A kitchen is a place the whole family gathers and shares the most memorable moments with each other; every homeowner would want their kitchen to be comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, along with a lot many other qualities. The key part of any kitchen is the kitchen benchtop. Working in the kitchen becomes a lot easier and more pleasant when you have a benchtop with a perfect shine and finish. Some of the most popular options are stone benchtops, granite benchtops, and marble benchtops.
See, it doesn’t matter which type of kitchen benchtop you have. Kitchen benchtops, like any other piece of furniture in your home, must be carefully maintained to ensure that they look and work effectively in your family for a long time. So, the following are some of the preventive steps you can take to safeguard your benchtop from scratches and stains.
Seal the surface
Whether your countertop is honed or polished, it’s important to seal it properly. As marble has a porous surface, a high-grade sealant is applied to it to make the surface smooth and shinier. The sealant penetrates the marble, settles just below its surface, and restores it. It acts as a shield against stains, spills, and acidic foods. Once installed, your marble countertops require to be resealed every 2-5 years, depending on the usage. Make sure that you don’t miss out on the resealing process. As this process requires precision, call an expert and don’t take it as a DIY project.
Use appropriate cleaning products
As marble countertops have a highly reactive surface, you have to follow a certain regime to clean their surface. Using regular cleaning products will damage its surface. So, avoid using them. Make sure that you are using a pH-neutral cleaner designed for stone. Avoid using any cleaning product that includes ammonia, vinegar, bleach, lemon juice, etc. Never use any type of abrasive cleaner on marble surfaces as it can dull the finish.
Always use chopping boards
Unlike stone or granite, marble benchtops are more susceptible to stains, scratches, cracks, etc. And its reactive nature against acidic food and drinks can make it dull and damage its aesthetic appeal. Some of the most common examples are splashes of acidic foods and drinks such as soda, coffee, citrus fruit, etc. can damage marble. To avoid such damage, you can use a large cutting board that will avert contact between food and countertop during preparation. Also, you can use a protective sheet made of silicone or plastic while preparing food.
Use Placemats and Coasters When Serving
As discussed above, marble surfaces are reactive towards acidic food and can absorb liquid if the sealant is not applied. Although marble is durable enough to handle hot pots and pans, using a trivet will help to maintain it better. While serving food or drinks, make sure that you always use placemats and coasters. It provides that extra protection to the marble surface, and it also looks elegant.
Avoid heat on the surface
The most frequent misunderstanding about Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons, is that she is completely fire-proof. The fact is that she has a better tolerance to heat—this is not due to magic. The same may be said about manufactured stone. The material can withstand heat to some extent, but it is not heat-proof. A hot pot accidentally placed on the surface for a few seconds will not burn it; nevertheless, you should avoid doing so for an extended length of time as it might harm the surface. As a result, we suggest using a trivet or hot pad to avoid overheating your engineered stone countertop.
Avoid acids
Strong solvents and chemicals may harm the physical qualities of engineered stone worktops; thus, avoid cleaning the surface with products containing methylene chloride or Trichloroethane, as well as very aggressive cleaning solutions meant for grilles or ovens. If the pH level of a dishwasher polishing agent is more than 5, do not use it on your engineered stone tabletop. It is also critical to completely rinse goods containing powders and oils. If you mistakenly expose the surface to any of these harmful items, immediately rinse it with clean water to neutralise the impact.
Watch out for staining ingredients
Use a plastic putty knife to scrape off adherent stuff such as gum, food, dried paint, or nail polish. Use a non-abrasive home cleanser that will not diminish the surface's brightness. Then, using a moist cloth, remove any remaining dirt or markings. Again, we recommend using a non-abrasive detergent and a no-scratch cleaning pad. However, using a solution designed specifically for stone surfaces is also preferable.
5 Great Benchtop Materials
To maintain the aesthetic appeal of your marble countertops, make sure that you are following these above-mentioned tips religiously. You need to be swift with cleaning its surface in case of any spillage of cold drinks or coffee. Also, don’t forget to get it resealed at the right intervals. And while cleaning, always use a microfiber cloth with a pH-neutral stone cleaner. This will keep everything in check and increase your marble countertops' lifespan.
