Worktop Care and Maintenance

Laminate worktops are hard-wearing and need very little maintenance, but the few things that do damage them tend to be permanent. This guide covers everyday care and the handful of habits worth building in from day one.

Everyday cleaning

• Wipe with a soft cloth and warm soapy water, then dry with a clean cloth.
• Deal with spills as they happen. Tea, coffee, red wine, turmeric and beetroot can mark a light decor if left to sit.
• For stubborn marks, use a non-abrasive household cleaner. Test on a hidden area first — under an overhang or on an offcut.

What to avoid

• Abrasives. Scouring pads, wire wool, cream cleaners and powder cleaners will dull the surface finish permanently. On textured and matt decors the damage shows quickly.
• Bleach and strong solvents. Undiluted bleach, oven cleaner, drain cleaner, paint stripper and acetone can discolour laminate. If any of these are spilled, rinse immediately with clean water.
• Cutting directly on the surface. Laminate is scratch-resistant but not scratch-proof. Always use a chopping board.
• Hot pans straight from the hob or oven. Always use a trivet or heat mat. Direct contact with hot cookware can blister or scorch the surface.
• Standing water. This is the one that causes real damage. See below.

Protecting the core from water

A laminate worktop is a chipboard core with a laminate face. The face is water resistant, the core is not. Water only becomes a problem where it can reach an unsealed edge — and if it does, the core swells and the damage cannot be reversed.

• Seal every cut edge. Use matching ABS edging on visible cut ends and a suitable sealant on cut-outs and hidden edges.
• Pay particular attention to sink and hob cut-outs, and to the joint between two worktop lengths.
• Do not leave standing water around the sink, especially against the back edge and at joints.
• Fit an upstand or splashback and seal the junction so water cannot run down behind the worktop.
• Check the seal around the sink and taps every few months and re-seal if it has lifted.

Everyday habits that make the difference

• Chopping board for every cut.
• Trivet for every hot pan.
• Wipe spills as they happen rather than at the end of the day.
• Dry around the sink after washing up.

Do those four things and a laminate worktop will still look good years later.

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