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Original poster

What kind of kitchen worktop do you have and is it a pain to keep it nice?

53 replies

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 19/12/2004 19:37

Currently writing brief for architect (we're doing some renovations at last) and will be getting a budget style kitchen but want to spend the money on the worktops and handles and appliances

So in terms of worktops

I love granite .. what do I need to know about its upkeep?

I also quite like wood .. but you have to oil it right? how onerous is that?

Thanks all experts

OP posts:
albert · 20/12/2004 09:59

I have polished marble (rented house though, could never afford it myself) and it is wonderful. Other than wipe it down you don't need to do a thing with it and it always look great and brand new. Must weigh a ton though!

wrapmefestively · 20/12/2004 10:09

Twasthenightbeforecatbert

I use antibacterial spray too, but doesn't stop the smearing which then needs buffing with dry tea towel or kitchen roll.

So you don't get smears? - are you sure you have 20:20 vision

Nome - I can see how white granite might work

bluesky · 20/12/2004 10:58

to avoid the smears you need one of the new e-cloths I think they are called, much better than a usual dishcloth.

crunchie · 20/12/2004 11:11

I have black shiney granite and it is BRILLIANT. I wip it down, as you would normally, but I do often dry it (which you might not do) this way you keep the shineyness. Then, when I remember I use a special cleaner (about once a blue moon) and polish it. TBH it looks so beautiful when I polish it, I am so proud. But normal wiping and drying does for us.

wrapmefestively · 20/12/2004 11:22

But that's the point Crunchie - you have to dry it off after wiping it down. You can't just wipe it and leave it to dry off naturally. Which mum with more than one pre-schooler genuinely has time to do this all the time?

jasper · 22/03/2005 01:11

this thread is three months old - due for a revival surely?
Anyone got further thoughts on work surfaces?

bobs · 17/07/2005 22:35

Thought i'd add to this one rather than starting a new thread. Am in the process of getting a quote from MFI and am coming unstuck on the worktops - go about 8 metres to cover so granite's out! I don't like the orange peel laminate worktops and the salesman said I can't put hot pans down/cut on the gloss laminates (I can on the worktop I've gor now!).
The question is...has anyone got a capri worktop??(only sold by MFI but has it's own website). Or any other ideas???

LaceyC · 19/10/2006 16:21

Has anyone actually bought a granite work top from granite4less?? need to find out if they are reliable, professional etc????

Mumpbump · 19/10/2006 16:33

B&Q do a product called speedstone which is a granite veneer backed on wood. Looks like granite, but it's meant to be quite a bit cheaper. There are other places that do a similar product.

We have a beech worktop and I oiled it for the first time last week since it was put in 18 months ago. It has had lots of builders' dust and cr*p on it, but has come up beautifully. If it gets damaged, you can sand it back and re-oil. Mind you, we are replacing it with black granite/speedstone equivalent when we can as it looks a bit off in our otherwise monochrome kitchen...

KTeepee · 19/10/2006 16:41

I love stainless steel but doubt if I will be able to afford it for the whole kitchen when we come to redo ours - I like the look of a dark wood worktop that Wickes do so will probably go for a combination...

UCM · 19/10/2006 17:07

I would vote for wood since I had wood effect tops put in when we renovated but as soon as I have the cash, I will get DH to put wood ones in. They need oiling but I think they will look heavenly.

Also going to try for a belfast type sink with me wood as I love this look

UCM · 19/10/2006 17:08

Have just noticed that this thread is ancient, so what did you go for Twig?

heifer · 19/10/2006 17:56

We have Corian - fitted about 3 months ago, and it seems the same problem as granite, you have to dry it after you clean it...

I wanted Granite but DH convinces me Corian was better... Even more expensive mind so didn't even save any money....

princessmel · 19/10/2006 18:12

Ours is a pain. Its black and shiney and leaves water marks if you don't dry it after you've wiped, (if you use a sponge). I have found a cloth that you don't need to dry after you wipe though but it needs to be wiped with just water, not sopey water. They are yellow Vileda cloths.

GoingQuietlyMad · 19/10/2006 18:26

Ours is oak, which did need oiling at first, but after a while it develops a patina which seems to repel water.

I would recommend it - it looks like the expensive dark hardwoods, but in fact we got it from IKEA and it total it only cost 300 pounds.

If budget is an issue then I would thoroughly recommend it.

TwigTwoolett · 20/10/2006 07:54

granite .. black star galaxy (so jet black with small blingy bronzey bits) and its just gorgeous and really offsets the oak doors

I use an e-cloth so no issues with smears

also once in a while it gets a special granite polish spray from Lakeland .. which smells fabulously chemical

Tutter · 20/10/2006 07:56

dark granite

a bit difficult under the draining rack as we're in london and the water is very hard - diff to get all the limescale makrs off

but i'd have it again as otherwise it's great

taylor78 · 30/07/2008 08:05

have you looked at a 'leather' finish on the granite worktops? I have seen a good site (www.cargogranite.co.uk) that supply granite worktops in all types of finishes. I have black polished worktops and they do seem to a LOT of water marks.

Twinkie1 · 30/07/2008 08:10

I haqve granite and it is the best - so easy to keep laen and shiney - we got ours from a lovely portugese man at half the cost it would have been from the local granite place - if you are interested I could give you his number.

CantSleepWontSleep · 30/07/2008 08:17

We have solid wood - sepo. It needs oiling from time to time, but we've had it a few years now, and it seems quite happy with just being oiled once or twice a year. You do have to remember not to put really hot stuff on it though, or it will mark.

TipsandAdvice2012 · 30/01/2012 12:02

Here are some really good tips on how to clean and maintain your kitchen worktop in a really great info graphic. www.henderstone.co.uk/henderstone-infographic

boognish · 24/02/2012 00:23

Granite has been great for me, as I'm a terrible housekeeper. Cold for pastrymaking, durable, hygienic, very easy to clean, and I haven't noticed it seeming dull after being wiped (maybe my undercabinet lighting is not so good?).

Had beech before, which was a nightmare. Hot Le Creuset pot burned rings into it, water settled in round the back of the sink and caused mould, turmeric spots appeared from currymaking. Sanding down and reoiling may work for masochists some people...

Didn't get corian or other alternatives as too expensive.

austinscott143 · 22/09/2013 16:30

Mine is granite countertop. I really loved the way it looks. It is durable and definitely easy to maintain. I just think that www.myinstalledcountertops.com could be of big help if you want to know more about my countertop.

NoodleMummy1 · 07/05/2014 09:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gwenllianmul · 01/11/2016 17:29

I had a wood worktop for 17 years and needed a twice a year treatment with Danish Oil PLUS real care not to ever leave it with anything wet on the surface. So if you can do this it remained looking good for the whole time! I now have a Silestone 'granite' worktop and have hand eighteen months of nightmare trying to get grease marks out. Just had the Silestone representative here and I now know that the fitters tend to polish the surface when they leave and thats the problem. Cleaned at a wipe over level of force with a granite cleaner will scare you as it emerges less glossiness but now grease wipes off with a wet cloth, followed by drying. Its a revelation and the answer to other queries I see here!