Holidays give you something to look forward to. The anticipation of great food, time with friends, or family traditions brings excitement to everyday life. If your memory-making traditions involve baking, cooking, or other fun activities in the kitchen, then you need to prepare your space. When Aunt Ruth comes to bake chocolate chip cookies, you don’t want her to struggle for room on your countertops, do you?
So, what are some tips to prepare your granite countertop for the busy holiday season?
It might seem tough, but you need to tuck away all the non-essentials. This means papers, bills folders, figurines and objects that don’t need to be out while you are entertaining, baking or completing a holiday project. Then it’s meticulous sanitation work, especially if you’ll be handling food. Have clean towels, mild dish soap, and a box on standby.
Before you get out your ingredients, craft supplies, or other materials, try to assess how much room you’ll need. This helps you organize your space and prepare everything you need to enjoy the time together.
So, How Can You Clean and Declutter Your Countertops?
Kick off by organizing your countertops. Begin from one point and shift any non-essential items to somewhere else; a shelf or a cabinet, or into a box. Utilizing a box is great as it collects all the items previously occupying your countertop in one place, simplifying the process of putting them back once you’re done.
Naturally, if you possess enough space in your cabinets for those items cluttering atop your counter, that’s your go-to choice. Long-term, it certainly prevents even more clutter from piling up.
Now, it’s time to scrub your countertops. Grab a new, gentle fabric and some simple dish soap. Start from one corner and gently wipe to the other, making sure you’ve cleaned the whole countertop.
You don’t want to use harsh chemicals because they could damage the sealant on your beautiful stone. This is a great time to inspect your granite countertop for any cracks, stains, or other conditions that need to be repaired. Sometimes, when counters are covered with a lot of things, you can miss hidden scratches or burn marks that should be fixed.
So, What Should You Avoid?
What you don’t want to do during your holiday festivities is use tools that will harm your countertop, or liquids that will stain. Keep the lemon juice, food coloring, and other liquids contained. Only use cookie cutters and knives on cutting boards or other barriers, never on the countertop itself. If there are spills, keep a clean cloth nearby so you can immediately wipe them up.
You also want to avoid putting hot pots or pans directly on your granite countertops because they could leave a mark. Be mindful of where you put hot glue guns if you will be making crafts. Although granite is good at absorbing heat, if you place a really hot pan directly on your countertop, it could leave a damaging mark. Play it safe and use a hot pad. You could even add to the festive mood and use one that is holiday-themed.
Related Questions
So, How Do You Protect Your Granite Countertops?
Your primary source of protection for your granite countertops is a quality sealant. This creates a barrier between the porous stone and food or dirt that tries to creep into cracks. Having your countertop resealed regularly decreases the chance of bacteria build-up and makes the counter easy to clean. Remember to wipe up spills immediately and use cutting boards as protective measures, too.
So, What Holiday Activities Are Safe for Granite Countertops?
You can enjoy any holiday activity on your countertops! You can roll out dough for pies or cookies, or set up supplies for a card-making craft. Just clean up glue, green food coloring, or any other spills as soon as you are finished.
Your kitchen is a perfect place for holiday festivities. All you need to do is clear off and clean up your beautiful granite countertop, grab supplies, invite some friends, and let the fun begin!
Installing New Countertops?
Are new countertops on your mind? Have you added them to the must-have list for home improvements? Texas Granite Group is a countertop fabrication and installation company located in the Austin area that is ready to create the kitchen and bathroom of your dreams. New granite or quartz countertops make all the difference when it comes to kitchen function, and they are so beautiful to look at.
Get a custom design and the most unique countertop solution from our in-house selection of granite, quartz and marble that you can see, touch and feel! It’s amazing what a countertop replacement can do for your home. Stop by or call today.