The appearance of your kitchen or bathroom worktop is important, not just for the worktop itself, but for the overall look and feel of the room. If your worktop has food stains, soap marks or other blemishes easily visible, it detracts from an otherwise spotless kitchen or bathroom, so knowing how to clean your worktop efficiently and effectively is important. With Silestone worktops, it’s important that you follow particular steps to achieve the best results, and we’re going to detail them here.
Precautions
There are several methods and items that you might use for cleaning other surfaces that you should keep away from your Silestone worktop. They include:Water repellents – Silestone’s natural sheen is one that cannot be replicated, and sealants and repellents only provide an artificial look. Avoid using these, and avoid using caustic products such as hydrofluoric acid. If you do have to use bleach for any reason, make sure to dilute it with water first, and do not leave it on the surface for extended periods of time – if left for 12 hours, the surface will lose its sheen.Polish – Do not attempt to polish the surface again once it has been installed.
Routine Silestone Care
For basic cleaning, Silestone requires little more than a simple wipe down. Household products can be used, but certain types must be avoided: hydrofluoric acid, dichloromethane, caustic soda and paint strippers.
Advanced Silestone Cleaning
Here, we are going to look at the cleaning methods required for certain types of stains and blemishes. Grease Stains – Common household cleaners can can be used for grease stains, in conjunction with a non-scratch scouring pad. However, please make sure the cleaning agent in question is suitable for use – anything containing caustic soda, hydrofluoric acid or dichloromethane should be avoided. Q Action or Cif Actifizz are just two products that are designed specifically for the cleaning of worktops. Once the stain has been removed, rinse the surface immediately with water. Limescale and Hard Water Stains – Cleaning stains from hard water buildup requires a bit more than wiping the surface with a scouring pad. The most effective method needs a paste, made from equal parts white vinegar and baking soda. Apply the mixture to the affected area, and leave it to sit for 10-20 minutes. Once the appropriate time has passed, remove the paste with cold water and a non-scratch scouring pad or sponge. Keep in mind that the stain may not completely disappear after the first attempt, so one or two more applications may be required.
Difficult Silestone Stains
Obviously, difficult stains require more attention. For the easiest of the difficult stains, use a pH-balanced household cleaner such as Q Action or Cif Actifizz, spray the stain and leave it to soak for two minutes. After two minutes, scrub the area with a scouring pad and rinse thoroughly with water. For more stubborn stains, such as gum, nail polish or paint, you can use a razor blade to scrape the surface. It is crucial that you do this gently, as too much pressure can cause you to scratch the surface or hurt yourself. Once scraped, you can use warm water to clean the grey marks left by the razor.You can treat many difficult stains with the following products:
Lacquer thinner
Rubbing alcohol
Ammonia
Mineral spirits
Windex
Formula 409
Paint thinner
Make sure to exercise caution when using any of these products. Don’t leave them on the surface for any longer than 10 minutes, and wash them away thoroughly afterwards.
Loss of Silestone Sheen
There are multiple potential causes for loss of sheen. Attempts to bring out the shine of the surface using waxes or sprays can often have the opposite effect, and recovering the natural sheen requires a suitable multi-purpose furniture spray. Check with the manufacturer to see which ones are fit for use. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to clean your Silestone surface, and once you know how to use them, you won’t need to worry when you discover a stain on your worktop. Touchstone Worktops are proud to be a supplier of Silestone’s brilliant worktops for commercial and domestic customers alike. For more information, please get in touch with us today.
