What Is The Effect Of Oven Cleaner On Kitchen Countertops?

Grease buildup is a problem in ovens. If homeowners do not clean on a regular basis, they may discover a heavily crusted layer of grease that is often impossible to remove with standard cleaners. In this article we will discuss The Effect Of Oven Cleaner On Kitchen Countertops

This is when oven cleaners come in handy to remove stubborn grime. Oven cleaners are simple to use and do not require excessive scrubbing. Simply spray, wait, and then wipe clean.

While these cleaners are great for cleaning the oven, they should not be used on the quartz countertops.

Using oven cleaner on kitchen counters can cause the material to corrode, fade, lose color, or simply become unusable. There’s more to it, though, and we cover it all in this article while also providing alternative methods for cleaning kitchen counters.

What Ingredients Are in Oven Cleaners?

You might very well believe that using oven cleaners is the only way to remove tough stains and grease from your countertops. Some chemicals, however, will cause far more long-term harm than anticipated.

Here are some of the key ingredients to keep an eye out for:

• Turpentine
• Sodium hydroxide or lye
• Foaming Agents
• Degreasers
• Crystallization agents
• MEA (monoethanolamine) is a substance made up of ethanol and ammonia.
• Soda ash (sodium carbonate), which is an alkalizer that is mostly added to swimming pools. 

These chemicals, in addition to destroying your kitchen surface and fading the color, can pose health risks by getting into your food and causing food poisoning.

Leftover oven cleaner residue on your countertops can react with the food you’re preparing (when chopping vegetables, for example) and cause chemical reactions that further erode the kitchen surface.

The Effect of Oven Cleaners on Various Countertop Materials & How to Clean Them

So, what effect does oven cleaner have on kitchen countertops? It all depends on what type of countertop we have. Oven cleaner ingredients react differently with various materials. Depending on the material, your surface may degrade or stay relatively unharmed.

What effect does oven cleaner have on kitchen countertops made of stainless steel, stone, tile, wood and Formica?

Stainless Steel Kitchen Countertop

Stainless steel countertops are common in contemporary kitchens and commercial kitchens, but what happens if you clean them with oven cleaner spray?

The chemicals in the oven cleaner will usually stain the stainless steel, though this depends on the formulation.

Some steel counters may withstand the spray, but it’s not worth the risk, and the chemicals may contaminate food prepared on the surface later.

How To Clean A Slainless Steel Countertop

To keep steel countertops clean and gleaming, use soap, water, and a microfiber towel. To remove stubborn smudges, stainless steel cleaners can be purchased.

For tougher stains or deeper cleaning, combine warm water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Then spray it on, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wash it away with warm soapy water.

Read More: How to Disinfect Kitchen Sink Without Bleach (Complete Guide)

Stone Kitchen Countertop

Marble and granite kitchen countertops, for example, may be more durable. They are more resistant to the harsh chemicals found in oven cleaners than other materials. Cleaning natural stone kitchen countertops with oven cleaner chemicals is not recommended.

The use of an oven cleaner is unlikely to cause significant damage to these kitchen counters. The finish, on the other hand, will undoubtedly lose its sheen, becoming dull and spotted.

How To Clean A Stone Countertop

One of the benefits of natural stone is that it is long-lasting and easy to clean. All that is required is soap, water, and a microfiber cloth. Vinegar should never be used on a surface like this because it will dull the finish.

Natural stone countertops require little upkeep and do not require the use of abrasive cleaners. Never use oven cleaner, scouring pads, or other abrasive cleaners on your natural stone counters.

Tile Kitchen Countertop

While tile countertops aren’t very common, many homeowners use oven cleaners to clean them because they’re frustrated by the difficulty of cleaning the grout lines.

While it may appear that the chemicals in oven cleaner will help clean your dirty grout, trust us when we say that it will do more harm than good.

When you spray oven cleaners on this surface, it will eat away at the top finish and eventually cause grout problems.

Oven cleaners are not the solution for cleaning tile countertops.

How To Clean A Tile Countertop

Instead, combine warm water and mild soap in a spray bottle or small mixing bowl. Use a sponge or cloth to thoroughly clean the tiles until they are as good as new.

Wood Kitchen Countertop

When using an oven cleaner, the most vulnerable surfaces are wooden kitchen countertops with a clear or varnish coat. The chemicals in the oven cleaner easily penetrate the top protective layer of the kitchen countertop. This softens it and makes it sticky and gummy. While some wooden kitchen countertops will harden again, others will not, and the surface will need to be refinished.

