How to Revitalize Corian Countertops

Is your once shiny and dazzling Corian countertop losing its luster and beginning to appear dull and damaged? No need to worry. Corian is a renewable solid surface.

To revitalize Corian countertops, first begin by cleaning the surfaces. Next, remove scratches, and finally, polish the countertops. Use the right chemicals and equipment for each of these steps.

In this article, we’ll explain in detail all the steps involved in revitalizing your Corian countertops. Let’s begin!

1. Clean the Countertops

Corian countertops, just like any other frequently used surfaces, require daily cleaning. This is the first step to ensure the countertop remains in good shape for a longer period of time.

By regularly wiping the surfaces, you can reduce stain buildup and the resultant dull look, especially if your countertops were made with a glossy finish.

The cleaning requirements for your Corian countertop will depend on its color, among other factors. Darker colors typically require more care than the lighter versions since a dark background will more readily reveal scratch marks and blotches.

Let’s now delve into the specific details on how to clean your Corian countertop:

Use an Ammonia-Based Household Cleaner

This can be your daily cleaning routine. Follow these simple steps:

1. Spray the entire countertop with an ammonia-based household cleaner or dedicated countertop cleaner.
2. Using a microfiber cloth, wipe the countertop in circular motions.
3. Rinse well with clean water and wipe the surface completely dry.

Avoid using non-ammonia-based cleaners such as window cleaners because they tend to dull the surface by leaving a waxy build-up.

Use Warm Soapy Water in Place of a Spray Cleaner

If you don’t have a spray cleaner, you can as well use warm soapy water to wipe your Corian worktop.

1. Make the mixture using warm water in a bowl and 2-3 drops of liquid dish soap.
2. Soak the microfiber cloth or a piece of sponge in the solution and use it to wipe the surfaces. Always wipe in a circular motion.
3. Thoroughly rinse off the countertop with clean water ensuring you don’t leave any soap residue as it can form a scum build-up.

Wipe Up Spills As They Occur

Although Corian solid surfaces are non-porous (meaning they don’t allow liquids to penetrate), it’s still necessary to wipe up any spills as they occur. This helps prevent the accumulation of residues.

Some common household spills include coffee, tea, vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice, etc. If you leave any of this to sit and dry on the countertop, you’ll potentially soon be dealing with many stains.

Remove Stains and Hard Water Blotches

To get rid of stains, use an abrasive household cleaner and the scrubber side of a sponge. Apply some pressure as you wipe off the stained area in circular motions.

If you live in a hard water area, one of the easiest ways to remove hard water blotches on your countertop is using “Viakal.” Apply the solution over the area and leave it for 2-4 minutes. Remove with a damp microfiber cloth.

Rinse off using clean water and wipe the surface completely dry.

Disinfect the Corian Countertops

This may not be a practice that will maintain your countertop, but it’s an important habit that can protect you and your household. Occasionally wipe your Corian countertop with diluted household bleach to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Here’s a short video demonstrating how quick and easy it can be to disinfect your Corian countertop:

All this cleaning tips you could also use to clean a Corian sink.

2. Buff out Fine Scratches

One of the advantages of the Corian countertop is the fact that you can renew it and get rid of cuts or scratches. Because the pattern of the Corian surface is spread through the material, you can sand it and still maintain the beautiful finish.

Here are the instructions to follow when buffing out scratches on your Corian countertop:

Wipe the Countertop and Remove Any Residues

1. Before you start buffing up any scratches, first clean the countertop.
2. Use either an ammonia-based household cleaner or warm soapy water, as we already stated above.
3. Wipe the surface using a microfiber cloth.
4. Cleaning the surface helps get rid of dirt and grime that would otherwise clog up the abrasive pads when buffing out the fine scratches.
5. After cleaning, don’t dry off the countertop as you normally would.

Use an Abrasive Cleaning Pad and Cleaner

1. Pour the abrasive cleaner on a wet abrasive pad.
2. Rub the spots with fine scratches, scotches, or any other tough stains that couldn’t come out earlier.
3. To buff up the surface, use a linear back-and-forth motion and a side-by-side motion.
4. Alternate between these two directions every 3-4 strokes.

