Psst! Did you know that I love coffee? 

Well, if you've read this blog, you're going to soon realize that I'm quite passionate about coffee. My good ol' coffeemaker did not have a lot of fancy gadgetry, but finally wanted to retire from its coffee making duties. So I replaced it, with a brand new, shiny coffeemaker. But I was not expecting it to cause complete kitchen countertop havoc.

My new coffeemaker was nearly 3 inches wider than the original. When I got it onto the countertop and realized this, my first thought was "Terrific, more coffee!" But this also caused me to re-organize my countertop just a bit. You see, the coffeemaker was next to a set of coffee mugs right by the sink. Those teeny 3 inches meant that not all of the coffee mugs now fit by the sink neatly.

What I'm going to share with you today, is some "hacks" to easily organize your kitchen countertop - and also how to keep it pretty. Because when your kitchen countertop is efficient, meal preparation is going to go so much more quickly at any time of day. Your kitchen will also look much nicer.



Tip #1: Which appliances and items do you use the most? 

Do take the time to actually think about what these could be. Because these are the ones you'll want to put on your countertop. Today there are tons of kitchen gadgets and appliances. Did you know there is even an iced coffee maker - which as far as I can tell, you simply pour hot coffee into the pitcher and then add ice so it cools down? If you were to go out and buy an appliance or gadget for every kitchen task you do, why, you actually would need an entire full room simply for these items!

Tip #2: Make things easy to reach

Now this is how you wind up breaking coffee cups in the morning: you wedge them next to other appliances, trying to make them fit and then some of them go crashing to the floor! Everything needs a spot where it easily fits and nothing should be jammed in there. Make the effort so this does happen.

Tip #3: Keep all of your appliances, gadgets & countertop items clean 

While this sounds like a very simple tip, you might be amazed at how long it probably has been since you've cleaned your coffeemaker. For most of us, this is not a task that we think about doing. To make your coffeemaker sparkle and have the coffee always taste fresh, "run" it through with a small bottle of apple cider vinegar, just as if you were making a batch of coffee. Once it is cooled then run tap water through the coffee maker and let it cool. Now you can make coffee once more.



Tip #4: Give your kitchen counters that extra TLC! 

One of the biggest challenges most homeowners have with their kitchen counters is that they become stained, often with food or beverages. We recommend that you ask the installer or contractor how to keep stains at a minimum, ask what type of sealant protects the counter you have had installed and have this applied on the manufacturer's advised schedule so it looks it’s very best.

Visit PremierSurfaces, Buffalo NY to see some of the latest styles in kitchen countertops.  Click on the company name to see them!
Here are some of the things that stain the most & the colors you will see for the stain:

Red - red wine, red food coloring.

Reddish Brown - chili powders, hot peppers, soy sauce, BBQ sauce

Brown - coffee, espresso, cloves

Yellow - turmeric

Orange - paprika

Don't simply count on the sealant to do its job, you need to do your part too! Everyone in the family should wipe stains up quickly with a wet sponge and simple, basic kitchen cleaner - even white vinegar will work if you prefer natural cleaners.

You may also have problems with either scratches or scorch marks occasionally. For the most part, these are easy to manage.

To avoid scratches - never slide your small appliances, baking dishes or heavy pots on the counter. Only pick them up and put them down, on a breadboard or a protected mat for heat. You'll also want to be sure you have plenty of electrical outlets on the walls and backboards, sometimes people move items around to try to plug them in.

For scorch marks or burns - you can avoid these by never putting a pot right off the burner onto the counter, only if you've put a breadboard or protected mat underneath. If you have a new small appliance, put it on a small cutting board the first time you use it, and gently touch the bottom afterwards to see if it has "hot spots."

Remember: you’ve invested a lot of time, effort & money into your kitchen so it looks great. Protect this with regular cleaning and follow the manufacturer’s schedule for sealant. Everyone will ask you what your secret is, you can just smile and they’ll admire your kitchen!