I Tried Dozens of Methods to Clean Kitchen Counters—This is The One I'm Most Excited About • Everyday Cheapskate

A kitchen counter is more than a surface upon which to cook and prepare meals. In many homes, the kitchen counter is the main workhorse. It’s where we drop the day’s mail, and where kids do homework. It’s where I fold clothes, daydream and make big plans. On cooking days, my counters get all kinds of abuse with splattered ingredients, crumbs, and more. No wonder kitchen counters get icky, sticky, smudged, dull, and downright skanky.

Faithful readers will recall that over the years, I’ve shared numerous recipes, methods, and directives for cleaning and maintenance of countertops—granite, quartz, laminate (Formica), marble, slate, soapstone, Corian, ceramic tile, and even well-finished wood—each with its specific do’s and don’ts. While all of that still holds true, it can be very confusing. And needlessly time-consuming,

Good news!

We can dump all of that in favor of just one method that is 100% safe for all types of counter materials. Yes! Even better, it’s quick, easy, and foolproof, with sparkling, streak-free results.

Homemade Counter Cleaner

You’ll need:

Blue Dawn
tap water
bottle or similar container

Instructions:

Pour 1 part Blue Dawn into the bottle.
Add 10 parts tap water
Mix gently to combine

OR just eyeball it: Pour Blue Dawn in the container to about 1 inch or so in depth. Fill the rest of the way with tap water. Mix gently to combine.

How to Clean Any Countertop

This is the way I do it because it works like a charm. So well, I am almost disappointed when the job is done, and I have no more countertops to clean. Almost.

You’ll need:

any dry cloth
homemade counter cleaner
blue Scotch-Brite scrubbing sponge or similar
good microfiber cloth

Instructions:

Clear the counter of everything that is readily moveable
With a dry cloth (your hand, a sponge, your dirty apron—whatever is handy), sweep all crumbs and loose debris into the sink or trash
Flood (splash, pour) the countertop with cleaner (not so much as to run off onto the floor; be generous but take it easy!)
With a circular motion, scrub every square millimeter of counter with the blue Scotchbrite sponge and counter cleaner. You’ll feel through the sponge the areas that require extra scrubbing due to the dried-on glops
Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes while you do something else, like clean and shine the sink. The powerful surfactants in the Blue Dawn, even though highly diluted, are hard at work to soften and break down the counter crud..
Open up the microfiber cloth to its full size and lay it right down on the countertop.
Using both hands carwash-guys style, start wiping away. I use an up-and-down, slight zig-zag pattern. This way, I get a little workout while requiring only one pass to completely remove all of the liquid. That leaves the counter squeaky clean and dry. No rinsing necessary.

Blue Dawn 101

Original Blue Dawn, a product of Procter & Gamble, was introduced in 1972. Since then, it has gone through several tweaks, changes, and upgrades so that today we see a number of varieties including Dawn Ultra and Dawn Platinum. According to the International Bird Rescue Research Center, Blue Dawn is biodegradable and contains no phosphates.

The Ultra version is highly concentrated. Dawn Platinum contains enzymes to help break down tough, cooked-on foods and that “original” refers to the scent from the original Blue Dawn 1972 product.

Does any of this matter when it comes to the amazing ways Dawn can be used so effectively outside the kitchen? Probably not. But does the color matter? Yes, because its formula is a highly guarded and proprietary trade secret. My best sources assure me that Blue Dawn has superior surfactants in both quality and quantity.

When a container of Blue Dawn has Ultra, Platinum, 2X, 4X, or even 5X on the label, it’s highly concentrated so you can use less.

Blue Dawn is a highly effective degreaser.

Save $1.28

Dawn Non-Concentrated Simply Clean Original Scent (1)

Dawn Ultra Original Dish Detergent Liquid Blu Plastic Squeeze Btl Rp, 16.2 Ounce

Dawn Platinum Dish Soap Liquid, Dishwashing Liquid, Grease Removal, Fresh Rain, 3x24oz + Sponge Bundle

FAQ

Is this method going to damage or perhaps even remove the sealant on granite countertops?

