Gwen asked: “I placed a curling iron on a bathroom counter top and it burned the surface. The stain is unsightly. I have tried liquid cleaner with no positive results. I tried Ajax – no results. Does anyone have any idea?”
Removing 
burn marks on countertops can tricky. Whether they are caused from a hot pan or a curling iron, the likelihood of removal all depends on the severity. There are several methods for removing light scorch marks, all using items that are readily available such as toothpaste or baking soda! If the scorch goes so deep that it penetrates the countertop material (rather than just discoloring the surface), it may be necessary to replace the countertop or find a clever way to cover it up.
Removing Burn Marks from Laminate Countertops
You Will Need:
- White toothpaste
- Soft Scrub with bleach
- Soft cloth
- Scrub brush or toothbrush
- Water
- Mild soap
Steps to Remove the Burn Mark:
- Begin by using the soft cloth and mild soap to remove any discoloration from the surface.
- Apply a layer of white toothpaste to the scorch mark and allow it to set for several minutes.
- Scrub the area lightly with either a scrub brush or toothbrush.
- Wipe the area clean with a soft cloth and water.
- If the stain remains, apply some Soft Scrub using the cloth and allow it to set for several minutes.
- Scrub the area with either a scrub brush or toothbrush.
- Repeat as necessary until the mark is removed.
- If the mark cannot be removed, it may have penetrated the surface, making it unable to be removed. Consider replacing the section or using one of our clever cover-ups below.
Removing Burn Marks from Solid Surface Countertops
You Will Need:
- Fine-Grit sandpaper
- Soft Brush
- Cleaner for specific countertop type
- Polish (optional)
- Water
Steps to Remove the Burn Mark:
- Begin by cleaning the area with a cleaner designed for your specific type of countertop. Many companies offer special cleaners to remove burn marks and other stains. Doing this first allows for the maximum removal prior to removing any of the surface.
- Next, take the sandpaper and gently rub the stain away. This will remove a thin layer of the stone so proceed with caution. Only sand enough to remove the stain. Do not sand outside of the stain as this will also scratch the clean countertop and remove any sealer/finish.
- Clean the area again with the specified cleaner and polish as usual.
Removing Burn Marks from Porcelain Countertops
You Will Need:
- Baking soda
- Bar Keeper Friend (optional cleaner found at most department stores)
- Soft cloth
- Scrub brush or toothbrush
- Water
- Mild soap
Steps to Remove the Burn Mark:
*Porcelain countertops often have a polished finish that may become dulled using this process.
- Begin by using the soft cloth and mild soap to remove as much discoloration from the surface as possible.
- Mix the baking soda with water to create a paste.
- Apply a layer of the paste to the scorch mark and gently rub it in. It may also be helpful to allow it to set for a couple of minutes.
- Scrub the area lightly with either a soft cloth or toothbrush. The paste can be slightly abrasive, so don’t rub too hard to avoid damage to the finish on the sink.
- Wipe the area clean with a soft cloth and water.
- If the stain remains, apply the Bar Keepers Friend with a soft cloth and gently scrub the area.
- Repeat as necessary until the mark is removed.
- When the stain is gone, clean with water and mild soap as normal to remove any cleaning residue.
Clever Cover-Ups
If the scorch mark goes so deep that it cannot be removed, either replace the countertop or consider one of these clever options:
- If the burnt countertop is in the kitchen, consider placing a permanent hot pad over the burnt spot. Take four tiles that coordinate with your countertop and use adhesive to make a square on top of the burn. Apply grout between them to create a perfect spot to set hot pots and pans. Chances are these hot pots and pans created the burn in the first place, so you can solve two problems at once!
- If the burn mark is large (and on a kitchen countertop) make it your new work station and cover the area with a cutting board.
- Decorative decals are available at many craft supply stores and can be easily attached with the adhesive backing.
Additional Tips and Ideas
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser has been known to clean some incredible stains, including burn marks. Moisten the sponge with water and rub on the burnt area until the mark disappears.
- If trying to avoid replacing the entire countertop, consider purchasing just a sheet of the laminate adhesive to apply to the surface.
I left my straightening iron on too long and it burned the marble counter tops in my bathroom. They are now yellow, and I don’t know how to get it off. Any suggestions?
