How to extend the life of the countertop and protect it from moisture, damage and scratches?

In modern kitchens, you can find countertops made of artificial or natural stone, glass, stainless steel, ceramic tiles, but most often the main material used is a wooden array or chipboard sheets lined with plastic. If you do not know how to protect a capricious surface, there is a risk of its deformation and rapid destruction under the influence of moisture and other negative factors.

Compliance with the basic rules for the care of raw materials will avoid unpleasant consequences. In addition, there are many effective approaches that contribute to improving the quality of the product and its resistance to external influences.

Basic rules for working on the countertop and regular surface care

To prevent scratches and other types of damage on the surface of the countertop, the following rules for the implementation of work must be observed:

1. During cooking, you need to use cutting boards, even if you do not need to cut anything. When cutting products, you need to ensure that the process does not go beyond the limits of a special stand.
2. Do not leave knives and forks on the surface of the countertop, it is because of them that the chipboard sheets quickly become covered with a layer of scratches. Drops of water and food particles are gradually clogged into small holes, which causes the wood to swell and warp.
3. If you need to attach a manual meat grinder or similar unit to the work surface, use a soft cloth gasket.
4. Regardless of the material from which the surface of the countertop is made, it must be protected from prolonged and abundant exposure to moisture, it is highly recommended not to use abrasives, metal sponges and brushes during cleaning.

Tip: If the surface is additionally coated with varnish or paint, then the use of chemical cleaners, especially solvents, will also have to be abandoned.

5. In extreme cases, the work area can be protected with a special oilcloth. The main thing is to choose a material that does not change the aroma and taste of the processed products.
6. It is not recommended to put hot utensils on wood, chipboard sheets and tiles, be sure to use a protective lining (at the same time, make sure that it is not made of metal or plastic, but of wood or multi-layer fabric).

Even with all these rules, the safety of the coating is not guaranteed. It is possible to reliably protect a wooden surface only by properly cleaning it and special pre-treatment.

Methods for protecting countertops from the formation of persistent stains

No matter how carefully work is carried out on a specialized site, the appearance of stains cannot be avoided, especially if it is located near the sink. Drops of water and detergent can cause no less problems than traces of fat. So that the surface of the countertop does not darken and is not covered with signs of decomposition of the material, it is necessary to adopt the following tips:

• Dry dirt, grease and traces of moisture must be removed immediately. Do not wait until the various components mix and dry, turning into a dense crust.
• For regular cleaning of solid wood or chipboard sheets, a mild and slightly warm soapy solution is allowed.
• Persistent stains can be removed with lemon juice.If at the same time a little salt is poured onto the surface of the dirt, then it will be possible to pull the dirt out of small scratches.
• A darkened tree is recommended to be treated with a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide. Just pour it onto the stain and after a few minutes we wipe it with a soft cloth. The same manipulation allows you to disinfect the surface.
• In some cases, professional wood bleaches or homemade oxalic acid based preparations help. They simultaneously pull dirt from cracks, preventing the expansion of the tree, bleach and disinfect the material.

Fresh countertops are best treated without water at first. You can simply rub the contamination with sandpaper of medium grain size to remove the stain, and then sand the surface with the mildest analogue of the product.

Wood hardening and sealing - manipulations that increase the practicality of the material

To minimize damage from moisture and other external irritants, a massive tree can be tempered. True, this manipulation is very different from the approach that is used in the case of metal:

1. Pour a little heated mineral (not edible!) Oil onto the working area. We wait a few minutes until the fibers absorb the right amount of product.
2. We take a rag and begin to rub the composition into the surface, acting in the direction of the fibers.
3. We leave the design for half an hour so that the main component is well absorbed. We make sure that at this time drops of water do not get on the countertop, this will reduce the effectiveness of the approach.
4. Wipe the treated area with a waffle or paper towel, removing excess oil.

If chipboard sheets act as the main material, then the sealing procedure will be the best protection against damage. For its implementation, we use ready-made polyurethane (for the food industry), which we apply to the problem area in at least three layers. After such a simple manipulation, problems with cleaning the countertops will not arise, and it will become indifferent to moisture. Cutting products on such a coating is still impossible!

To restore wood and eliminate traces of cracks, furniture wax can come in handy. To do this, heat it up on a stove or in a microwave. For one part of the product we take four parts of mineral oil, mix. While still warm, we treat problem areas, carefully rubbing the drug into the cracks. Leave the mass to dry, and then polish the surface with a soft cloth. Such manipulation is recommended at least once a year for prevention.