Maintaining your worktop correctly can extend its lifespan and maintain its original quality. Whether your worktop is made of natural stone, ceramic stone, quartz composite, or stainless steel, each material has specific care requirements to stay durable and beautiful over time.

Below, we’ve gathered our best tips to help you care for your worktop in the best possible way.

Natural stone (Limestone, Marble, Granite, and Quartzite)

Natural stone is beautiful and timeless, but it requires care to maintain its luster and prevent stains. By treating your stone worktop properly, you can create a protective barrier that allows you to quickly wipe up spills without leaving a lasting mark. Here’s how to care for different types of natural stone worktops:

Avoid: Natural stone is sensitive to acids like lemon juice and red wine. Stains can develop quickly, so it’s important to wipe up liquids immediately to minimize marks. The longer a stone surface is left uncleaned, the greater the risk of staining.

Maintain your worktop: Wipe the surface with a lightly damp cloth or use a mild soap solution, like green soap which is gentler on the stone. Avoid strong cleaning agents and regular dish soap, as these can erode the surface and dry out the stone.

Impregnate your worktop: By impregnating natural stone properly, you can create a protective layer that allows you to wipe away spills without leaving a permanent stain. Carefully follow the instructions for applying the impregnation. When you purchase your worktop, you’ll receive recommendations for the appropriate impregnation for your specific worktop.

Sensitivity to heat: Avoid placing hot pans directly on natural stone, as this can cause cracking.

Tip: If you notice that the stone is absorbing water very quickly, it may be time to apply a green soap treatment orimpregnate it with a stone impregnation. If your natural stone begins to look dry, you can oil the dry areas to restore moisture to the surface.

Ceramic stone

Caring for a ceramic stone worktop is relatively easy, as ceramic materials are often resistant to stains, scratches, and heat. Regular gentle cleaning and caution with chemicals and impacts will keep it looking beautiful for a long time. Here’s how to best care for your ceramic stone worktop:

Avoid: Ceramic is a hard but brittle material, which means the edges are more sensitive to impacts. Be careful not to hit hard objects against the edges, as this can lead to damage.

Maintain your worktop: Wipe the worktop with a soft cloth and warm water. A mild, pH-neutral cleaning spray also works well. Ceramic stone requires minimal maintenance and is highly resistant to stains.

Impregnate your worktop: A ceramic stone worktop does not normally need to be impregnated. However, it’s good to regularly clean the worktop to maintain its appearance and functionality.

Sensitivity to heat: Ceramic stone can withstand high temperatures, but it’s advisable to use pot holders for very hot pots and pans. This reduces the risk of cracking if the surface is subjected to sudden extreme temperature changes.

Tip: Although ceramic stone is scratch-resistant, your knives can quickly become dull if used directly on the worktop, and repeated small scratches may affect the surface over time.

Quartz composite

Quartz composite is a durable and low-maintenance material with a tough surface that is resistant to scratches and stains. Here’s how to care for your quartz composite worktop:

Avoid: Avoid strong strong cleaning agents, as these can affect the surface's shine.

Maintain your worktop: Use a soft, damp cloth and warm water to remove dirt and spills. For greasy stains, a mixture of water and dish soap works well.

Impregnate your worktop: A quartz composite worktop does not normally need to be impregnated. It is designed to be stain-resistant without treatment and does not absorb liquids or dirt in the same way natural stone does.

Sensitivity to heat: Quartz composite does not handle heat as well as ceramic stone, so make sure to use trivets for hot pots and pans.

Tip: Although quartz composite is stain-resistant, foods like beets, wine, coffee, and curry can leave stains if left for too long. Wipe up spills immediately to minimize the risk of staining.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is a durable and hygienic material that works well as a kitchen worktop, but it requires regular maintenance to avoid scratches, fingerprints, and stains. Here’s how to best care for your stainless steel worktop:

Avoid: Never use abrasive cleaners or steel wool, as these can scratch the surface.

Maintain your worktop: Use warm water and a soft cloth or sponge. Be sure to dry the surface after cleaning to avoid water spots.

Impregnate your worktop: To provide extra protection for your worktop, you can use a small amount of oil, such as olive oil. Apply a small amount to a soft cloth and gently rub it in the direction of the steel grain. This will create a protective layer and help reduce the visibility of fingerprints.

Sensitivity to heat: Stainless steel worktops are generally durable and can withstand high temperatures, but there is a risk of discoloration if a very hot pot or pan is placed directly on the surface.

Tip: Prevent stains by quickly wiping away acidic substances like lemon juice and vinegar, as these can corrode the steel. Use a cutting board to protect both your worktop and your knives.

Tips for avoiding scratches and damage to your worktop

Avoid abrasive cleaners such as steel wool, scouring powders, or other abrasive materials, as they can scratch your worktop.

Use cutting boards and clean cloths since scratches can occur if you accidentally wipe the stone with a cloth that has dirt from vegetables etc. Ensure that your cloth is free from dirt that could harm the surface of your worktop. We recommend always using a cutting board, as although knives may not scratch the surface, repeated small scratches can affect the surface in the long term and cause the impregnation to disappear.

Frequently asked questions about care and maintenance of worktops

How do I best care for a limestone or marble worktop?

Limestone and marble are sensitive natural materials that can easily stain from acids like lemon juice and wine. To protect the surface, wipe up spills immediately and use a mild soap solution for cleaning instead of dish soap, which can dry out the stone. Regular impregnation can help prevent stains.

Can I place hot pots directly on my worktop?

It depends on the material. Ceramic stone can withstand high temperatures, so you can place hot pots directly on the surface. Natural stones like marble, limestone, granite, and quartzite can crack at high temperatures, so always use trivets on these materials. Quartz composite also does not handle direct heat as well as ceramic stone.

Do I need to impregnate my worktop?

Natural stones such as limestone, marble and light-coloured granite can be impregnated to protect against stains. However, impregnation does not make the stone completely stain-proof, but it gives you more time to wipe away spillages without them becoming a stain. Ceramic stone and quartz composite, on the other hand, do not need to be impregnated.

How often do I need to maintain my worktop?

Maintenance frequency can vary depending on the material. Natural stone may need to be impregnated once a year, while ceramic stone and quartz composite require minimal maintenance. If your natural stone worktop starts to look dry, you can oil the surface to maintain its luster.

What should I do if my worktop gets a stain?

Wipe up the stain immediately with a damp cloth. For stains on natural stone that won’t come off, a specialty stone cleaner can be used, but avoid strong chemicals. Remember that stains are part of the character of natural stone and can occur over time, often contributing to its unique and beautiful patina.

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