I had a large black burn on my ceramic tile floor that was caused by my hair blow-dryer shorting out and burning a hole in my throw rug. I used the same cleaner that I use to clean my glass-top cooking stove and it took everything up. I used a toothbrush and just the tip of a razor blade for the crevices. No one will know what a bad burn was there!
I left my curling iron on my bathroom counter by mistake and it burned a strip in the top; the countertop is that faux white marble that builders use in most houses. I have tried toothpaste, soda, glass-top stove cleaner, a product called Flitz, and nothing works. Please, if someone has a solution other than replacing the top, e-mail me. I am desperate for a solution.
Thank you,
Sue
We accidentally left a warm candle near a lighter in the kitchen. As a result, the lighter blew up, leaving a nasty burn in the kitchen counter. It’s more than a surface burn, as it went quite deep. Any suggestions on how to repair/fix this without having to replace the whole counter? Thanks!
I placed a pot on my granite countertop and it left a severe burn mark on it. I tried all of my cleaning products to no avail. Any ideas?? It’s a black granite with a brown small pot burn from when my boiling eggs boiled dry on the stove top.
Marlene,
This article might help: How to Remove Burn Marks from Granite Flooring.
I had put a hot lid on my laminate counter top from making popcorn; it left a slightly noticeable burn mark. What could I do to remove it or cover it up??
Brillo pads are the secret! I tried just about everything from Clorox to baking soda and nothing worked. Brillo pads did it though! Just wet it slightly and scrub away.
A candle on a kitchen countertop burned through…how can I fix it without replacing the whole thing?
I noticed one of the suggestions were to use a magic eraser sponge. DO NOT USE THAT. It discolors the countertop and where you scrubbed shows because it gets light-somewhat foggy. Spoken from experience.
Hi, Lisa! I burn incense in my bathroom and the stick fell onto the counter top. It looks pretty bad. So, if I use the Magic Eraser sponge, the area will not look well blended from the rest of the counter top? Just making sure I understand. Take care!
It’s amazing how the Magic Eraser works to remove tons of stuff. It removes hair dye from my bathroom formica counter top. It is true that it will clean so well, you can see the very clean space you covered. However, I just clean the whole counter with it, and it looks so clean and spotless! It’s just not that difficult to do at all. It also removes rust stains! I wouldn’t recommend it if your space is large and you don’t feel like cleaning a very large area. The only problem with Magic Erasers is they wear out very fast if you use them harshly, as in scrubbing very, very hard and for a long period of time. I use them for tons of things. Wish they made them for clothes!
Candle burnt a dime size hole in my bathroom counter top. I live in an apartment and need to try to fix it. It is about a quarter-inch thick.
I left my curling iron on my wood counter top and I’m worried that any cleaning supplies will lead to flakes of the wood flying off. Have any ideas of what to do?
Abby,
This is the article you need: How to Remove a Scorch Mark from Wood Veneer.
There is a burn stain that I left with the stove on the bathroom countertop. I scrubbed hard with a sponge scrub; it came out worse, blacker than before. Now the underneath part of the countertop is showing.
Any suggestions to cover the burn stain? Please, the countertop is a marble-like countertop; underneath the whole sink is wood.
Qwer,
If the countertop has been damaged/removed to the point that you can see the material underneath, then there is nothing left to do except replace it by either patching the hole or replacing the entire countertop. There are various repair kits at some major hardware stores that you might be able to use to patch the hole – travertine repair kit, acrylic putty surface repair, white epoxy surface repair (if the counter is white faux marble tile). There is also a video on Youtube of someone using candle wax to repair a hole.
“There is a burn stain that I left with the stove on the bathroom countertop…”
I don’t understand if this is in the kitchen, on the stove, or in the bathroom…
How to remove burn mark on a hard surface kitchen counter? Accidentally placed a hot pot on the counter and left a burn mark. Please help!
Celine,
Do you mean solid surface countertops? Solid surface counters are ones such as Corian, Swanstone or Wilsonart. There is a section above for those: Removing Burn Marks from Solid Surface Countertops. Use a cleaner meant for your type of counter to remove as much of the mark as you can, then gently sand off any remaining marks with sandpaper, then follow the process up with another good cleaning. Good luck!