Sometimes the kids leave sticky cookie dough out on the counter,
sometimes we just get lazy and forget to wipe down. But every once in awhile
everyone gets some gross food stuck on the counter and the washcloth and your
fingernails just aren’t cutting it. You also want to be careful to not
scratch up your gorgeous granite – so you can’t break out the Brillo pad
either. Here are some ways to get it
off.
- Soak it. Mix 1
part dish soap and two parts water and leave a soaked washcloth over the
offending spot. Come back a few hours later, and hopefully it has softened up
enough to easily wipe off. This way you don’t have to sit there scrubbing.
The downside is, your counter is going to get pretty sudsy. Water and baking
soda with vinegar is another good option. Letting it bubble will increase the
strength for use on glass stove tops. - Use a
razor blade. A little razor blade used carefully, won’t
scratch your counter. But it will scratch off crusty food faster than you
think. It’s especially useful on glass-top stoves. This probably isn’t a
great option for laminate countertops, however, no matter how convincingly
granite they look. - Use a
toothbrush. A toothbrush is tough enough to get in some good
rubbing action but soft enough to not screw up your
counters. - If you’ve gotten something like wax on your
countertop, it might be helpful to heat it up by ironing the
spot through a piece of fabric and then you can wipe it away.
Using hot water on any spot will be really
helpful. - Goo-gone or WD-40.
Sometimes it’s time to bring out the special chemicals. They cost money, and
you might not like using chemicals in your home. But they will do the job
quickly and effectively. This may be a last resort for some of you – but it’s
there. - Just wipe down ahead of
time. Cleaning while you cook is the way to go during any
cooking project. If gives you something to do while waiting for the oven to
heat up, it ensures nothing gets too gross and sticky, and you will always
have a clean surface to work with.
