Fix Minor Burns On Laminate Countertops With A Common Household Mainstay

Laminate has been a popular material for countertops for years, thanks to the combination of affordability, versatility, and general durability. While your laminate countertops can easily last 10-15 years with proper care and maintenance, this material is susceptible to heat and may suffer burn marks or melting, which will quickly make your countertops look grungy. Fortunately, there is hope for your damaged laminate countertops — and you will find the solution in your kitchen cabinets. While this hack won't save your melted and bubbled laminate counters, it will work wonders for visible burn marks that have left the surface discolored.

There are a number of things to avoid at all costs if you have laminate countertops. Since they are susceptible to damage at fairly low temperatures (140 degrees can harm their structural integrity), it doesn't take an open flame to burn them. Laminate can, in fact, be damaged by a heat-generating appliance being placed directly on top of them — such as a hot pot or kettle — or having an insufficient barrier between a hot item and the counter. To get rid of your burnt laminate, you'll create a simple abrasive paste with baking soda and water and a minor amount of elbow grease. With any luck, you should see significant changes in just minutes.

Your first step is to gather a few materials: a cleaning cloth and some cleaning solution, baking soda, and a scrubbing tool such as a toothbrush or steel wool. You'll begin by refreshing the countertop with the cloth and cleaner to remove any debris. After this, make a paste using a small amount of water and baking soda, which should be applied to the burned portions. Using the toothbrush, you can gently scrub at the spot until you notice some change in the burned area. Use a damp cloth to wipe off the loosened burned bits and keep working until you're happy with the results. Follow the burn removal with a final cleaning with your cloth and solution.

As one last safeguard to your countertops, you can restore their appearance and durability with the help of an epoxy kit, which you can apply to the formerly burnt portion. Remember to research which is best for your type of laminate and to read the epoxy instructions carefully. Although knowing how to revive your burnt countertops is certainly empowering, chances are that it's not something you want to do over and over again. While trivets work well for pots and pans, adding a heat-resistant mat to your kitchen's arsenal can provide a larger protective footprint. This silicone heat-resistant mat provides protection for temperatures up to 446 degrees and is well-reviewed with a 4.8-star average out of over 2,500 reviews. With the right information, you can extend the life of your laminate countertops.