Maintenance

Unlike many natural materials including wood, stone and marble, porcelain is entirely non-porous. This provides an extremely hygienic, anti-bacterial surface that is ideal for food preparation. It has a durable, non-scratch finish that is heat and blade resistant, and does not require sealing like granite or marble. The surface offers protection against mould and mildew that cause odours, while coffee, red wine or tomato based sauces will not stain and cleaning products are safe to use. A comprehensive cleaning routine will help to keep your surfaces in tip-top condition and ensure their continued beauty for years to come.

General cleaning of the porcelain surface

General cleaning of the porcelain surface is a relatively simple process and is the best way of preventing a build-up of dirt and unsightly stains. For everyday cleaning we recommend the use of warm water and a soft microfibre cloth. Dry with a second microfibre cloth and if your surface is polished, buff to restore the brilliant finish.

Before using any new cleaning product or method, make sure to test it on a small, inconspicuous area of tiling first. Avoid using excessively acidic or basic products, and do not use abrasive sponges. We do not recommend the use of polishing machines or waxes.

Although porcelain is stain resistant, care must be taken to immediately clean any stain, especially on polished countertops. The best way to ensure stubborn marks do not occur is to wash away stains such as red wine, food and drinks, using warm water and a soft microfibre cloth. For stubborn stains use a non-abrasive cleaning product, sugar soap or normal house cleaning products.

Do not use cleaners that have strong alkaline pH levels and thoroughly rinse the surface with clean water to remove residue. It is also important to note that hydrofluoric acid (HF) and its derivatives can irreparably damage porcelain stoneware.

For all cleaning operations, it is recommended to carry out a preventive test on a small part of material and leave the product on only as necessary.

For the regular maintenance of kitchen and bathroom areas, promoting shine and hygienic cleanliness and to remove lime scale, grease deposits and soap use a specialist cleaner. We recommend specialist ceramic cleaning products from Fila Solutions and Lithofin.

If the above cleaning is not sufficient to remove the most persistent encrustations, it is possible to intervene locally as indicated in the table below using a slightly abrasive sponge then, if necessary, combine the sponge with a degreasing product.

Things to avoid

• Avoid polishing wax or any impregnating products as their application is unnecessary.
• Avoid steel wool and abrasive products of any kind.
• Avoid chemical cleaners, bleaches or detergents containing chlorine or any of its derivatives except those detailed above.
• Avoid leaving food or other liquids with corrosive properties such as juices, salt, vinegar or mustard on the surface for extended periods.
• Avoid shocks in the most delicate points of the surfaces such as corners and edges.
• Avoid dropping heavy or sharp objects on the surface.
• Avoid heavy loads on the work surface. Particularly on overhanging areas and joints.
• Avoid sitting or standing on your countertop, vanity unit or table top.
• Avoid large quantities of water on the surface, and do not let water seep into the mounting holes, tap holes, joints, edges and critical points.

Is it possible to scratch a porcelain surface?

The short answer is yes. Porcelain, like other surfaces, can be scratched. However, porcelain surfaces are more scratch resistant than other countertop surfaces.

As a general rule the softer a surface is, the easier it will scratch. Diamonds for example are the hardest known mineral on the planet and are rated 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. All other minerals are rated 9 or below. Anything with a hardness below that of a diamond cannot scratch a diamond, however this means that a diamond can scratch another diamond.

The same is true for porcelain surfaces. Because porcelain is so hard, with a typical Mohs rating of 8, care must taken when using utensils, pots, crockery and tableware that has an equivalent Mohs rating. For example ceramic knives, (which have a similar composition to porcelain), porcelain or ceramic crockery can scratch the surface, because just like diamonds, porcelain can scratch porcelain.

• It is highly recommended that cutting directly on the surface using ceramic utensils is avoided.
• It is highly recommended that care is taken to avoid sliding crockery and cookware across the countertop surface, particularly if these items are made of porcelain or ceramic.
• It is highly recommended that in these situations, chopping boards, trivets and placemats should be used.
• This is particularly true for polished and honed surfaces.

Mohs scale of hardness

Mohs rating	Mineral	Countertop surface
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	Talc Gypsum Calcite Fluorite Apatite Feldspar Quartz Topaz Corundum Diamond	Vinyl Wood countertops Marble countertops, Laminate countertops Marble countertops, Bauxite countertops (Corian) Granite countertops Granite countertops, Stainless steel blade Quartz or Quartzite countertops Porcelain countertops No countertop is this hard No countertop is this hard