The kitchen is arguably one of the most important parts of your house. It is where you prepare and serve food, so it has to be spotless. This is why when it comes to kitchen renovations, polished concrete kitchen benchtops in Melbourne are an inevitable part of the process. However, if you have a limited budget, you can choose to install temporary benchtops that can last up to 3 years. At this time, you can then choose to save more money or just have a new set of benchtops installed
Here are some tips on how to extend the life of your kitchen benchtops:
Protect them from heat
You might be thinking that benchtops are made of granite or marble materials that are well-known for their heat resistance; however, these materials can be susceptible to cracks and chips if exposed to high temperature for a long period of time. If you need to use your cooker, make sure that a hot pan does not stay on the surface for too long as it can cause damage over time. Invest in heat resistant mats and pads so that your benches will not get damaged from prolonged exposure to heat.
It goes without saying that heat is not going to be kind to your countertop, no matter what material it’s made of. That said, for some materials, heat can be more destructive than others. For example, quartz is highly resistant to heat damage, but marble isn’t. Be sure to check with your supplier about what kind of heat resistance you can expect from your countertop material.
Remove Stains and Spills Immediately
It’s easy enough to clean up a spill before it causes any permanent damage, but you’d be surprised at how many homeowners don’t bother doing this. If you leave a stain on your countertop long enough it might end up triggering premature ageing and decay.
Use a gentle cleaning agent
You should also avoid using harsh chemicals when cleaning your benchtop. Harsh chemicals can damage the surface of your benchtop and could even cause discoloration.
Avoid cutting directly on the benchtop
Try not to cut directly on your benchtop as this can scratch the surface. Use a chopping board instead. You should also avoid placing hot pots and pans directly on the counter as this can leave marks and stains.
Avoid hot pots and pans
A lot of us have been guilty of placing a pan or pot straight from the stove onto our kitchen benchtops. This can cause permanent damage to most natural stone surfaces, so be sure to invest in a wooden trivet or thick towel to protect your investment.
Use coasters
While many people use coasters for their coffee cups, don’t forget about other drinks that could ruin your benchtop when you’re entertaining. Cold drinks can leave condensation rings, while hot drinks can create permanent stains.
Know your materials
Before we delve into how to care for your benchtop, it’s important to know what you’re dealing with. There are many different materials used in kitchen benchtop designs such as natural stone, engineered stone or wood. Ensuring that you know what material your benchtop is made up of will allow you to identify the right cleaning products to use and how best to protect it from any damage.
