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How to Polish an Acrylic Countertop

Kenneth Coppens

Acrylic is a type of plastic that has several uses. In recent years, it has become a popular material for countertops. Acrylic is strong, can be molded into almost any shape, and can be made in any color. Like any other plastic, acrylic will eventually become dull after years of use.

However, it is simple to restore acrylic countertops to their original shiny appearance. With the proper care and maintenance, acrylic countertops can last a lifetime.

  1. Wipe the countertop clean with warm water and a washcloth. It is important to remove any type of dirt or debris as it could cause scratches during the polishing process.

  2. Dry the countertop off with a towel. If you can't soak all of the water up with a towel, let the countertop air dry.

  3. Apply about a tablespoon of acrylic polish to the buffer. Hold the buffer against the countertop and turn it up to high speed. Buff the polish into the countertop in a circular motion until the polish looks evenly distributed. You should be able to polish at least one square-foot for each tablespoon of polish.

  4. Add more polish to the buffer. The unpolished sections will look more dull than the polished sections, so use that as a guide for where you need to polish. Buff the polish into the countertop as you did in Step 3. Repeat until the entire countertop is polished.

  5. Let the countertop dry for at least one hour before putting anything on it.

  6. Tip

    Always keep the buffer moving to prevent excessive heat in any particular spot. Acrylic can melt if it gets too hot.