So you’ve got your stone worktops installed and they are looking amazing! As our worktops are made using natural stone, you may notice they change throughout their lifetime, but it’s important to know how to preserve them as best as you can. Understanding how to clean stone worktops can help ensure your worktops look as good as the day they were installed! So in this article, we will provide you with our top tips.
General daily cleaning
You won’t need to do anything too fancy when cleaning your stone worktops on a daily basis. In fact, the simpler the better; just some warm water and soap will do the trick. To keep that shine on your stone worktops, go over them with a clean microfibre cloth afterwards.
Avoid harsh cleaning products which could be abrasive or acidic as this can wear away the natural properties of the stone or strip the sealants used on the worktop.
Preventing and removing stains
We would advise keeping the following away from your stone worktops:
- Hot pots and pans – these can tarnish the worktops. However, granite (for example) is actually very heat resistant and can withstand temperatures of up to 250°C
- Acidic foods (vinegar, lemon juice etc) – these types of spillages can stain
- Harsh cleaning products such as bleach – this can change the colour of the worktop
- Cutting directly onto the worktops – this can cause scratches in the stone
If you notice a stain, work on removing it immediately. Simply start by creating a paste using baking soda and warm water and apply it directly to the stain, repeat this process until the stain has gone. You can leave the paste on overnight for tougher stains.
Additional cleaning tips
Much like many natural materials, they will require some more intense TLC every now and then. Depending on which stone you have gone for (granite, quartz, marble), they will require varying levels of additional cleaning.
Sealing
As all natural stone is porous. The sealing process prevents staining from oils and water. It’s not something that needs to be done particularly regularly but it is an important step to preserving your worktops, here are the timeframes we would recommend for sealing (if required):
- Granite – 3-5 years
- Marble – Every year
- Quartz – Non-porous man-made material, so no need to seal
- Sintered stone – Non-porous man-made material, so no need to seal
How do I seal my stone worktops?
You will need to purchase a suitable sealant for your worktop, and this will differ depending on what worktop you have installed, so speak to us beforehand and we can point you in the right direction.
- Once you have the correct sealant, you firstly want to ensure that the surface is completely free of any dirt or dust, so give them a good clean with soap and warm water and wait until they are completely dry.
- Test a small section that is not visible first, this is just a recommended precaution.
- Once you’ve done your patch test, evenly coat your worktop with the sealant.
- Allow it to soak in (this usually takes 20-30 minutes) and then if your sealant instructions suggest, apply a second coat.
- Once this has soaked in you can go over the worktop with a clean cloth (like a microfibre one).
- Now leave the worktop alone for at least 24 hours.
Benefits of stone worktops
Fortunately, all the stone worktops that we install for our customers are extremely durable and generally very resistant to stains, and with the proper care will last for years to come.
As well as being very easy to clean by following the above steps, you will also have an aesthetically beautiful worktop, regardless of whether you choose granite, marble quartz or sintered stone.
Each worktop is created bespoke for you, no two worktops are the same and each has an individual pattern, colouring and custom finish.
Need more advice on how to clean your stone worktops?
Eaton Stonemasons is a family run business that has been creating and installing stone worktops for over 20 years, we are the best people to ask any questions about keeping your worktops perfect. Our team of stonemasons will be happy to help you, so give us a call on 01929 550653 or email us at sales@eatonstonemasons.com.
Some further reading…
We want to ensure that our customers have all the information they need to know about their worktops, so we regularly update our blog with articles. Here are just a few you may be interested in: