Caring for laminate worktops
All laminate worktop surfaces are designed for easy maintenance and a long life.
- Everyday stains such as finger marks and tea or coffee spills clean up easily with a quick wipe with a damp cloth.
- Your laminate worktop will be exceptionally resistant to scratches and normal wear and tear, but you should always use a cutting board when you use sharp knives.
- To clean stains – start by trying to wipe it with a damp cloth and mild detergent. If it’s a difficult stain, use a mild household cleaner with a soft bristled brush. If stubborn stains remain, try baking soda or a non-scratch cleaner such as Flash, scrubbing lightly with a soft bristled brush.
- Never place hot pans or dishes directly onto your worktops. Instead, use a heat shield, or trivet to avoid blistering or cracking the laminate.
- Never use acidic or abrasive cleaners, or apply excessive scrubbing, especially on surfaces with a gloss finish.
- Always wipe up spills including standing water immediately and rinse surfaces thoroughly after cleaning, especially after using any harsh chemical liquids such as oven cleaners and rust removers.
- Don’t use polish on laminated surfaces.
- Don’t wear a PVC apron as over time it can rub against the laminate and change the texture/colour.
- After cleaning, always ensure that you dry the area.
Caring for granite worktops
Granite looks beautiful and it’s easy to keep it looking as good as new with a few recommended steps:
- MN Easy-Clean, which is provided in your care kit, is all it takes to remove grease, oil and general dirt from granite worktops. It is specially designed to support the effectiveness of granite protective treatments and you just need a few squirts.
- Any areas that you use a lot, or get really dirty, should be thoroughly cleaned with MN Power-Clean.
- You should periodically refresh the shine of the granite with Lithofin MN Polish Cream. Use it every four weeks or so and always after using MN Easy-Power Clean. When you use it regularly it offers additional protection against scratches and water marks, especially on marble and limestone surfaces.
- After cleaning, always ensure that you dry the area.
Please refer to the specific instructions supplied with your granite worktop for more information on the care kit. There are useful phone numbers on it as well, in case you have any technical questions.
Caring for Quartz worktops
Quartz worktops are low maintenance, because the unique way they are produced creates a surface with low porosity to prevent them from absorbing fluids.
- Wipe worktops daily with soap and warm water to help the surface retain its natural beauty and shine.
- Ensure that you rinse and dry the worktops after you clean them to remove any excess soap residue.
- Your worktops are naturally highly resistant to surface staining from cooking oils, wine, coffee, etc.
Cream cleaner and warm water will remove stubborn marks. - Avoid using strong chemicals or solvents such as undiluted bleach and caustic soda, or highly aggressive cleaning agents with high alkaline/PH levels.
- Although Quartz is more heat resistant than most surfaces, all stone can be damaged by sudden and extreme temperature changes so use a heat shield or trivet.
Caring for Earthstone worktops
Each Earthstone worktop is manufactured to give your kitchen a wonderful and long lasting finish. It’s easy to clean the unique surface of your Earthstone worktops and they are repairable too. You’ll find the following cleaning materials in your Care and Maintenance Kit:
- Scotchbrite pad (for removing minor scratches)
- Countertop Magic Polish
- Microfibre cloth
To keep your worktops well maintained, once a week wipe the surfaces with warm soapy water. Then buff the surfaces dry and apply a thin, even coat of Countertop Magic (included in your Care and Maintenance kit) and wipe off immediately with a clean microfibre cloth. When it’s completely dry, apply a second coat of Countertop Magic and repeat the process. Buff the surface up to an even finish using the microfibre cloth.
Earthstone worktops have a solid, non-porous surface that’s resistant to stains, mould, mildew and bacteria growth. If any discolouration appears due to coffee, tea or fruit juices or marks caused by cigarette burns you should clean the surface using a mild detergent and water. If the stain is still there, try an even mix of domestic bleach and warm water, making sure that you protect your hands with gloves. For more stubborn stains, apply a non-abrasive cream cleaner to a non-abrasive nylon brush and rub it gently over the stain. Finally, if none of those work, try rubbing the area in a circular motion with a Scotchbrite pad in warm, soapy water.
At the end of each stage, rinse with warm water, gently buff dry the surface and apply two coats of Countertop Magic Polish across the whole surface. If the stain persists, we recommend that you contact a professional tradesperson who will apply the full sanding and finishing treatment to return the worktop to its original condition.
- Earthstone worktops can get damaged if hot pans, earthenware or dishes are placed directly from the oven or cooker. Don’t place hot objects directly on to the worktops.
- Always protect the worktops with a heat resistant mat or stainless steel grating (trivet) with rubber feet. We also recommend that your pans match the size of the hotplate and don’t extend beyond the heat source around the hob.
- Wipe spills away quickly.
- Don’t cut anything directly on the worktops – always use a chopping board to protect your worktop.
- Don’t use abrasive cleaners or solvents as cleaning fluids.
- Don’t drop heavy objects onto the worktops.
- After cleaning, always ensure that you dry the area.
Please note that darker colours will show excessive marking, scratching, wear and tear more noticeably than lighter colours.