A natural stone worktop is a real joy for both the esthete, the baker and the chef. However, many are scared to use a natural stone, partly because of the price but also for fear that it will be difficult to keep clean. But with our guide your natural stone stays beautiful until the next generation and also becomes more beautiful with the years.

Here are our top tips on how to clean your countertop and get rid of stains.

1. Impregnate the stone.

What you have probably heard is that, for example, marble easily gets stains from, for example, red wine and lemon. It is true that marble does not like acids, limestone also does not like salts. Both types of stone are made of a softer mineral (carbonate mineral) than the granites, which are a little more durable. By treating your stone in the right way, you can create a protection that allows you to quickly wipe away what has been spilled without leaving a permanent stain. The miracle remedy in this case is uncoloured soap or stone impregnation. Avoid colored soap as it may discolour the worktop. Continuous use of soap impregnates the stone and makes it both more beautiful and more durable. What you should not use, however, are detergents as it corrodes the surface.

For everyday use, just wipe with a slightly damp cloth with nothing but water and then supplement by washing with water-mixed soap if necessary. If you notice that the stone absorbs water very quickly, it may be time to soap it in or impregnate it with stone impregnation.

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2. Dry immediately.

If you spill, it is important to be there quickly with the cloth - the longer the stone is left unclean, the greater the risk that it will become a stain. You have to be more careful with light stone than dark and with unpolished stone than polished. Acids from e.g. Juice, wine, carbon dioxide, fruit, or detergent corrode the top layer of the stone and change its structure, making the surface look different and color may change.

Therefore, quickly soak up any liquid with a cloth and then wipe with soapy water if necessary. Once you have got a stain, you can either wait for the next stain and in time get a beautiful patinated stone or alternatively sand the surface and thus get rid of the stain.

A beautiful limestone from Kinnekulle with a 90mm backsplash.

3. Use cutting boards and clean cloths

Another damages on stone is scratches and marks. You only get a mark if you drop a large heavy frying pan, utensil or something heavy on the stone, but scratches can occur if you, for example, happen to dry the stone with a cloth with grains of sand from e.g. freshly rinsed vegetables. Therefore, make sure that your cloth is clean since dirt can damage the surface. We further recommend that you always use a cutting board, even though knives do not scratch the surface, they can bleach them and reduce impregnation.

4. Use coasters

Natural stone is usually not sensitive to heat, but it may be worth using a coaster if the pots have dirt from oil, food or something else that could potentially damage the stone's surface. Bowls and dishes with an uneven surface underneath can be placed on a cloth (for example at a buffet party) so that they are not pulled back and forth over the stone and will damage it.

If you follow the advice above, your stone will stay beautiful and only look better with time. Then you also do not have to worry about the price, because a well-kept natural stone is an investment for the future because it can withstand both the wear and tear of daily use.

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