When you spend hard-earned cash on a new worktop, whatever material you choose, you need it to last the test of time, and stand up to plenty of wear and tear. Of course, how you look after your new worktop will have a lot to do with how long it lasts for. If you don’t carry out routine cleaning and maintenance then you will find that your worktop decays and wears much quicker than if you keep up to date with anything that your new stone worktop needs, as well as general cleaning duties.
If you have chosen marble or classic quartz for your work surface then you have made an excellent decision. Both are classic, strong, and look fantastic in your kitchen, but they have distinct differences in terms of how to clean them and how to look after them.
How to Clean Marble Worktops
Marble is a strong stone, but it isn’t as strong as some of the other materials on the market, such as quartz or granite. For that reason you need to be slightly more careful in terms of how you look after it, but provided you get all of this right, you will find your work surface will look fantastic for as long as possible. Of course, marble is sophisticated and timeless, so you should give it the respect it deserves!
- Clean up any spillages immediately – Marble is not stain resistant and for that reason you should ensure you mop up any spillages as soon as they happen.
- Avoid using hard-staining agents on your work surface – If you are pouring red wine or using vinegar in your cooking, try and pour it somewhere else if at all possible! Both of these substances stain, and as we mentioned before, marble is not stain resistant.
- Use heat resistant pads for hot pans – Glass or ceramic heat pads should be used for placing hot pans down on your surface; marble is not heat resistant.
- Do not use abrasive cleaning pads – Avoid scouring pads, and instead go for a smooth cloth and buffering cloth, avoiding anything which could scratch your new worktop.
- Avoid harsh chemical cleaning agents – Anything which contains bleach or anything very abrasive or strong should be avoided. Use a gentle detergent cleaner, or simple warm water, to clean your surface regularly.
- Marble will need annual sealing – Unlike quartz, marble will need sealing yearly in order to keep it in top condition.
How to Clean Classic Quartz Worktops
Quartz is much more hard-wearing when compared to marble, but that doesn’t mean that you can do anything and treat it how you like, because it still needs a little care and attention. The main difference is the low maintenance level of classic quartz worktops, because it doesn’t need sealing or any other maintenance after it has been installed, other than regular cleaning.
Classic quartz is a strong, long-lasting, and luxurious choice for your worktop, and available in a large range of different colours and patterns.
- Mop up any spillages immediately – Quartz is extremely resistant to stains, but that doesn’t mean you should tempt fate!
- Avoid scouring pads – As with marble, avoid anything which is abrasive, and instead go for a soft cloth for cleaning your surface
- Avoid harsh chemical cleaners – Stick with something gentle, to avoid degradation over time
As you can see, classic quartz is much easier to clean and look after than marble, but the choice of which one you go for is entirely personal.
