Most kitchen worktops are designed to be particularly hardy, and for the most part can be used without significant worktop repairs for a long time, providing a few simple steps are taken to make sure your worktop is as protected as possible.

Here are some dos and don’ts when taking care of worktops.

Do Choose A Safe Daily Disinfectant

Ultimately, you should be cleaning your surfaces after every use and take care of spills as soon as they occur. As a result, it is important to choose cleaning products that will be gentle on your surfaces.

Diluted dishwashing liquid is effective for everyday stains, as is a gentle disinfectant.

Do Not Use Acid-Based Products On Stone

Many people like to use white vinegar and lemon juice and other acidic products in their cleaners as they are very effective on many surfaces.

However, do not use them on stone worktops as they can cause damage to the surface when used in high enough quantities.

This is true even if the stone has been sealed, as the acidic substance can dissolve the protective coating when used for long enough.

Do Take Advantage Of Sealants

Stone sealants are commonly used for natural stone floors and outdoor paving, but they are even more critically important for stone work surfaces, as they will face more abuse than you think from stains and hot plates touching them.

As a result, it is wise to find an appropriate sealant and apply it to the stone.

Do Not Work Directly On The Surface

If you want to truly avoid damaging the surface, try to do as little work as possible on it. Use hot pads or trivets to place hot pans and plates onto, and take advantage of chopping boards to avoid scratching the surface with an inadvertent chop.