The festive season brings families, friends and multiple meals. This means a bustling kitchen that see more activity in a few weeks than the rest of the year combined. While you stone worktops are built for everyday use, the festive period means extra heat, spills, stains and foot traffic that can put natural and engineered stone to the test. If you are festive hosting, think about protecting your stone worktops.
Whether your home has granite, marble, quartz or porcelain worktops, the key to preserving their beauty is adopting a few simple habits. Here’s how to keep your surfaces in tip-top condition through the food, baking, hosting, drinking marathon that is Christmas.
Prevent Stains Before They Happen
Marble & Quartzite
- These surfaces are porous and need proper sealing – we do seal during fabrication but this may require a regular top up.
- Wipe spills immediately, especially anything acidic.
- Use cutting boards and tray to reduce direct contact with stain-prone foods.
Granite
- Naturally more resilient but still benefits from seasonal resealing.
- Clean spills up right away to avoid absorption.
Quartz
- Non-porous but not stain proof.
- Pigmented liquids (wine, coffee, sauces) should be wiped quickly to avoid discolouration.
Pro Tip: Provide guests with coasters so that drinks aren’t placed directly onto your work surface.
Protect Against Heat Damage
With trays coming out of the oven and dishes of hot food being loaded, it’s tempting to set hot cookware down without thinking. Avoid this, especially on quartz.
Heat Protection Must-Haves
- Trivets
- Wooden boards
- Silicone mats
- Thick pot holders or folded towels
Quartz is particularly susceptible to thermal shock, which can cause cracking or discolouration. Even durable stone like granite or quartzite can suffer from repeated heat exposure.
Use the Right Cleaning Products
Your all-purpose cleaners, vinegar sprays, and bleach based products might work elsewhere but not on stone.
Best Cleaning Options
- Warm soapy water – use daily.
- Small amounts of Cif cream cleaner/Activ spray or Astonish cream.
- Microfibre cloths for a streak-free finish.
Avoid
- Corrosive cleaners such as Cillit Bang and Viakal.
- Abrasive powders.
- Scrubbing pads.
These products can etch marble, dull quartz, and wear down sealants over time.
Prevent Scratches and Surface Wear
Busy kitchens mean more movement, from cutting and chopping and items being being place on the work surface.
To keep your surfaces scratch-free:
- Use cutting boards for all chopping and cutting.
- Lift appliances and pots and pans instead of sliding them.
- Add felt pads under festive decorations like candles and centrepieces.
- Avoid dragging cookware and serving platters.
Even extremely hard stones can develop micro-scratches if treated roughly.
Maintain the Seal on Natural Stone
If you have granite, marble or quartzite, you will need to consider proper sealing. Here are the signs that you may need to reseal:
- Water no longer beads on the surface.
- Dark spots appear when water sits.
- The surface looks dry or dull.
Plan to reseal once a year.
Prep Your Worktops Before Guests Arrive
A little preparation goes a long way. Before festive gatherings:
- Clear clutter to prevent spills and scratches.
- Layout coasters and trivets.
- Protect high-use zones like the island or beverage areas.
You’re worktops will stay beautiful and you’ll enjoy a smoother, more organised hosting experience.
