Laminate lays there day after day during all the chopping, batter blending and heating that happens in the kitchen or through the endless rotation of primping people who clutter the surface of the bathroom countertop with lotions, cleaners, heated hair irons, dryers and rollers. The majority of countertops are made from laminate or Formica. It provides a durable, easy to take care of and affordable surface for all your kitchen needs. However, laminate countertops can look dull, especially in comparison with granite. There are ways to make laminate countertops shine.
Your countertop will shine , eventually. Try the baking powder paste. If the laminate is more than about 5-years old and used by renters, good chance the finish is already. Without seeing a photo, I can only guess.
When you say iridescent tile back splash, I see something like a mother-of-pearl. Although not as durable as other countertop surfaces, laminate is an inexpensive choice to costlier countertop surfaces. Protect your laminate countertop by chopping or.
Another tip on how to clean Formica countertops : Use nail polish remover for stains like ink. Put a little on a cotton ball or soft cloth and rub it on the stain. Be sure the cloth is white, because nail polish remover could remove the dye from the fabric and stain the laminate.