The Maintenance of Worktops in Silestone

The secret to ensure the long lasting of the original aspect of the tops (kitchen or bathroom tops), is the correct cleaning of the same. In this writing, you will read information, suggestion and warning to maintain for a long time the aspect and functionality of your top. Today, we talk about SILESTONE® tops. Attention: the publication of this article and of the following ones mirrors the alphabetic order of materials discussed.

THE SILESTONE® TOPS

SILESTONE® by Cosentino is made by more than 94% of natural quartz, which makes it extremely hard and resistant. Its hardness and thermal resistance is way higher than marble’s and other plastic laminated surfaces. This is the best choice in humid and working areas as the material has a low porosity, is easy to clean and less affected by stains compared to natural stones. This is a non porous surface, highly resistant to stains such as coffee, wine, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, make up and many other products used on a daily basis.

If you chose the Suede finish for your top, please know that its main characteristic is the mat, satin and smooth finish that thanks to its elegance offers a unique feeling. If you selected a shiny finish for your top, the main characteristic is the brilliance and thanks to it, the colors are brighter and the reflects are deeper. Delicate tone and touch feeling and the crystalline finish provide for a sparkling and cleanliness sensation. On the other hand, the Volcano finish is stimulating finish, delicately rough, beautiful and sophisticated. This new finish gives originality but at the same time it preserves a touch of classicism.

WHAT DOES RUIN THE SILESTONE ® SURFACE AND WHAT CAN BE USED TO CLEAN IT

Although SILESTONE® can stand high temperatures for short periods of time, its performance might vary depending on a number of factors such as thickness, color, position etc. It is therefore not advisable to leave the product in contact with a heat source for a long period of time. It is equally not advisable to place hot pots, pans, fryers etc. on it. Therefore, in these situations the use of pot mats is recommended.

The SILESTONE® top well stands scratches and abrasions caused by kitchen utensils, yet to ensure a longer duration of the original aspect of the top, we advise You to always use chopping boards. Do not use hydrophobic, sealants and rinse-aids. Upon installation, SILESTONE® reflects the natural light. Sealants and water proof materials produce an artificial and temporary shininess. Avoid exposing SILESTONE® tops to chemical agents and aggressive agents such as: acetone, bleach, caustic soda, paint thinner, products with dichloromethane or methylene or methylene chloride and other cleaning agents used to clean oven/grills which have high alkaline and pH levels. If the top surface gets into contact with them, rinse immediately with abundant water to minimize the effects. Do not place SILESTONE® outdoor nor in places exposed to the UV rays. Over time SILESTONE® color or tone might be affected by UV rays. For the daily cleaning of SILESTONE® special products are not required. Use a soft cloth with neutral soap and hot water in order to keep the natural beauty and brilliance. For the Leather finish, a regular cleaning preserves the soft touch effect. Thanks to the low porosity SILESTONE® does not require the application of sealants and it is also highly resistant to oil stains, wine, coffee etc. Instead, the use of bleach or chemical substances is always to be avoided. On the other hand, always avoid bleach or chemical substances.

SPECIFIC TREATMENTS FOR SILESTONE® TOP SURFACES

In the event of persistent stains, clean the area with hot water and apply a detergent like Cif, cream type. Rinse the area with abundant water after application. For substances that become hard once they are dry (food, chewing gum etc.), remove them from the surface by scraping them delicately with a sponge, rinse with a non abrasive product and hot water in order to remove remains. Limestone or water halos can be removed with a normal anti-limestone product.

In addition to the above, we suggest to request Cosentino Group to supply “Q-Action” or “Q-Force”, which are specific detergents for the cleaning and maintenance of the top produced with Consentino brand materials.