After you've spent the time picking the perfect backsplash to spruce up your kitchen, you want to keep it looking shiny and new for as long as possible. A few obstacles that might get in your way are grease from cooking at the stove, water damage from splashing water at the sink, and the general effects of losing luster over time.

If you have a glass or porcelain tile backsplash, you can begin the maintenance process by choosing the right grout and sealant to protect your backsplash from the inside out. Regularly cleaning your backsplash will also help to maintain that original sheen. Using an all-purpose cleaner or warm soapy water and a rag will clean without potential damage. However, with the latter, be sure that the rag is only damp and not soaking wet and that you dry up any excess water.

As with glass and porcelain, you will also want to choose a durable and resistant grout for a stone backsplash. Stone can be harder to seal but also tends to be extra durable. Smooth stone can be cleaned similarly to tile, but rough or natural stone might be best cleaned with a vacuum or duster spray.

And in general, just be aware of the kitchen messes that might get to your backsplash and require an extra cleaning session.

At The RTA Store, we help make your dream kitchen a reality with RTA (Ready To Assemble) and Pre-Assembled kitchen cabinets and accessories with the same (if not better) quality you would find at any retail store but for a fraction of the price. Stop by our website or give us a call and let us make your kitchen dreams come true with the help of our free kitchen design tool!