You can also use sandpaper to remove scratches on your countertop. Here’s a video demonstration of that:

Rinse of the Surface With Plain Clean Water

1. Use plain clean water to rinse the countertop.
2. Wipe with a sponge and remove all the abrasive soap residue.
3. Inspect to see if the scratch marks are still visible. If so, repeat the process again until the countertop is well renewed.

If the scrubbed area doesn’t match the rest of the countertop, you can rub a wider area using circular motions to blend in the surface.

Thoroughly Dry the Countertop

As already stated, you should avoid leaving the Corian countertop wet. So, using a dry microfiber cloth, thoroughly dry the surface. You must dry the surface thoroughly after rinsing with water to make them less appealing to microbes that can make your family sick.

3. Polish the Countertops

To revitalize your Corian countertop’s shine, you’ll need to polish the surface. The most important requirements here are commercial countertop polish and microfiber cloths.

Purchase Commercial Countertop Polish

There are a number of brands of countertop polish available in the market. What you need to be looking for is one that’s recommended for Corian countertops. It will be specified as such on the label.

An alternative is commercial countertop polish made for granite countertops, such as Therapy – Granite Cleaner and Polish. This is sold as a kit that includes microfibre cloths.

Apply the Polish in Circular Motions

Ensure the countertop is clean and dry before you begin this process.

Pour a little amount of the countertop polish onto the microfiber cloth and begin rubbing it onto the countertop in a circular motion. After every 3-4 turns, change the direction of your motion.

Repeat this as you move from one spot on the countertop to the next. When the cloth gets too dirty with polish, use another one. Buff off the polish to bring out the shiny new look.

To make your work easier or faster, feel free to apply the polish using a random-orbit electric sander instead of polishing by hand. The TACKLIFE 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander is a great choice. It has a rubberized palm grip design, therefore, improves your comfort as you operate it.

Check out this video demonstrating the process of polishing Corian countertop using an orbital sander:

You can also go for the Hardin HWVPOLSET 4 Inch Granite Marble Wet Polishing Kit, which is specifically made for polishing countertops hence quite efficient.

Get a Professional to Refinish the Countertop

If your countertop is too old or too damaged, you may find it too hard to revitalize it on your own. Getting that factory-look shine may be an uphill task. So the best thing would be to hire a professional to do the job.

These professionals will do everything from removing stubborn stains, sanding the countertop, to polishing. Your Corian countertop will soon look as good as new.

The Dos and Don’ts of Caring for a Corian Countertop

Corian countertops can last a very long time and even outlive the rest of a kitchen. The only requirement is that you properly care for it. This means regular maintenance and avoiding the things that can cause damage. Here’s a list of those dos and don’ts:

Dos of Caring for a Corian Countertop

These are basically a summary of what we’ve already elaborated above concerning revitalizing your Corian countertop:

• Clean the worktops daily using a sponge or microfiber cloth and household cleaning spray.
• Always thoroughly dry the surface after cleaning.
• Wipe up any spill when they occur.
• In case of hard water blotches on the countertops, apply Viakal gel.
• Use an abrasive cleaning pad to buff out fine scratches.
• Polish your countertop regularly to maintain the shine.

Don’ts of Caring for a Corian Countertop

The following are practices you should avoid since they can easily damage your worktop:

• Place hot elements directly onto the countertop. You can cause small cracks by doing so. Instead, place the hot objects on a raised rack or heat protection pad.
• Cut or chop food directly onto the surface. This can result in small cuts and abrasions on the Corian countertop.
• Directly expose your Corian surface to boiling water, e.g., from an instant boiling tap. This can easily damage the countertop.

Conclusion

There you have it, your quick guide on how to revitalize Corian countertops.

As you may have noticed, this is not a one-day event; you actually need to take care of your countertop regularly. That will make it much easier to spruce it up once in a while when it’s lost its shine.

In short, clean your Corian surfaces daily, regularly buff out any fine scratches, and polish the countertops. Additionally, avoid the practices that are likely to cause damage to your beautiful Corian countertop.