How To Clean Laminate Countertops

Laminate countertops have been part of our interior landscape for over 100 years. Many of us grew up with them and developed our cleaning methods through example and practiced habit. Let’s take a deep dive into how to clean laminate countertops correctly.

What Is Laminate Countertop?

Laminate is typically paper and resin products layered, chemically heated, and pressed together to form an incredibly hard, durable, and waterproof laminate sheet. To create the countertop, the laminate sheet is permanently adhered (usually with contact cement or some other bonding agent) to a stable substrate, such as particle board, MDF, or plywood.

How to Clean Laminate Countertops Without Streaks

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Things to Keep in Mind

Knowing what laminate countertops are made of and how they’re assembled means we know how we might damage them while cleaning. Laminate countertops can potentially be scratched, which would dull the surface. Additionally, while the laminate itself is waterproof, the substrates it’s adhered to are not. So, if moisture were to penetrate beneath the laminate (at a seam or crack, for example), the substrate could swell and disrupt the surface. It is important to avoid abrading or flooding the surface and to use proper methods for cleaning laminate countertops.

What Cleaners Should I Use?

• Mild detergent or household cleaner
• Owner of Home in Hand Cleaning, Missy Vannest, says, that for “oily messes, I fill the sink with hot water and Dawn Dish Soap.”
• Formica, the largest laminate manufacturer for over 100 years, recommends cleaners such as Dawn, Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner, or Formula 409.

NOTE: Remember to always read the manufacturer’s instructions and to test your cleaners somewhere inconspicuous to ensure the products agree.

Cleaning Process

• Use a soft, nonabrasive cotton or microfiber cloth.
• Apply a small amount of your cleaner to your cloth.
• Gently scrub the surface until all dirt and grime is lifted.
• Be sure to rotate or switch out your cloth frequently to prevent simply spreading dirt or germs.

Bonus Points

Even though most cleaners do not insist upon this step, I tend to like it anyway: Once the surface has dried, use a clean cloth with a small amount of water to wipe away any film, streaks, or haze left behind from the cleaner.

How to Remove Stains From Laminate Countertops

I posed this question to expert John O’Brien, owner of Green Maids Cleaning, a company that prides itself on eco-safe, hypoallergenic cleaning services. He told us, “To keep your laminate countertops clean and shining while using eco-friendly methods, the best tip is not to let spills hang around.”

The good and bad thing about laminate countertops is that they’re so incredibly durable, so typically, if there’s a stain, it’s often because it’s been left to sit on the surface, something was scratched into the resin surface, or it’s a burn and burn marks cannot be removed (you can ask my mom about the time I decided to make pancakes unsupervised as a child). Anyway, if it’s one of the aforementioned, and you’re not still in trouble with your mom nearly three decades later, here’s my not-so-secret sauce:

• 1 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• a few dots of your favorite dish soap

Mix it up, scrub it in, let it sit for a few minutes, water wipe it up. If that doesn’t take care of it, don’t despair. We have a few options for renewing your countertops below!

How to Prevent Scratches From Laminate Countertops

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Preventing scratches is all about accessorizing and avoiding placing hot or abrasive things or using cutting tools directly on your countertops. Try using:

• Trivets
• Towels
• Cutting boards

Additionally, only clean using nonabrasive cotton or microfiber cloths.

How To Revive and Protect Laminate Countertops

Occasionally, cooking and cleaning can be enthusiastic. If you have a scuffed-up laminate countertop, you have a few options.

• Polishes or waxes designed specifically for laminate countertops, like Jubilee Kitchen Wax
• As a woodworker, I have a lot of exposure to furniture waxes and hard wax oils, but did you know that many of them are meant for use on just about any surface? And they’re food safe. Try something like Howard Wax-It-All or Odie’s Oil.

How To Renew Your Laminate Countertops

Need a fresh start, but still like the look and versatility of laminate? Why not simply resurface it?

• Resurface your laminate countertops using countertop coating like, Daich SpreadStone or Rust-Oleum Transformations, which are as easy as applying paint.
• Another stunning but only slightly less DIY-friendly option is to epoxy coat your laminate countertops.
• Finally, depending on the laminate, you can often apply laminate over laminate, so it’s worth considering.

Important Takeaways

• Knowing how to clean laminate countertops can keep them lasting for decades.
• Clean your laminate countertops with soft, nonabrasive cotton or microfiber clothes.
• Use a mild detergent or soap.
• Preventing scratches by avoiding placing hot or abrasive things or using cutting tools directly on your countertops.
• You can resurface your laminate with paint, epoxy, or even laminate.

About the Experts

• Missy Vannest is the owner of Home in Hand Cleaning. Home in Hand Cleaning is an award-winning cleaning service operating for 9 years out of Concord, NH.
• John O’Brien is the owner of Green Maids Cleaning, LLC. Green Maids Cleaning has been serving Southern Maine, the Seacoast of New Hampshire and the North Shore of Massachusetts since 2009.

Sources

• “Formica® Brand Products Care and Maintenance Guide” (2024)