Want to know how to look after your surfaces? To help you along your surface journey, we have compiled a list of our top surface care tips for looking after each of the most popular stone worktops in the UK to ensure you’re getting the most wear and longevity from them…

After investing in new surfaces, you want them to last a lifetime. Each stone surface is different and requires its own surface care and maintenance. When selecting the surface that will work best for you, you should consider care tips, surface characteristics and how this fits your needs. What’s even better? Ensure that the surface you select is valid under a warranty. Here at The Surface Collection, all our worktops come with a warranty, so you can rest assured your surfaces are covered. This is a 15-year domestic and a 10-year commercial.

Looking After Silkstone Quartz Surfaces

Quartz is a man-made material that has been engineered to resemble natural stone fast. It is fast becoming one of the most popular surfaces for kitchens and bathrooms due to its durability, versatility, and low maintenance. We supply our own range of Silkstone Quartz, which features five collections of varying designs and styles. Despite the low maintenance nature of the material, you should still follow these care tips to look after your surfaces…

General Care

• Quartz is pretty durable when it comes to what everyday life can throw at it, but it’s best to avoid putting your surfaces through too much, so avoid excessive heat such as placing hot pots and pans directly on the worktop
• Use chopping boards or a butcher’s block when chopping food to avoid scratching
• Avoid cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals like bleach or chlorine, as these can discolour quartz worktops
• Prevent oil from spilling onto the surface, and don’t use cleaning products that contain oils, as it can leave a residue and dull a polished finish

Cleaning Advice

• Keep Quartz tops looking their best by regularly cleaning them with a damp cloth and a mild soapy solution and wiping dry with a soft cloth
• Use a degreaser for more heavy-duty cleaning, you can also purchase specific Quartz cleaners
• Quartz is a low porous surface, making it stain-resistant, but it’s always a good idea to ensure you wipe up any spills quickly
• Never use abrasive cleaning products such as metal pads or abrasive creams as these may mark your surface

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Looking After Atlas Plan Surfaces

Atlas Plan Porcelain is another man-made material, which makes it an incredibly durable material with 0.01% porosity. It is heat, scratch, and stain-resistant. However, staining and chips can occur where there are pits on a surface, so just as with Quartz, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to looking after these surfaces.

General Care

The following points are not vital but we still recommend:

• Avoid excessive heat such as placing hot pots and pans directly on the worktop
• Use chopping boards or a butcher’s block when chopping food to avoid scratching
• Prevent oil from spilling onto the surface. Don’t use cleaning products that contain oils, as it can leave a residue and dull a polished finish

Cleaning Advice

• Regularly clean Porcelain with a damp cloth and a mild soapy solution and then wipe dry with a soft cloth
• For tougher stains, use a cleaning spray with a bleach additive
• Avoid cleaning solutions with Hydrofluoric Acid as this can damage the surface
• Porcelain is a non-porous surface so won’t stain easily, but it’s always a good idea to ensure you wipe up any spills quickly
• Never use abrasive cleaning products such as metal pads or abrasive creams as these may mark your surface

Looking After Marble Surfaces

If you’re a bit of a foodie then you might be drawn to Marble surfaces due to the cooling nature of the surface, which makes it ideal for baking and pastry. This cooling comes from the surface being porous which is great for dough, but not so great for staining and surface care. To avoid any staining mishaps be sure to take extra care when cleaning.

General Care

• Don’t let water build up on the worktops, especially in hard water areas because Marble absorbs water. Evaporating water can leave behind calcium deposits – more commonly known as limescale. As Marble is also made of Calcium, removing limescale build-up can be somewhat of a nightmare
• Do not stand or sit on your worktops as Marble is not as strong as Granite or Quartzite
• Avoid excessive heat and place hot pans and pots on a trivet and not directly on the worktop
• Marble can be prone to etching and scratching, so use chopping boards or a butcher’s block

Cleaning Advice

• Marble is very porous and can stain easily, so always ensure you wipe up any spills quickly, especially for the usual staining culprits like red wine and curry, but also for acidic spills such as lemon juice
• For a deeper clean or for stubborn dried-on food use an all-purpose kitchen/bathroom cleaner and a soft cloth

Looking After Granite Surfaces

Granite is a robust material, which makes it perfect for hard-wearing areas like kitchens. It is highly heat resistant and very hard to scratch. It is also a good choice for outdoor areas as it is not easily stained by moisture or sunlight. However, this material still requires care to keep it looking its best, so here are our top tips for looking after your Granite surfaces…

General Care

• As Granite is porous, surfaces are sealed with chemicals to fill the natural pits in the surface. Some liquids are highly abrasive, so avoid getting the following on your worktops: oven cleaners, paint removers, stripping agents, nail polish removers, and acidic juices and liquids such as vinegar, lemon and lime. These can pluck out the sealant
• Even though Granite can handle high heat, we recommend avoiding exposing your new worktops to excessive heat. Place hot pans and pots on a trivet and not directly on the worktop
• Use chopping boards or a butcher’s block when chopping food so you can avoid scratching your work surface or damage to your knives.
• Wipe up any spills of food and drinks that can cause stains, such as curry, blackcurrant, coffee and beetroot
• You will need to seal your worktop properly on an annual basis, and this is to ensure that it isn’t left open to any potential damage

Cleaning Advice

• Never use abrasive cleaning products such as metal pads or abrasive creams
• Avoid alkaline and chlorine-based cleaners and do not use bleach
• Keep your Granite tops looking their best by regularly cleaning them with a damp cloth, mild soapy solution and drying off any excess water or cleaning agent residue – granite is porous, so will soak up excess water
• If there are marks on your worktop, use a PH neutral washing up liquid or cleaning solution with some warm water, wipe with a damp cloth and buff up with another

So, now you know everything there is to know about looking after your surfaces! What are your top care tips? We’d love to know your thoughts so drop us a DM on our Instagram or comment on Facebook!