Here’s 5 Tips to Prepare!
You turned around and BAM, it’s November! That means the festive chaos of the holiday season is just around the corner. Filled with family gatherings, lively parties, thoughtful gifts, and lots of good food, it’s easy to fall in love with the magic that makes this time of year special.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t important preparations you need to take, especially if you plan to host any holiday get-togethers in your home. Where should you start? In the kitchen, of course!
Kitchen countertops tend to always s be the star of the show when the crowd gathers.
That’s why we’ve provided 5 tips to help you get ready for the most wonderful time of the year starting with the countertops.
1. Reseal
Everyone adores the unique beauty of stone countertops, but the porous characteristic of this natural material is a slight risk to its allure. Thankfully, all it takes is a simple reseal to ensure no holiday activities leave a lasting mark on your kitchen.
It’s recommended to professionally reseal your countertops every few years. If you’re due for the service, reach out to your countertop installer for recs. There are also over-the-counter products that can temporarily seal your granite, quartz, or marble for added protection during the busy season.
2. Careful When Cooking
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, families across the country indulge in massive meals and bake sweet treats more than any other time of year. So, your kitchen is likely seeing a major increase in cooking. But when it comes to your countertops, you have to be careful with all of the yumminess!
When chopping any fruits or vegetables, be sure to use a sturdy, no-slip cutting board to avoid any knife scratches penetrating the surface.
Even though quartz, marble, and granite are all very durable, you should place hot pans full of cookies or carrying a ten-pound turkey on substantial hot pads to protect the surface from unnecessary excessive heat.
Finally, any liquids or food, particularly with harsh colors, should be wiped up immediately and cleaned with a mild soap as needed to prevent stains.
3. Special Supplies for Special Projects
Picture this – your family is together for Christmas Eve traditions. Everyone is high energy, putting together gingerbread houses and decorating freshly baked cookies. But, before you know it, your countertops are covered in sprinkles and colored icing and goops of sugar and flour!
Avoid this visual nightmare (and stains waiting to happen!) by using disposable tablecloths over your countertops any time they are used for a special activity. It provides protection and convenience for easy clean-up so you can get back to the fun!
4. Create a Clean-Up Area
No matter how much you prepare, we all know accidents happen. Having supplies at the ready to mitigate these mini-disasters can be very helpful. Be sure to have absorbent towels or cloths on hand that can tackle bigger messes than your average paper towel. Keep a good glue remover handy, especially if you plan on hosting crafts for the younger ones!
This is also a prime time of year to reevaluate your kitchen’s fire extinguisher. Every home should be equipped with at least one, and it should be checked for expiration on a regular basis.
5. Choose Decor Wisely
Decorating is one of the most fun aspects for homeowners during the holiday season. But placement should be carefully considered. You could avoid placing decorations on your countertops altogether, especially those that are extremely heavy or abrasive.
This tip can be particularly helpful if you plan on having a high-traffic kitchen where guests may be more apt to drag or knock over pieces.
In that same vein, decluttering the kitchen as a whole can be helpful to remove any unforeseen risks to your surfaces. For example, some homes have knife blocks and stand mixers continually housed on the countertop, but during such a busy time of year, these typically still items can become weapons of countertop destruction.
By securing any large appliances and countertop clutter in a cabinet, pantry, or closet, you remove additional risks of damage.
Time to Enjoy your Countertops
Concern for your stone countertops should never be a reason to turn down the joy of the holidays. Instead, use our tips to prepare your space for the best year yet. And if you’re looking to install new stone countertops, there is still time!
Contact us here at Wisconsin Granite Design in Oak Creek about a Holiday countertop upgrade today! We have a huge onsite inventory that includes the most unique granite, quartz and marble for you to browse and choose. You just may get new kitchen countertops in time for the Holidays. Or it can be first on the list for a New Year kitchen countertop upgrade. Get a Free Estimate today!