Kitchen Islands Center

Caring for Kitchen Islands

Over the years with the expansion of kitchens the kitchen island was introduced.  They were first used in many restaurants to aid in food preparation and now they are found in many home kitchens today.  They are popular with many home owners not only because of the versatility and function that they offer but many add style to the kitchen’s design.

Islands come in many different styles and finishes as well as the counter top that adorns them.  To help increase the life of a good quality kitchen island proper care is needed.

One more popular finish for topping an island is granite.  Granite is actually made from volcanic magma and is known for its strength and durability for use in kitchens.  It is also one of the more beautiful choices that can blend into any style of kitchen decor.  Because granite is made from stone it does require regular maintenance. 

These toppers need to be sealed many times over the course of time.  Stone soaps and mild dish washing detergents are two of the safest cleaners to use on granite.  A soft cloth is always better to use when wiping spills from the island counter.  Try not to use too much cleaner because it is known to leave ugly streaks on the granite.  Vinegar and lemon juices should also be avoided on the stone because they can actually etch the granites surface.

Chef Cleaning a Kitchen Island

Another popular style of counter used on many kitchen islands in homes today is made of stainless steel.  The steel gives the kitchen a sleek and modern style.  This type of finish is known to be great with heat and is one reason why restaurants have been using them for years.  Caring for the stainless steel is an almost endless job if one gets obsessed with fingerprints. 

The best solution to keep on hand to help in ridding the steel of greasy fingerprints quickly is a window cleaner or even a homemade cleaner of equal parts of vinegar and water.  Microfiber cloths not only are great on the fingerprints but also help to buff the steel to a great shine.  There are special cleaners sold just for the cleaning of stainless steel, but they are not really needed as they can cause even more work when cleaning.  It is also not recommended to cut food directly on the surface of the steel island.  It can leave permanent scratches on the surface.