A worktop in natural stone is beautiful to behold and a true joy to cook on. However, many are a bit scared to use natural stone in their kitchen, partially because of the price but also because it’s sometimes considered difficult to keep clean. If you keep our tips below in mind, your natural stone worktops will stay pristine and beautiful for years and years to come.
Here are our top tips to clean your worktop and remove stains.
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1. Waterproof and protect the stone
You may have heard that stone such as marble can easily get stained from liquids like red wine and lemon juice. It’s true that marble doesn’t get along well with acids while limestone can be damaged by salts. Both types of stone are made of a soft mineral (carbonate); granite, on the other hand, is a bit harder and more durable.
By correctly maintaining your stone worktop, you can give it the protection it needs to easily wipe away any potential spills without leaving a permanent stain. The miracle remedy? Just use a bit of undyed soap or stone waterproofing spray (avoid colored soap as it might discolor the surface). Using these substances regularly not only protects the stone but makes it more beautiful and durable. Do not, however, use any strong detergents as these could easily corrode the surface — a light touch is all you need.
2. Dry immediately
Spills aren’t that big of an issue as long as you clean them quickly — the longer it goes unclean, the greater the risk of a stain. You have to be even more careful with light stone and unpolished surfaces as these can stain rather fast.
Acids such as juice, wine, carbonated beverages, fruits or harsh soaps can corrode the top layer of the stone and later its structure: that can cause discolorations in the surface and color. Therefore, simply clean up any spills quickly: just wipe it away with a cloth and then wipe again with soapy water (if necessary). If you do find your worktop stained, not to worry! You can either turn it into a beautiful patina or you can sand down the surface and remove the stain.
3. Use cutting boards and clean cloths
Stone worktops can also be scratched or dented. You’ll really only make an actual dent if you drop something heavy on the surface, but scratches can occur from more mundane causes.
Drying the cloth with grains of sand or soil on it (such as from cleaning fruits and vegetables) can leave scratches and marks on the surface. Instead, we recommend you use a clean cloth to wipe down the worktop. We also recommend that you always use a cutting board; even though knives won’t scratch the surface itself, they can weaken it and can hamper any of the waterproofing that you may have applied.
4. Use mats and trivets
Natural stone is usually not overly sensitive to heat but you may want to still use a trivet or underlay for hot kitchenware. Bowls and dishes with rough or uneven bottoms should be placed on a cloth, especially if they are prone to being moved back and forth across the stone (such as at a dinner party or cocktail gathering where guests might adjust its placement unknowingly).
As long as you follow the advice laid out above, your stone worktops will stay beautiful and become more stunning over time. It also means you don’t have to worry about the price since well-maintained natural stone is a great investment for the future: it’s highly durable, long-lasting, and can easily stand up to the wear and tear of daily use. See more inspirations for worktops here.
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