This method is completely safe for your granite. It will not remove or damage the sealant applied to granite and other natural stone products such as slate, terrazzo, or even marble. The blue Scrotchbrite sponge is the “scratch-free” version. It can be used without any fear of damage to that sealant. Remember, though, that any sealant on a stone product like your granite is not permanent. It will wear away, which is the reason manufacturers require resealing annually. You can do this yourself with sealant you can buy at any good home center like Home Depot and Lowe’s.

What is a good microfiber cloth?

Check what I write about microfiber: The Magic of Microfiber Cloths Plus How to Use and Care for Them. My favorite for countertop cleaning is the one I’m using in the photo above. Here is a link:

Chemical Guys Professional Grade Premium Microfiber Towels for Cars, Gold, 24" x 16", Ultra-Soft and Scratch-Free Car Detailing Cloths for Trucks, Motorcycles, and More - 6 Pack

I have the green Scotch-Brite scrubbing sponges. Are they OK since I don’t want to spend needlessly on blue ones?

This is tricky. First, know that the scrubber side of the green Scotch-Brite is metallic. That means it has threads of metal woven into that surface. That makes the green version deadly for precious surfaces such as stainless steel and granite sealant. I cannot tell you how many heartbreaking letters I have received from readers who hopelessly scratched a new stainless refrigerator. Or sink.

My own experience (still hurts): I had a guest who took the green sponge she found under my clean my new Simple Human stainless kitchen trash can. Apparently, she was in a super scrubbing mood and completely ruined the top of the lid. That is the day I vowed never to have a green Scotch-Brite scrubbers in my home, for any reason.

Guests, relatives, workers, grandchildren—anyone could find one and, in an act of wanting to help out, cause damage. So that is a long explanation for why I want to encourage you to put the green sponges under lock and key (and use them ONLY on quartz counters). Get the blue ones in their place, which are safe on any surface. It will be well worth the small expense.

Save $2.02

Scotch-Brite Zero Scratch Scrub Sponge, 6 Kitchen Sponges for Cleaning Around the Home, Bathroom & More, Scratch-Free Dish Scrubber, Multi-Surface Safe, Best for Nonstick Pots and Pans

EverydayCheapskate is reader supported. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and other affiliated sites. Thanks!

More from Everyday Cheapskate

Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

Last update on 2026-07-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

I Tried Dozens of Methods to Clean Kitchen Counters—This is The One I’m Most Excited About

Good news!

Homemade Counter Cleaner

You’ll need:

Instructions:

How to Clean Any Countertop

You’ll need:

Instructions:

Blue Dawn 101

FAQ

Is this method going to damage or perhaps even remove the sealant on granite countertops?

What is a good microfiber cloth?

More from Everyday Cheapskate

Homemade Laundry Stain Paste That Works for Pennies

Why Does My Ice Taste Weird? Here’s the Answer

Homemade Pet Stain Remover That Stops Repeat Accidents

How to Clean and Deodorize Your Cooler So It Doesn’t Stink

Laundry Stripping: The Surprising Fix for Dingy Sheets, Gray Towels, and Sad-Looking Underwear

5 No-Brush Ways to Clean Your Grill (Using Stuff You Already Have)

How to Keep White Clothes Actually White (Yes, It’s Possible)

Homemade Eyeglass Lens Cleaner: 3 Simple Ingredients

How to Get Rid of a Smelly Kitchen Sink Drain for Good

Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Good news!

Homemade Counter Cleaner

You’ll need:

Instructions:

How to Clean Any Countertop

You’ll need:

Instructions:

Blue Dawn 101

FAQ

Is this method going to damage or perhaps even remove the sealant on granite countertops?

What is a good microfiber cloth?

More from Everyday Cheapskate

Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief, and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines