How to Polish Corian Countertops (A Complete Guide)

Are your once-shiny countertops showing signs of hard wear? Well, if you have Corian countertops, you’re in luck – polishing scratches and scuffs out of them is a piece of cake.

To polish Corian countertops, you’ll first need to clean and sand them. Then, you can polish the countertops with a polish that is made specifically for Corian stone. This will help ensure your surfaces are shiny and smooth.

So, let’s talk about how to polish your Corian countertops. I’ll tell you how to get tough scuffs, stains, and scratches out of your countertops, and I’ll also teach you how to keep your counters in pristine shape so that they will always look clean, lustrous, and smooth.

Can You Polish Scratches Out of Corian?

Countertop scratches are difficult to avoid, and they happen naturally over the years due to wear and tear as a result of regular usage. Corian is on the softer side when it comes to countertop materials, so scratches are all the more common on these countertops. However, because it is so soft, buffing out scratches is simple.

Polishing scratches out of Corian is both possible and easy to do. To remove scratches, you’ll need to first sand down the Corian using either fine-grit sandpaper or an electric sander and then polishing the surfaces.

To remove deep scratches, scuffs, burn marks, and chips from your Corian surfaces, you’ll have to sand the whole surface to even it out. Sanding can seem like a daunting process at first, but it should only take you an hour or so – and once it’s done, your countertops will look as good as new!

That said, if you only have shallow scratches on your Corian surfaces, you may be able to sand them out with a small piece of fine-grit sandpaper. Additionally, you can work only on the scratched section of the surface rather than the entirety.

All you have to do is sand around the scratch, then wipe off the dust, and give the spot a thorough polish.

What Do You Use to Polish Corian?

Before you can start polishing and refinishing your countertops, you will need to get a few supplies.

To polish Corian, you’ll need a countertop cleaner, a scouring pad, and fine-grit sandpaper. You’ll also need a Corian counter polish, a microfiber buffing cloth (or a buffing pad for your electric sander), something to cover your floor with, and safety gear.

Wearing safety gear when polishing your Corian surfaces – especially during the sanding process – is crucial. You will need to wear a filtering face mask, safety goggles, gloves, and long-sleeved clothing.

This is because Corian surfaces contain acrylic polymers that could irritate your eyes, skin, and lungs. Given this consideration, make sure to put your health and safety first anytime you refinish or sand your counters.

Choosing the correct cleaner is also essential, especially if you wish to avoid adding more stains and scratches to your Corian surfaces. Corian stone is sensitive to acidic chemicals, so using a pH-balanced chemical is crucial to avoid making things worse.

I always recommend Savogran’s Dirtex Spray Cleaner for keeping your Corian countertops clean. This cleaner is mild enough to be appropriate for the soft Corian stone but also removes messes and stains wonderfully. It’s also ammonia-based, which is ideal for Corian stone.

Other cleaners that include polish are best for once-in-a-while use since they can create a streaky, waxy buildup on top of Corian. So, I generally recommend avoiding cleaner-polish combo products.

For a good polish, I recommend Rejuvenate Kitchen & Bathroom Countertop Polish. I love this product since it is formulated for Corian and won’t damage the surface as many other polishes do. It also leaves Corian smooth and shiny without giving it a greasy feel.

You can use a 3M 7447 Scotch Brite Pad as a buffing pad for polishing. These pads are just hard enough to remove scuffs and scratches from Corian stone without creating more damage in the process.

When you decide to polish your countertops, you may also need to assess the damage before getting your supplies. Before you put any polish on your countertops, you will usually need to decide whether to sand small surface spots or sand the entire counter.

How much sanding you need to do depends on how deep the scratches are and how many scratches are there. If your counter has so many scratches that it could take hours to sand them out by hand, you might prefer to use an electric sander and buffer to make your job easier.

How to Polish Your Corian Countertops (Step-by-Step)

Once you have all of your supplies, it’s time to get polishing!

Here’s how to polish your Corian countertops to give them a smooth and shiny finish:

1. Clear Off the Corian

Before you get started, you’ll need a clear workspace. Remove everything from your Corian countertops, especially food, utensils, cosmetics, and dishes, since the dust from polishing your counters could contaminate food.

2. Clean Your Countertops With an Ammonia-Based Cleaner

Next, you’ll need to remove all of the gunk and stains from your counters. I like to use a bottle of Dirtex and a dishcloth, but you can use any ammonia-based cleaner.

Then, use water and a cloth or sponge to wipe off the cleaner, leaving your countertops a bit damp to help you later when you sand them.

3. Put On Your Safety Gear

Now, it’s time to get ready for sanding. You should wear a filtering face mask and some protective eyewear to avoid getting Corian dust in your eyes, mouth, or nose. You should also wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid splinters and skin irritation from the plastics inside your countertops.

4. Lay Down Your Floor Protection

Before sanding, it’s also essential to try to make a barrier between your floors and the dust you will create.

You can use any tarp or paper floor covering, and you may also want to protect nearby sinks or furniture, especially if you will be using an electric sander to refinish your counters.

5. Dampen Your Countertops

When you sand your counters, dust is an inevitability. However, if you keep your counters damp while you sand, some of the stone and polymer dust will get stuck to the moisture, keeping it from rising into the air. In addition, water will soften the stone, making it easier for you to sand it.

6. Sand

Once you have prepared your kitchen, it’s time to get sanding. You can either use an electric sander to even out the surface of the entire counter or use a piece of fine-grit sandpaper to buff out superficial scratches, uneven spots, and scuffs.

It depends on how much damage you want to repair and how much time you have to spend on buffing out scuffs.

7. Touch Up the Corners With Sandpaper

When sanding Corian, you should always work the corners by hand to avoid an uneven surface. So, use a small piece of fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out the edges and corners of your counter until they are flush with the rest of the surface.

8. Clean Again

Once your countertop has no more scratches and an even surface, you’ll need to clean off the dust before polishing. Use an ammonia-based cleaner and a Scotch Brite pad to wipe down your countertops, scrubbing them well. Then, use a damp cloth to wipe off any excess debris from the surface.

9. Allow Your Counters to Dry

Before polishing, it is crucial to let your counters dry. That way, when you add the polish, you won’t trap unwanted humidity into your Corian counters.

10. Polish

Once your counters are dry, you can use a Corian counter polish and a Scotch Brite pad or a buffer to give your countertops more shine.

Apply the polish directly on your countertop, then slowly scrub it into your counter’s surface using small, circular motions, working both clockwise and counterclockwise to fill any tiny pores in the Corian stone.

11. Clean Up

You’re finished with the hard part! Remove your floor protection. Then, clean the areas around your counters that might have unwanted dust on them, wiping them with a damp cloth.

Once your counter’s polish is completely dry, you can start using them again!

Avoid Damaging Your Corian Countertop

One of the most significant benefits of having Corian countertops is that they are easy to polish and refinish. However, they are also easy to damage.

Don’t fret yet, though. If you know how to keep your countertops in good condition, you won’t have to polish or sand them too often.

So, here’s how to avoid damaging your Corian countertops:

  • Use a mild, ammonia-based kitchen cleaner and a soft cloth to clean your countertops daily.
  • Clean up spills and debris immediately to prevent staining.
  • Never place hot items directly on Corian, and always use trivets or potholders to protect the surface.
  • Use cutting boards and never cut food or other items directly on the Corian stone.
  • Only use polishes and cleaning chemicals safe for Corian countertops, such as mild or ammonia-based cleaning products and Corian polish.

If you follow these tips, you won’t have to sand or refinish your countertops for years to come.

Final Thoughts

Corian countertops are easy to polish, and the entire process only takes an hour or two. You may also need to sand out damaged spots and scratches to polish your countertops, which is simple since Corian is a soft stone. Then, you can use a Corian polish to add luster and shine back to your counters, leaving them as good as new.

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