How To Clean A Wood Countertop

Make your own non-abrasive cleaner with warm water and white vinegar. Wipe the counters completely dry after cleaning to avoid water stains.

If you notice a light discoloration, rub half a lemon with salt on the affected area. Then, using the water and vinegar solution, wipe away.

Apply oil or wax to wooden counters on a regular basis to strengthen the protective seal and prevent warping, cracking, and staining.

Formica Kitchen Countertop

Formica countertops are made of thermally fused melamine resin that has been painted or laminated to look like wood or stone. Like natural stone countertops, are resistant to abrasion and corrosion. This is only true if you immediately rinse and wash the oven cleaner after use.

The lye in oven cleaners will eat away at the finish on Formica countertops. This will also result in long-term stains and discoloration.

It also weakens the material, making it prone to chipping. It’s not worth jeopardizing the appearance of this costly countertop.

How To Clean A Formica Countertop

All-purpose kitchen cleaners, as well as the tried-and-true combination of mild dish soap and water, are usually effective.

Other cleaners recommended by the Formica corporation for removing stubborn stains are listed below. Original Formula Pine-Sol Windex Liquid Dish Soap Formula 409 is one of them.

Natural cleaners are always the safest, healthiest, and best option for cleaning your countertops.

Read More: 5 Best Kitchen Cabinet Cleaner and Polish (Buyers Guide)

What are the Health Risks of Using Oven Cleaners?

These chemicals are extremely harsh and can be caustic and corrosive. They can burn the skin and eyes, blind people, and damage the respiratory tract. The vapors can irritate the lungs and even worsen or trigger an asthma attack. Many of the chemicals used have been linked to the development of asthma.

Best Way to Remove Oven Stains from Countertops

If a regular cleaner isn’t cutting it, try baking soda. Baking soda and water paste frequently removes stains left by fruit juices and other liquids. Scrub gently because baking soda is slightly abrasive and can leave fine scratches. Allow the paste to work for one to two hours before gently wiping it away.

How to Remove Stubborn Kitchen Counter Stains (Without Oven Cleaner)

Okay, so you’re desperate to get rid of some stains on your kitchen countertop, but you’ve realized that the chemicals in oven cleaner products aren’t helping.

What are your options?

Use Baking Soda

Look into the classic baking soda method for stubborn stains on your kitchen countertops:

• In a small bowl, combine equal parts baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and white vinegar.
• Mix the two ingredients together until they form a paste.
• Use generously on your stained kitchen countertop.
• Allow the solution to sit on the stains for 24 to 48 hours.

This mixture effectively soaks up stains from kitchen countertops, allowing you to remove stains without using harsh chemicals like oven cleaners.

Some homeowners wrap this mixture in plastic wrap to help protect it and remove stains more effectively. This method is suitable for most kitchen countertops, regardless of their material.

Use Bleach & Cotton Ball

The bleach and cotton ball method is another popular stain removal method.

Simply immerse a cotton ball in mild bleach. Then, using the cotton ball, gently rub the spot with bleach to help bleach the stains out of the kitchen countertops.

When you’re finished, clean the area as usual.

Don’t use too much bleach, and stop immediately if you notice any discoloration – remember that bleach can strip color out of things, so while it’s great for removing color stains, it can also go too far and remove the color from the countertop itself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you use oven cleaner to clean cabinets?

Kitchen cabinets are typically made of wood, and wood is among the materials that should never be cleaned with oven cleaner. Sodium hydroxide, the main ingredient in oven cleaner, is also found in many paint removers. It can easily remove the paint from your cabinets, causing irreversible damage.

Why are my kitchen cabinets sticky after cleaning?

The sticky residue on your kitchen cabinets is usually caused by cooking grease and dirt, but it could also be cleaner residue. A sticky residue, regardless of its source, is unappealing and damaging to your kitchen cabinets.

Is Oven Cleaner Safe to Use on Quartz?

Quartz is a type of stone, and oven cleaner can easily remove the sealer from it. Although there are less abrasive oven cleaners available, I would still avoid using it. Putting your beautiful quartz counters at risk is a risk that most of us are unwilling to take.

Is Oven Cleaner Safe to Use on Granite?

We really hope we are making our point here. Using oven cleaner on any type of stone can be harmful to the mineral integrity of the stone. You’re much better off using a gentle soap or cleaner.

Conclusion

We hope this article hasn’t tarnished the reputation of oven cleaner. Oven cleaner can fill a void that few other solvents can in the right circumstances. If you’re going to use oven cleaner for anything other than cleaning an oven, make sure you do your research first.