Virtually everyone with original Formica or other brand laminates is eager to find the right cleaning products to restore or brighten up their kitchen and bathroom countertops. Over at Formica, they have several stories on cleaning laminate – check them out here.
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38 comments
Betty says
My bathroom counter tops have spots about nickel size where I spilled vinegar while cleaning the mirror, those drops of vinegar took all the shine off my counter, bought some Zep clean stone plus, cleaner and wax, nothing. Did not restore the shine in those areas. Not sure about the material looks like marbel and is a solid slab of something but the marble vein does not run all the way thru. Any suggestions about restoring the shine, please. Thanks
pam kueber says
Sorry, I don’t understand what type of countertop you have. DON’T use abrasives and acids on things (vinegar is acidic). You need to find out what you have — then contact the manufacturer for advice. Good luck.
vickiloeffler says
I need help. my black speckled counter top is showing white blotches where the coffee pot overflowed. it is really bad. real noticeable. the sponges do not work make it worse. counter top magic did not work either. any ideas.
thanks
pam kueber says
I do not know, Vicki…
Ronda Myles says
I have a red laminex table that has a few scratches. Most are light scratches, but there are a couple that are deeper. Is there anything that can be done to either fix them, or make them less noticeable.
karenjrinehart says
Ronda I just read a tip on using a crayon to fill in light scratches. Can’t hurt, might work! I bet then you can, like lots of folks above have suggested, use car wax as a shiny, protective top coat.
Kathleen Lansing says
We have been installing formica countertops for 65 years and we highly recommend Countertop Magic for every day maintenance. If you want to restore a vintage top, we find (like some other’s above) that car waxes are great if the finish is worn off. (Apply it after a good cleaning.
Baking soda is a great cleaner and we have also had great result with a bar of hand soap. Just wet your cloth and rub it on the soap, then rub it in to the stain. Most things come right off. Rinse and let dry before you begin adding a coat of polish).
Ellen says
I have brand new counter tops. Laminate In the Laundry room. I just saw a circle like the bottom of a cup and a shade lighter than the original. Not sure cause… I poured olive oil over it but wondered if anyone has son idea?.. Maybe heat from the cup caused discoloring?. Help please!
Karen says
My new cleaning person just used Fantastik with bleach on my white formica countertop circa 1974. Now there’s an ugly yellow discoloration. What product, if any, can I use to remove this??
Rebecca says
Silver jewelry cleaner! I had tried everything. I thought I was cleaning my white formica countertops nicely with Clorox clean-up, and the stains were disappearing beautifully for a while, then one day I put it on a large strawberries stain, and let it sit for a few minutes. It removed the strawberry stain, and left a huge yellow stain. I tried everything I could think of to remove it and I found a forum discussing this very problem. Someone suggested Silver jewelry cleaner, and it worked like a charm. I don’t think the brand matters. I bought mine at the jewelry counter at my local Walmart for around $5 or so and it worked like a charm.
Kaylee says
I have Formica countertops-satin finish-15 years old, light gray. For stains, I make a Baking Soda Paste and scub the stains out with a paper towel (ie: cranbery juice or something red.) Baking soda works great! Works for water mineral stains on Shower Heads ends too (make a paste and use an old toothbrush to get into crevices.)
I am having trouble with 2 older vanity tops that have lost their luster- previously shiny. Gel-Gloss did not work at all. I will try your suggestions. Thanks!
Dave says
We had dull spots and small scratches in a area about 3 feet square, that received a lot of use, in a 15 year old beige low gloss Formica counter top.
We had tried a number of cleaners with no luck. What did work was a power car wax buffer with a terry cloth pad and “Mequiar’s Plastix” plastic cleaner(used for renewing car headlights). I applied the Plastix with just a little pressure and let the tool do the work. on a 3 foot by 3 foot area I used about a table spoon of the Plastix and ran the buffer for about minute or so. Then I washed area with water and wiped dry, really dry, and did a bit of hand buffing until all the Plastix was removed. Then I applied “Magic Counter-top Cleaner with Stay Clean Tech.” (Menards)
This worked for OUR counter top. Be sure you try this on a inconspicuous area before doing a large area on your CT. Good luck.
pam kueber says
Thanks for this tip, Dave!
Lynlee says
I have original 50’s laminate counters in a house we recently bought. The stains were really bumming me out and nothing was getting them out. I really want to try and keep the original laminate, especially love the metal trim. Just tried a Magic Eracer and let me tell you, it is magic. All but one stain is gone, and it is faded. Also off topic but I used it on my newly installed Armstrong vct tile….the installer scuffed it putting appliances back- bam! Scuffs gone.
Jamie Farone says
Oh! another good cleaning idea for stained formica counters other than the mr clean magic eraser is.. my mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers etc home remedy trick… hot water and baking soda! scrubs them clean clean then buff with pledge or something.. baking soda is great for everything.. when my white or francisican starburst dishes get dingey i soak them in the sink with boiling hot water mixed with a box of baking soda and they look brand new everytime.. it wont damage any prints or anything like that.. it simply removes the terrible stains.. and its great for bath tubs too and to remove odors and helps life stains and grossness from inside a microwave when you boil it in a cereal bowl with water.