A Guide To Clean Your Kitchen Worktops
The Squeaky-Clean Guide to Kitchen Worktop Maintenance
A great looking worktop can make all the difference to the appearance of a kitchen. If your kitchen surfaces are in great condition, it will make everything else in the room look better at the same time. You will also benefit from having a cleaner and healthier home. Kitchen surfaces are common places for harmful germs to live. We understand that the kitchen is often the hub of activity in the home, which can sometimes lead to poor maintenance of the kitchen space. With some handy tips and extra knowledge, you can make sure your kitchen worktop continues to look great for a long time. We will talk you through some general cleaning tips, followed by an individual breakdown of how to care for each individual worktop.
General Tips
21 DAYS TO FORM GOOD KITCHEN HABITS
It’s well known that it takes 21 days to form a habit, and we say it takes 21 meal times to form great kitchen hygiene habits. The most important habit is to wipe down your worktop after every use regularly. We know that cleaning can be a hassle, but doing small tasks often will make it much easier to maintain a beautiful kitchen. If a stain happens to stay on your worktop for an extended period of time, it can become difficult to remove.
USE THE RIGHT CLEANING PRODUCTS
Old stains can be tough to remove, especially if you’re using the wrong cleaning product to tackle them with. We have created a visual guide which should help you with the most common stubborn stains. The longer you leave stains on your kitchen surfaces, the harder they will become to remove. Rather than wiping the kitchen surface dry after cleaning it, allow the cleaning product to dry naturally, this will ensure that there are no streaky lines left on the surface. If streaking does occur after allowing it to dry naturally, try using less of the cleaning product the next time you clean.
TAKE CARE WHEN CLEANING YOUR WORKTOP
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when trying to remove a stain is to make a rash decision and possibly cause more damage to your kitchen worktop. Refrain from aimlessly grabbing the first cleaning product that you find and pouring it all over your worktop. If, for example, you pour strong bleach onto a granite worktop, you could permanently alter the colour of the surface. One of the best ways to prepare yourself for removing stains is to stock your cupboards with the necessary products to remove tough stains such as grease, paint and wine.
FURTHER TIPS ON CLEANING YOUR KITCHEN WORKTOP
- Before cleaning the kitchen worktop, start by removing all loose items from the surface
- To protect your skin from harmful cleaning products, always wear protective gloves and wash hands thoroughly after you have finished cleaning
- To spread the cleaning product evenly around the kitchen worktop, hold the spray approximately 20cm from the surface. For a more thorough clean, allow the spray to sit for around 10-15 minutes before cleaning.
- To avoid causing damage, avoid using abrasive scrubbing pads on ALL kitchen surfaces.
- After you have finished cleaning, wash all dishcloths on at least 60 degrees in the washing machine. After cleaning, store the cloth in a bowl of disinfectant between uses.
- No matter what worktop surface you have, it is always advisable to use a pan stand when placing any hot objects onto it.
Individual Worktop Advice
SENSA GRANITE WORKTOPS
Your granite worktop will last a lifetime with the proper care and maintenance. Following some basic cleaning guidelines, you can keep your worktop looking as good as the day it was installed. Granite worktops are highly durable but can be chipped by sharp objects. Therefore, it is important to take care when handling kitchen objects such as knives and utensils on the worktop surface. It is also possible for the worktop to absorb stains if they are left to mature on the worktop surface. You should get used to a few practices if you wish to keep your granite kitchen worktop looking great.
ROUTINE CLEANING
It is important to keep on top of spillages and stains which are o your granite worktop. Common stains such as tea, coffee, wine, and sauces should be cleaned up as quickly as possible, as removing the stain will be far easier. Use warm water and a soft cloth to wipe away the stain. If stubborn, apply some pressure and move the cloth in a circular motion over the stain. Ensure you do not wipe any stain with an abrasive cloth scrub, which will scratch your kitchen worktop.
