Cleaning laminate countertops is as simple as cleaning the dishes. Take a non-abrasive brush or sponge, and add warm water and a drop of dish soap. Scrub the countertops until the suds lift away the dirt and grime. Rinse your sponge with clean water, and wring out continually.
A water-based all-purpose cleaner is generally safe to use on laminate cabinets if you need a little more power than plain water. You can also use liquid hand soap or dish detergent to clean the surfaces. After cleaning the laminate with any cleanser, go over it with a clean cloth to remove the remnants.
For Formica® HPL and DecoMetal® Metal Laminates, we recommend disinfecting with: 1) Quaternary Ammonium which is the largest group (198 listed) of EPA approved disinfectants. Examples of Quaternary Ammonium products include: Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, Lysol®, Virex®, Caviwipes®… 3) Sodium Hypochlorite or Bleach.
When it comes to cleaning, vinegar can be a solid workhorse. Vinegar can clean laminate countertops, ceramic sinks and toilets, and sink drains—but it should not be used to clean everything.
Laminate Cabinets
If the cabinet surfaces still show stains and dull spots, they can be spot-treated and polished with baking soda and vinegar. Spray on a solution of 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar and polish; rinse with water and buff with a clean, dry cloth.
After sanding the laminate with 120-grit sandpaper, roll or brush on the paint If you're having trouble choosing a paint color, keep it simple. White paint can help brighten your kitchen and give it a fresh look, while a sleek black or dark brown paint gives your laminate cabinets some modern flair.
Use Pledge® Moisturizing Oil to clean wood kitchen cabinets, windowsills, decorative trim, tables, chairs and more*. Or, get this: You can use it on your leather shoes. Try that on for size. *Safe to use only on finished, sealed surfaces.
It's important to note that original Windex offers no disinfecting or cleaning properties, notes Gregory. However, Windex Disinfectant Cleaner Multi-Surface does and is a good choice for laminate countertops and glass stoves—areas you want to be disinfected since they're where you cook.
Simply clean up streak-prone countertops with warm water and a drop of pH balanced dishwashing soap. Put a drop on a clean dish cloth, agitate under warm water, and wipe down countertops. Makes sense since those streaks are caused by the same greases that the dishwashing soap breaks up on cookware and dishes.
Magic Eraser is gentle on laminate countertop materials and will not scratch them at all. Instead, it will get remove any dirt or stain build-up on the surface of the laminate countertops.
Check the Wipe for Compatibility With the Type of Surface
While most wipes are safe to use on hard, non-porous surfaces like laminate, sealed granite, vinyl, and fiberglass, they are not safe to use on unfinished wood or extremely worn surfaces.
Use 50% water and 50% distilled vinegar for a streak-free look. If your kitchen glass cabinet has wooden mullions, then do not spray the distilled vinegar directly on the surface. Instead, spray onto a cloth and gently wipe.
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than blue Windex. This provides the same quality Windex cleaning without the pungent smell of the original blue formula. I was seriously doubtful on how effective this vinegar based cleaner would work but it left a streak clean shine in glass and other household surfaces.
Granite or marble
This is a big NO. “Windex shouldn't be used on granite or marble kitchen tops. Cleaners like Windex can etch or dull the surfaces of natural stone,” says Rick Glickman, president of Dream Kitchens, a design studio in Highland Park, Illinois.
To use car wax to make laminate countertops shine, it should be applied in circular motions across a clean countertop and left for around 10 minutes. Then, with a clean cloth, excess wax should be buffed away. Car wax not only gives a shiny, granite-like finish to Formica countertops, but it acts as a protectant.
Lay Laminate Over the Countertop
If you have old laminate (Formica, Wilsonart, etc.) countertops that have square edges, you can cover them with a layer of new laminate, which is sold in sheets up to 5 feet wide and 12 feet long.
Use a plastic laminate restoration product such as Gel-Gloss to hide surface scratches and restore shine and color. This product is available at most home improvement and hardware stores and should be applied to the counter using a dry cloth.
Vinegar is the go-to natural cleaner when faced greasy cabinets. Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle. Mist on cabinets, let sit for a minute or two and then wipe clean with a soft cloth.
Use Howard Lemon Oil to polish all wood surfaces including kitchen cabinets, tables, chairs, desks, paneling, antiques, and more. Lemon Oil will help keep your wood from drying out while restoring its depth of grain and natural beauty.
Mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water in a 5-gallon plastic bucket. Add a few drops of olive oil to the mixture. The vinegar and hot water help to disinfect your cabinets, while removing grease and grime. The olive oil provides a subtle shine.