The negative effect of oven cleaner on countertops cannot be overemphasized. Are you aware of the harmful nature of the oven cleaner?
In this article, I will briefly discuss the reason you should avoid using oven cleaner, and by extension on your countertops.
Oven cleaners are great when it comes to cleaning ovens and removing stubborn stains. It works great and is almost instant. But a lot of people have often wondered if it is safe.
So, if you are among those wondering if it is safe, yes, it is safe to use it on your oven. Most ovens are made of stainless steel with a coating of acrylic enamel.
But is oven cleaner safe for you? No is the answer. So, you must be very careful when using it to avoid touching your skin.
Okay. What is the effect of oven cleaner on countertops? Read on because I have detailed all you need to know about the effect of oven cleaner on countertop here.
Harmful Ingredients of Oven Cleaner
Oven cleaner is made of chemicals that are acidic, toxic, and corrosive. For instance, diethylene ether has resulted in millions of epidemics of poisoning. (Source, Wikipedia)
Also, another ingredient found in oven cleaner that is very deadly to humans is Turpentine. It is a major cause of headache, sleepiness, coughing, bleeding in the lungs, vomiting, kidney damage, coma, and death. (Source WebMD)
Another ingredient that is totally unfriendly to humans present in oven cleaner is sodium hydroxide.
It burns the skin when it comes in contact with it. And if mistakenly consumed causes instant vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain.
Above all, it is a very corrosive substance that quickly reacts with other elements.
Other harmful ingredients common in oven cleaner are:
- Degreasers
- Foaming agents
- Crystallization agents
- Butane
- Monoethanolamine (MEA)
- Monobutyl ether
Most of these chemicals are harmful to the health, which makes it necessary for you to be extra careful when using it.
Also, it does not spare your oven because it makes it corrode easily if used frequently.
With this in mind, you should guess what the effect of oven cleaner on the countertop should be. However, let’s consider the effect of oven cleaner on a countertop
Without further ado, let’s jump right in.
The Effect of Oven Cleaners on Countertops
Kitchen countertops are made of different materials. The common materials used are granite, engineered stone, ceramic tiles. Others are stainless steel, laminate, wood or butcher block, marble, and concrete counter.
Each of these materials reacts differently with oven cleaner resulting in different effects.
Here comes the effect of the oven cleaner on the countertop made from some materials mentioned above. Countertops made of marble, engineered stone are exempted
Corrosion
The acid content of the oven cleaner makes it a very corrosive substance. In other words, it can react easily with the material the countertop is made of.
The reaction causes the countertop material to lose its texture and strength in some cases.
Discoloration
The use of oven cleaner leads to slowly change of color the countertop is made of. The corrosive nature of the cleaner results in white marks, blotches, and dull spots that are highly visible.
Streak
Using an oven cleaner on your kitchen countertop is likely to leave streaks of grease, food residue, and other grime.
Kitchen countertops made of engineered stone, marble, and granites are exempted from the effect of oven cleaner explained above.
This is because there are no polymer resins that may react with any of the chemicals present in the oven cleaner.
How to Get Rid of Stubborn Oven Stains Without Using an Oven Cleaner
Since it is not advisable to use the oven cleaner because of the damage it does to both health and the oven countertops, what then should you use?
There are safe and advisable means of cleaning off stubborn stains. The most commonly used means is to add liquid soap to warm water and wipe the surface continuously till the stain is wiped off.
Apart from the method above, there are other means, and they are discussed below.
Make a Paste with Vinegar and Baking Soda.
One of the ways to remove stubborn stains is to make a paste with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and white vinegar. Then allow it to cool. Once it has cooled, add it to the stain spot and leave it to sit for 22–24 hours. Then wipe off and wash with a mixture of warm water and liquid soap.
Bleach Method
This method does not require the local mixture of liquid soap and warm water. Instead, what you do here is to get a little ball of cotton wool, dip it into a bleach solution, and wipe the surface continuously till the stain is wiped off.
The Effect of Oven Cleaner on Countertops -FAQ
Does the oven cleaner stain countertops?
Of course, they do. They leave a permanent stain that is worse than the original stubborn stain.
Instead of using the oven cleaner, I’ll recommend using warm water laced with liquid soap.
What is the Best wood cabinet cleaner?
Because of a cockroach infestation, hardwood countertops are rarely used. But if that is what you have, I’ll suggest you make use of warm water and vinegar.
The Effect of Oven Cleaner on Countertops-Conclusion
Stubborn stains are what you must face in your kitchen countertops. Though, being prompt in cleaning spills reduces the presence of stubborn stains to the barest minimum.
Since you have seen the effect of oven cleaner on a countertop and on your health, you should try as much as you can to avoid using it. But if you must, be conscious of your skin, and use a nose mask to avoid inhaling.
I strongly advise you to use the safe method and repeat severally until the stain clears off.
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