REMOVING TOUGH STAINS FROM GRANITE
Paint
- If the oil-based paint stain is fresh, carefully blot the paint with a paper towel and as much of the paint as possible before it dries.
- If the paint is dry, scrape it with a razor blade at a forty-five-degree angle, removing as much excess as possible.
- If paint remains, mix baking soda & water at a ratio of 50/50 and evenly and paste over the stain:
- Cover the paste with cling film and tape it down with tape.
- Leave for 24-48 hours.
- Remove the cling film and buff with a soft cloth.
- Repeat the process if paint remains on the worktop surface
Grease
- Start by wiping away any loose debris with a soft cloth.
- To remove the rest of the grease, soak some kitchen roll with acetone and place it on top of the stain.
- Cover the kitchen roll with cling film and tape it down.
- Leave the kitchen roll overnight to soak up the stain.
- The next morning, remove the cling film and kitchen roll; the stain should have come off.
- If the stain remains, repeat the process.
Coffee
- For coffee stains or ring marks left from coffee cups, start by wiping the stain with warm water, dish soap and a soft cloth.
- If the stain stays on the granite surface, create a paste with 1 tablespoon of dish soap, 1 cup of flour and enough water to make a paste similar to the consistency of peanut butter.
- Apply the paste to the stain, cover it with cling film and leave it to sit overnight.
- In the morning, remove the paste with a blunt object such as a wooden ladle.
- If the stain remains, repeat the process.
Ink
- Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap, 1 cup of flour and enough water to make a paste.
- Apply to the paste to the stain, cover with cling film and leave it to settle for 24-48 hours depending on how big the stain is.
- When you’re ready, remove the paste and wipe the stain with a soft cloth.
- If the stain remains, don’t give up, repeat the process again!
Candle Wax
To remove candle wax, follow these steps:
- Fill a sandwich bag with ice and rub over the wax until it hardens.
- Scrape off the wax at an angle with an old credit card.
- If any candle wax remains, wipe away with diluted vinegar and warm water.
USING HOT OBJECTS ON GRANITE
- Granite is a tough material so it will be able to withstand reasonable amounts of heat. However, we do advise you to use a pan stand when placing hot, heavy objects such as pans on the worktop.
KEEP DYES, CHEMICALS AND SOLVENTS AWAY
- To avoid permanently damaging your granite worktop, keep dyes, strong chemicals and solvents away. If for any reason any of these substances come into contact with the granite surface, blot up and rinse away the substance immediately to avoid any permanent damage. If needed, repeat this process until it is fully removed. Remember to always wear appropriate skin protection when coming into contact with any potentially corrosive substances.
SILESTONE QUARTZ WORKTOPS
Silestone has become the perfect option for Kitchen and Bathroom Worktops over and above traditional materials such as Granite or natural stone. Amongst the features responsible for this popularity are that Silestone Quartz Worktops present extreme durability in Kitchen and Bathroom spaces where traffic and daily use is high. Silestone offers your kitchen a unique and beautiful finish, and as the worktop is the heart of the kitchen, it is always best to have a Worktop that wows you every time you see it!
TAKE CARE HOT OBJECTS
To avoid damaging your quartz worktop, you should refrain from placing hot objects directly onto the surface. This can cause the worktop to crack as a result of thermal shock. The cracks caused by thermal damage can be expensive to repair and could be irreversible without replacing the worktop. As the worktop isn’t thoroughly heat resistant, placing hot pans, for example, on the worktop can leave burn marks on the surface of the worktop. Rather than placing the hot object on the surface, use a pan stand where possible.
ALWAYS AVIOD STRONG CHEMICALS AND HARD MATERIALS
Using chemicals such as hydrochloric acid and paint stripper to remove stains on your quartz worktop can cause lasting and irreversible damage. Also, where possible, avoid using bleach as this can damage the worktop surface if used in large amounts or if a large quantity is used. Like with most other worktop surfaces, you should also avoid using abrasive cloths to wipe the worktop as this can cause scratches. Instead, always use a soft cloth without any sharp edges.
