Care & Maintenance of your worktops

  • Many natural granites have an extremely low porosity and do not require the application of any topical or penetrating sealers.  They are naturally highly resistant to surface staining from cooking oils, wine, coffee, etc.

  • Some other natural granites are absorbent to varying degrees (largely dependent on their colour & geological composition).  Should necessity arise, we will seal some of our natural granite with a penetrating anti-stain, water resistant liquid sealant, designed to provide a barrier to everyday kitchen use. 

  • At installation we will polish the worktops with a proprietary stone spray polish.  Thereafter we recommend using a stone polish (say once a month) to enhance the colour & lustre of the worktops.  (We can supply polish should this be required).  Please note: A waxy build up can occur if too much is used. This will disappear in time.

  • Generally, substances that should not be used near natural granites or engineered quartz (e.g. Silestone) are:

Hydrochloric/Nitric /Sulphuric/Formic Acid,
Bleach
Nail Polish remover
Caustic soda
Paint strippers 
Cleaning solutions containing trichlorethane or methylene or dimetilchlorine. 
Highly aggressive cleaning agents like oven/grill cleaners that have high alkaline/PH levels. 
If any of the above contaminates are spilled on the surface rinse off immediately with plenty of water to minimise their effect.

  • With lighter coloured natural granites it is sometimes possible to see a darkening of colour where excessive surface water has been allowed to stand. This will fade once it dries.

  • On a day-to-day basis natural granite or engineered quartz worktops simply require a wipe down with a soft cloth soaked in soap (or neutral detergent) and warm water to maintain its natural beauty and shine.  We recommend then buffing dry using a soft clean cloth/kitchen roll. Due to the popularity of stone worktops, many supermarkets now sell dedicated worktop wipes/sprays for everyday cleaning.

  • No stone worktop is 100% stain proof.  Natural granite is extremely stain resistant; however substances such as oil & grease should be cleaned from the work surface as quickly as possible and not allowed to sit for a great length of time.  A degree of care and common sense is all that is required.

  • For stubborn marks (especially with engineered quartz worktops, e.g. Silestone), firstly wipe the area clean with warm water and then apply original CIF to the area.  Rinse area with water after cleaning.

  • With engineered quartz worktops, for marks that harden when they dry (food, chewing gum, etc) remove by gently scraping the material off the worktop surface using a blunt plastic blade then wash and remove any residual matter with non-abrasive cleaner and warm water.  Any lime scale or water marks can be removed using household lime-scale removers.  Manufacturer’s usage recommendations should be adhered to.

  • Natural Granite and Engineered Quartz have a high resistance to scratching and marking, with every type ranking high on the Mohs scale of hardness.  Therefore, normal cutting of materials on a worktop should not produce scratches.  However, these materials are not indestructible and common sense should be the watchword.  The use of a chopping board is recommended, as over time, without protection, continued chopping in the same spot will produce deterioration in the appearance of the surface.  Likewise, dragging heavy objects such as tooling or plastic packaging may cause the worktop to scratch.  Stone worktops should not be rubbed with abrasive materials such as metal pads, scouring pads or wire wool.  However, it is possible to clean drainer grooves (carefully) with wire wool.

  • Natural Granite and Engineered Quartz are extremely heat resistant and can withstand high temperatures for brief periods of time without damage.  However, all stone can be damaged by sudden and extreme temperature changes, especially near the edges.  For this reason we strongly recommend using a trivet or hot pad to protect the worktops from extreme heat (e.g. when transporting pans directly from your hob/oven to worktop surface).  Please note that different natural granites have varying degrees of heat resistance.

  • Try not to hit your worktops with anything blunt and heavy.  The worktops, whilst being strong, are not indestructible and can crack, chip or even break if physically abused.

Natural Granite and Engineered Quartz worktops are the most durable work surface in the world and keeping your worktops looking like new is much easier than you think; especially if you follow the above guidelines.  Stone worktops are now the “must-have” accessory for modern kitchens.  They are stain, scratch and heat resistant and, properly cared for, will maintain their diamond polished look for years.

Here at The Marble Warehouse we understand that stone worktops are a substantial investment and one that can pay off in the future.  If you take care of your worktops you can enjoy their natural beauty while adding value and desirability to your home.