caused by oven cleaner, but discoloration may persist lifelong. However, you can always get your countertop exchanged, providing protection later and having an original appearance.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the guide helps you understand what is the effect of oven cleaner on countertop. And how you can protect your kitchen or food from it. However, before using oven cleaner, refer to the guide given above and make the right choice for your appliances and countertop.