DEKTON WORKTOPS
Generally speaking, Dekton worktops are great at avoiding stains from everyday products, including chemical cleaning products. For regular cleaning, it is advisable to use soap and water with a sponge or scouring pad. If for any reason, a tough stain has nestled its way onto your Dekton worktop, it is recommended that you use a cream detergent which will significantly help in removing the stain.
Although Dekton is a very strong worktop surface, it is advisable that you take care when moving or placing objects near corners or edges. This will prevent you from damaging the surface from any knocks or scrapes. Unlike many other worktop surfaces, you are free to place any hot frying pans or saucepans directly onto the surface without worrying about causing damage to the material.
GLASS WORKTOPS
Glass worktops are incredibly durable and won’t suffer damage very easily. The smooth, seamless surface of glass worktops means that it is nowhere for bacteria to hide. If appropriately maintained, glass worktops are one of the most hygienic kitchen surfaces available. However, there are some steps you should take to make sure your shiny glass worktop has a long lifespan. Unlike traditional worktops, which use grout as a binding agent, glass worktops are a smooth surface all over, and this means there are no ‘cracks’ for harmful bacteria to hide. To keep your worktop hygienic, you should still take care to wipe the surface down after every use. For daily cleaning, using warm water and soap should be sufficient to clean your worktop adequately. Ensure that you always wipe away any excess soapy water, as this can leave streaks on the surface.
Our glass worktops are non-porous, so you can even use products like bleach without worrying about damaging the surface. If you’d like to see just how durable our scratch-resistant worktops are, watch our demonstration video below, which shows just how tough they really are.
Like with other worktops, ensure that you don’t use an abrasive cloth, which can cause permanent scratches on the glass. To ensure that you do not cause any damage to the glass worktop, never cut any food directly on the surface; always use a chopping board. CreoGlass are specialists in Scratch Resistant Glass Worktops.
LAMINATE WORKTOPS
As well as their affordable price, the true beauty of laminate worktops is that they require very little maintenance. Once they have been installed in your home, they simply require occasional cleaning with soapy water. Using a soft cloth rather than an abrasive sponge is advisable as this may result in scratching your worktop service.
While laminate worktops may be surprisingly durable and resistant to scratches and heat exposure, it is still important to take steps to avoid damaging the surface. One of the most important rules to stick to is to mop up any spillages as soon as possible to avoid staining or water seeping through any openings. As laminate worktops are put together with timber joints, it is possible for liquid to seep through. Laminate worktops are stain-proof for almost all households. However, if you spill ink, polish, nail varnish or adhesive, apply a few organic solvents – such as acetone – to a damp, soft cloth and rub over the mark in a circular motion.
AVOID USING BLEACH
Avoid using acidic cleaners such as bleach or tile cleaner as it can etch or permanently discolour the laminate worktop.
REMOVE COMMON STAINS
Ink
- Apply a small amount of alcohol or acetone to a soft cloth.
- Rub the cloth over the stain until the ink has been removed.
- Beware not to use too much alcohol as it can discolour the plastic.
Coffee
- Create a paste using equal measurements of baking soda, mild household cleaner and warm water.
- Apply the paste directly onto the stain.
- Leave the paste on the worktop for around 10 minutes.
- Wipe away with a soft microfiber cloth.
- If the stain hasn't budged, repeat until you can wipe away.
- Beware not to add too much baking soda to the mixture as it can be abrasive if used in large quantities and it will leave fine scratches.
Grease
- Apply some commercial kitchen cleaner, so a soft microfiber cloth.
- Rub the cloth over the grease until it has been removed.
- If you do not have access to a commercial kitchen cleaner you can mix water with an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice.
- Apply the water and acid to the grease using a soft cloth.
- Rotate the cloth in circular motions until the stain has been removed.