Stone worktop care and cleaning — how to keep your worktop in good condition
Quartz, ceramic, granite and marble are cared for in different ways. Instructions from our factory and installation team for everyday cleaning, sealing and stain removal. We give instructions with every worktop — Delivery and installation in Finland — 14 working days from drawing approval.
How is a stone worktop cared for, depending on the material?
A stone worktop does not ask for much, but it does ask for the right approach. Quartz and ceramic are dense: water, a mild detergent and a soft cloth are enough for them, and they are not sealed. Granite and marble are natural stones that we seal at installation and that are worth resealing every few years. Marble reacts to acids, so lemon, wine and vinegar are wiped away immediately.
Most of the care questions our installation team receives are about the wrong products. Abrasive powder scratches a polished surface, chlorine and strong alkalis fade the colour of quartz, and acidic descalers etch marble. Hot pans always go on a trivet on quartz, while ceramic and granite withstand them. With these few rules the worktop will look the same years from now as on installation day.
What you get when you order directly from the factory
Instructions with the worktop
At installation we give you written care instructions for exactly your material. No need to guess which product is suitable and which is not.
Sealing on installation day
We seal granite and marble worktops immediately after installation. We tell you when the treatment should be renewed and how you can do it yourself.
The right care products
We sell the same cleaning and sealing products that we use at the factory and in installations. You will find them on the page Stone slab care products.
Help with stains and scratches
If the worktop gets scratched or a stain will not come off, contact us. We advise you by phone, and if needed our installer polishes or repairs the spot on site.
Which stone suits this use?
We help you choose the material according to the use, style and budget. We machine all of the below in our own factory.
Quartz
Water and a mild detergent are enough. No sealing, no abrasive powders, no hot pans directly on the surface.
Ceramic
The easiest to care for: withstands heat, acids and most detergents. Wipe with a damp cloth, with an all-purpose cleaner if needed.
Granite
Sealed at installation and every 2–4 years. In everyday use, water and a neutral detergent; heat does no harm.
Marble
Sealed regularly, no acidic products. Lemon, wine and vinegar are wiped up immediately, and a polished surface is cared for with a product intended for marble.
Dimensions, thicknesses and options
- Everyday cleaningwater, mild detergent, soft cloth
- Sealing intervalgranite 2–4 yrs, marble 1–2 yrs, quartz and ceramic not needed
- Avoidabrasive powders, chlorine, strong alkalis, acidic descalers
- Heatceramic and granite withstand it, always a trivet for quartz
- Scratch repairnatural stone is re-polished, quartz and ceramic are repaired case by case
- Care productscleaning and sealing products on the page /kivilevyn-hoitotuotteet/
See also: edge profiles · corner finishes · ordering instructions
From measuring to installation
Measuring
Already at measuring we discuss how the kitchen is used. Based on that, we recommend a material and surface whose care suits your everyday life.
Manufacturing in our own factory
At the factory the surface is finished and inspected. The first sealing of natural stone is prepared so that it can be done immediately after installation.
Delivery
Delivery and installation in Finland — 14 working days from drawing approval. The worktop is packed with protection, and the care instructions and, if needed, care products come in the same delivery.
Installation
After installation we seal natural stone, go through the cleaning and the joints, and give you written instructions. Afterwards we advise you by phone if needed.
Questions and answers
How often does a stone worktop need sealing?
Quartz and ceramic are not sealed at all. Granite is sealed at installation and after that about every 2–4 years, marble more often, about every 1–2 years depending on use. An easy test: if a drop of water soaks into the surface instead of beading, it is time to seal.
Do I get care instructions with the worktop?
Yes. Delivery and installation in Finland — 14 working days from drawing approval, and on installation day we go through the care together and leave written instructions for your material. If a question comes up later, the same team answers by phone or email.
What does maintenance cost?
Ordinary maintenance costs nothing: water, a mild detergent and a cloth are enough. The sealant for natural stone is a small expense that you can get from us. If you need an installer’s visit to polish or repair a scratch, we give you a fixed quote for it in advance.
How do I remove a stain from a stone worktop?
From quartz and ceramic most stains come off with water and a mild detergent or an all-purpose cleaner. From granite and marble a grease stain is removed with a poultice intended for stone, which is left to work for a few hours. Do not use acids or scouring powder. If the stain will not come off, contact us before trying stronger products.
Can a scratch be repaired?
Small scratches in granite and marble are re-polished on site. Scratches in quartz and ceramic are rarer, and they can be repaired or blended case by case. Send us a photo, and we will assess the repair method and, if needed, our installer will come by.
Ask about care or order care products
Contact us if you are unsure about the right product or a stain will not come off. The same team that installed your worktop will advise you.
