Marks on worktop

[hartof]

I moved into a new build 4 months ago, the first weekend I made a cup of tea and noticed a white ring on the worktop. It didn't come off when cleaned, and each time I've made a cup of tea since it's got worse and obviously spread as it's not always in the same spot.

I've reported it to the developer who are doing everything to get out of sorting this out. They recommended I use baking powder made into a paste and covered with cling film, I did this it didn't work. I used bleach, I used nail polish remover, and vanish. Nothing has worked. All of these were suggested by the worktop supplier.

Would you expect it to come off or is it marked? I personally thing it's faulty as it shouldn't be marked so easily, we have probably made about 4/5 cups of tea since we moved as we mostly drink coffee and use a nespresso.

What is the worktop made of..laminate, corian or granite?

Laminate

if it's laminate, you might possibly have scratched the hard plastic coating with something gritty, for example if the house was full of builders dust, or if you have mugs with an unglazed ceramic ring on the base. You might conceal this with an oil or polish. it could be buffed out if not deep. Does it disappear when you wipe it with a damp cloth, then come back as it dries?

Or it might be a limescale mark if you are in a hard water area. If so, put a drip of vinegar on part of the mark, leave for a few minutes, wipe off with damp sponge. Has it gone?

I have no idea why they suggested baking powder.

The other things you tried will not help unless it is dirt that the products can remove.

Nail polish remover is likely to damage plastics.

Looks to me like heat damage. I once had similar when I had high gloss laminate units caused by me putting a hot item on a damp tea towel. I thought the tea towel would protect the surface but because it was damp the tea towel got very hot and caused the work top to go white.

The whole worktop had to be replaced.

I tried vinegar with some kitchen towel and cling film last night it hasn't changed.

@PigletJohn This is what I've tried telling the developer, it's not a stain. I just tried everything they told me to so they couldn't accuse me of lying. It doesn't dissapear when it's wet either. The house was fully cleaned the day before we completed, although I know dust does settle in a new house. I don't think it's that.

Hopefully they'll replace it as if you can't make a cup of tea on it then to me it's not fit for purpose.

Try asking someone from the worktop company to come and inspect the tops

Laminate is supposed to be heat resistant to be fit for purpose. A cup of tea should not damage the top so the company need to inspect imo

Have you tried Jiff? That's how I get the marks like this out of mine

Or Ciff, whatever it's called

Thanks @Mammajay That's my argument too. I suspect them coming out to inspect it will be the next step as the site is finished now and there's nobody around on a daily basis.