Although we can clean our ovens with baking soda and vinegar or take our chances with the self-cleaning feature, many of us continue to reach for a can of oven cleaner on kitchen countertops. That’s despite the safety and usage precautions about the chemicals inside.

So, if the oven cleaner takes care of baked-on gunk, should you use it on dirty countertops where you prepare food? What are the effects of using such harsh chemicals on countertops?

Maybe you just moved in and need to get rid of those mystery stains from the previous tenant. Or maybe you spilled dye all over your white countertop. Whatever the reason, let’s find out if using oven cleaner on countertops is a good idea, with expert insights from Dan Deonarain, owner of Galaxy Maids, a residential and commercial cleaning company based in New York City and Boston.

Why Oven Cleaner Isn’t Safe for Countertops

“It is definitely not a good idea to use an oven cleaner on countertops,” says Deonarain.

Oven cleaners contain sodium hydroxide, aka lye, a caustic substance you might have learned about from true crime documentaries on Netflix. (Lye decomposes bodies.) Lye has a pH of 14, making it a strong base and highly corrosive. Bases dissolve organic material like food, grease and hair. They’re also used in drain cleaners.

Even if it feels like you’ve tried everything, oven cleaners are just too powerful for countertops. They remove burned-on food from coated metal surfaces like ovens and barbecue grills, says Deonarain. “Your countertops will never see that level of stains,” he says. Oven cleaners are toxic, too. The National Capital Poison Center recommends extreme caution when using oven cleaners. These can cause burns to skin, eyes, mouth and even your airway and digestive tract.

Bottom line: Oven cleaners break down greasy food and baked-on gunk. For countertops, it’s just not an efficient or smart way to clean.

How Different Materials React to Harsh Chemicals

If you’re determined to give oven cleaner on a countertop a try, consider the damage to your countertop. Here’s what can happen:

Composites

Quartz is a common composite that contains seven to 30 percent resins and other binders, according to the Natural Stone Institute. Oven cleaners’ harsh chemicals can eat away at these additives, exposing the porous stone. This makes your quartz and similar composite countertops more prone to staining. Not only does this heighten the likelihood of staining, but it also leads to damage to quartz countertops, making them more susceptible to eventual breakdown.

Marble

Marble’s main enemy is acid, but oven cleaner isn’t good for it, either. It’s not the rock itself but the sealant, which can be applied to the countertop to resist staining. (Marble is a porous stone.) Oven cleaner wears down this sealant over time, leaving your countertop discolored or uneven.

Granite

Granite is stain-resistant on its own, according to the Natural Stone Institute, but granite countertops are often sealed for extra protection. Harsh oven cleaners break down that sealant, which can cause discoloration. These are our tips for how to clean granite countertops.

Solid-surface

Solid-surface countertops like Corian resist stains and look gorgeous, but they don’t hold up to oven cleaner. Manufacturer DuPont states right in its user manual not to use oven cleaner on Corian and Avonite comes with similar instructions.

Plastic laminate

Plastic laminates like Formica are less expensive and tough, but oven cleaner will dull, scratch and eat away at the finish. Formica’s cleaning tips explicitly warn against using oven cleaner due to the risk of permanent damage. These are our tips for cleaning laminate countertops.

Wood

Wood countertops like butcher blocks don’t stand a chance against the harsh chemicals of oven cleaner. First, it will eat away any protective coating on the countertop, then it’ll start on the wood itself. These are our tips for cleaning wood countertops.

One trendy use for oven cleaner is stripping wood furniture. Keep in mind it’ll do the same to your wood countertops.

Soapstone and slate

These materials were traditionally used for chemistry lab bench tops. This means they’re tough, heat-resistant and impermeable to chemicals. You might get away with trying oven cleaner on these, but why take the chance?

Safe Alternatives for Cleaning Kitchen Surfaces

Deonarain says dish soap and warm water should be your go-to for cleaning kitchen countertops. Non-abrasive and a strong degreaser, dishwashing liquid cleans well and won’t damage countertops. Dish soap and water work on stone, laminates and solid-surface countertops.

Avoid using acidic cleaners, even weak ones like vinegar and lemon juice, on any natural stone. Keeping the butcher block clean and sanitized takes a few extra steps.

Use a soft sponge or microfiber cloth and wipe up spills immediately. Even if messes remain too long, a combination of dish soap and elbow grease usually does the trick. After cleaning your counters with soapy water, rinse away any residue with a clean microfiber cloth.

Pro Tip: When in doubt, check with the manufacturer of your countertops about the right cleaner to use.

Fixing Damage Caused by Oven Cleaner on Countertops

Nothing can be so rough on counters — especially if they’re made of laminate, natural stone or sealed wood — as oven cleaner. If you see discoloration, dull spots or surface etching, try wiping the area gently with a damp cloth to clear away residue. In case of minor damage, use a paste made of baking soda and water to eliminate any remaining chemicals and rinse well. For more stubborn stains, you can lightly sand the area (for wood or laminate) or apply a stone-safe polishing compound (for granite or marble) to try to restore the surface. If it’s really bad, hire someone to resurface it or repair it.

FAQ

What are the effects of harsh chemicals on countertops over time?

Exposure to harsh chemicals, powerful acids (such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid) and alkalis (such as sodium hydroxide), can damage almost all countertop materials over time. They also erode sealants, discolor finishes and create micro-abrasions that trap bacteria.

About the Expert

  • Dan Deonarain is the owner and founder of Galaxy Maids, a New York City and Boston based residential and commercial cleaning company. With over a decade of hands-on leadership, he has overseen hundreds of large-scale cleaning projects, specializing in deep-clean solutions and customized maintenance plans for high-traffic kitchens and countertops. 

Sources  

Author
Ally Childress
Ally Childress writes practical, informed stories and how-to guides for Family Handyman and Reader’s Digest. An experienced electrician, Ally's beat naturally includes electrical and construction topics. She also tackles cleaning, gardening, technology, bugs and anything else you can throw at her. She has a knack for finding just the right subjec...
Read More
Ally Childress