Primer has d'esbandir el taulell amb aigua i després netejar-lo amb una esponja.

Yes. Primer here means first or firstly, introducing the first step in a sequence.

In instructions, Catalan often uses:

• Primer = first
• després = afterwards / then
• finalment = finally

So Primer has d'esbandir... i després... means First you have to rinse... and then...

Has d'esbandir means you have to rinse or you must rinse.

It is made of:

• has = you have
• de = to
• esbandir = to rinse

So haver de + infinitive is a very common Catalan structure meaning to have to do something.

Here:

• has d'esbandir = you have to rinse

Other examples:

• Has de menjar = you have to eat
• Has de sortir = you have to leave

Because in Catalan, de often contracts to d' before a vowel or silent h.

So:

• de + esbandir → d'esbandir

This is just a normal spelling rule to make pronunciation smoother.

You will see the same thing in many places:

• d'aigua
• d'escriure
• d'hora

They are related, but not identical.

• esbandir = to rinse
• netejar = to clean

In this sentence, the idea is:

1. first rinse the counter with water
2. then clean it with a sponge

So esbandir focuses more on using water to wash off or rinse, while netejar is the more general verb to clean.

El taulell means the counter, the countertop, or sometimes the worktop, depending on context.

Yes, it is masculine singular:

• el taulell = the counter

That matters because later the pronoun referring back to it is also masculine singular:

• netejar-lo = clean it

Because -lo means it, referring back to el taulell.

So:

• netejar = to clean
• netejar-lo = to clean it

Catalan often attaches direct object pronouns to the infinitive.

Here:

• el taulell is mentioned first
• then -lo avoids repeating the noun

So the sentence literally works like:

• first you have to rinse the counter with water
• and then clean it with a sponge

In Catalan, object pronouns are often attached to infinitives, gerunds, and affirmative commands.

So with an infinitive:

• fer-ho = to do it
• veure'l = to see him / it
• netejar-lo = to clean it

This is completely normal grammar. English keeps it separate, but Catalan often attaches the pronoun directly to the verb.

Because the full masculine singular direct object pronoun here is lo after an infinitive.

So:

• netejar-lo = to clean it

You may also see l' before a vowel in other positions, but after this infinitive form the standard attached pronoun here is -lo.

Since taulell is masculine singular, -lo is the correct object pronoun in this sentence.

Amb means with.

It appears twice because there are two separate actions, each with its own instrument or means:

• amb aigua = with water
• amb una esponja = with a sponge

So:

• rinse the counter with water
• then clean it with a sponge

Repeating amb is natural and clear.

Because Catalan often uses the indefinite article where English does too:

• una esponja = a sponge

It sounds natural in instructions to specify the tool this way:

• amb una esponja = with a sponge

Without the article, it would sound less standard in this sentence.

Després means afterwards, later, or then.

In this sentence it marks the next step:

• Primer... després... = First... then...

This is a very common pairing in Catalan when giving instructions.

Yes, it is very normal.

The structure is:

• Primer = time/order marker
• has d'esbandir el taulell = main action
• amb aigua = how/with what
• i després netejar-lo amb una esponja = second action

Catalan word order is often similar to English in sentences like this, especially in instructions. The main differences for learners are usually:

• the haver de structure for have to
• the attached pronoun in netejar-lo

Yes, and that is exactly what happens here.

The sentence first names the object:

• el taulell

Then, instead of repeating it, Catalan uses the pronoun:

• netejar-lo = clean it

This avoids repetition and sounds natural. English does the same thing with it, but Catalan attaches the pronoun to the infinitive.

Then has would change to heu:

• Primer heu d'esbandir el taulell amb aigua i després netejar-lo amb una esponja.

That means:

• you all have to rinse the counter with water first and then clean it with a sponge

So:

• has de = you have to, singular
• heu de = you have to, plural

It uses the informal singular you form:

• has de

That corresponds to tu.

If it were formal singular, it would be:

• ha d'esbandir = you have to, formal

If it were plural:

• heu d'esbandir = you all have to

So this sentence is addressing one person informally.