Why do my formica countertops take so long to dry?

Question

I spray them down with Clorox Anywhere spray after I do dishes, then wipe with a paper towel. It seems that the towel only wipes the cleaner around, it doesn't really "dry" it. And I can sometimes see what I call "ghosting" ie: if there was a wet dish on the counter previously, you can if you are at the right angle, still see a wet ring from where it sat. Do I need better cleaner, more expensive paper towels, or a slate or tile countertop? LOL

Answer 1

Formica is not porous, but it is not a completely smooth surface. It actually has tiny dimples in it, like a golf ball, but smaller. Simply wiping the surface with a paper towel doesn't necessarily penetrate those dimples and some minute amount of liquid gets left on the surface. That ring you're seeing is where the surface got completely saturated and the dimples got completely filled.

You don't get that effect with granite or tile, because their surfaces are completely smooth. So, when you wipe them dry, there's no place for excess water to collect and they get completely dry immediately.