Tips and tricks for cleaning worktops and rear panels
What’s the best way to clean glass and ceramic surfaces in the kitchen?
Especially after buying a new kitchen or completely modernising your old one, you want to make sure everything will look like new for as long as possible.
Our worktops and rear panels are made of a variety of different materials. Both the design and the choice of materials are primarily a matter of functionality and therefore use. Once the product has left our plant, it’s up to you to ensure it receives the right care and you can enjoy it as long as possible. So to help you, we'd like to share the most important care tips for the kitchen.
General care tips for your kitchen
When cleaning a kitchen, is vital to avoid any aggressive chemicals and cleaning products that might have an abrasive effect. This is why it’s good to use lukewarm water and the gentlest possible cleaning products, e.g. a drop of washing-up liquid. To clean the surfaces, use a soft, lint-free cloth.
Before using a cleaning or care product for the first time, test it in an inconspicuous place to make sure that it has no negative effect on your high-quality materials.
One major feature of glass is that it has a smooth, easy-to-clean and hygienic surface. Unsuitable treatment such as scouring, scratching or cutting directly on the glass should be avoided, and it’s paramount that you should use an appropriate chopping board. Use a table mat or coaster for any hot containers.
Here’s a summary of the most important tips:
- Clean all surfaces regularly. The older the dirt, the more difficult it is to remove.
- Use soft, non-abrasive cloths or sponges on all surfaces.
- Make sure the kitchen is sufficiently well ventilated.
- Avoid scouring agents, steel wool, cleaning products with abrasive additives and products containing vinegar, citric acid or any other aggressive chemicals, as they may cause damage to surfaces.
- Never do any scouring, scratching or cutting directly on a glass surface. If you need to do any of these things, use a suitable chopping board.
How do I clean glass worktops and rear panels?
Glass is undoubtedly one of the most hard-wearing materials for the kitchen. Moreover, it is easy to clean. Glass surfaces last for a long time without requiring any special care. It is usually sufficient to clean glass with plenty of water, perhaps a splash of washing-up liquid and a soft cloth.
Alkaline detergents, acids and fluoride-containing products are not very suitable, as they can attack the surface. If there is stubborn dirt on a glass surface, resist the temptation to use steel wool, razor blades or similar instruments, as they can easily cause damage.
Care tips for kitchen worktops and glass rear panels:
- Clean the glass surface with plain water and a microfibre cloth, and use a sponge for glass ceramic hobs.
- We can also recommend a pumice stone (Magic Cleaner).
- Don’t leave stains to dry, but remove them immediately.
- To avoid marks, rinse and dry thoroughly after cleaning.
How do I clean ceramic worktops and rear panels?
Worktops need to be highly resistant and should therefore be hard-wearing and also easy to clean. The same applies to any splash guards and rear panels in the kitchen. It’s a good idea to remove splashes and spills as quickly as possible, as this will avoid unsightly marks and even damage. Ideally, you should always clean worktops and rear panels with plain water and a soft cloth. If dirt is persistent, you may want to add a drop of washing-up liquid. You can prevent cleaning marks and streaks by thorough rinsing and then drying the surface completely with a dry cloth.
Care tips for ceramic worktops and rear panels:
- Clean the surface with plain water and a microfibre cloth or sponge (particularly on glass ceramic hobs).
- We can also recommend a pumice stone (Magic Cleaner).
- Remove any stains immediately, preferably without leaving them to dry.
- Rinse and dry thoroughly to avoid cleaning marks.
FAQs care tips kitchen world
How often should I clean a kitchen?
For hygienic reasons, it’s a good idea to wipe your worktop every time you use it. With our glass worktops, it’s usually perfectly adequate to wipe them with a damp cloth. If you find any splashes on the rear panel, it’s good to remove them straight away as well.
We’d also recommend cleaning your sink on a daily basis, to prevent bits of food from collecting there.
Furthermore, to clean your kitchen thoroughly, you should wipe all front surfaces regularly.
Whether you need to clean the hob and the oven should depend on how often you use them and how dirty they are. Induction hobs are generally the easiest to clean.
Your dishwasher, microwave and fridge should be cleaned every few months. This is also a good occasion to check if any of your food has exceeded its use-by date.
Do I have to disinfect a glass or ceramic worktop?
As long as you clean your worktop regularly, there is no need to disinfect it, and any germs that collect there should be no problem for a healthy immune system. However, don’t store or handle food directly on the worktop, but on suitable chopping boards. Don’t use the same board or knife for raw meat, fish and vegetables. Whenever you’ve finished cutting, wipe the surface with a damp cloth, so that dangerous germs and bacteria don’t stand a chance.
How can I avoid lime stains, for instance on glass?
If drops of water have collected on your sink or a glass worktop, you should wipe them off as quickly as possible. Clean the surfaces with plain water and a microfibre cloth, then wipe them dry. This prevents the formation of limescale residues after drying.
How can I avoid getting cleaning marks and streaks on glass?
When you clean a glass surface, use either a clean cloth or at least one without any soap residues. This is why cleaning cloths should never be washed with fabric softener. They should be rinsed with plenty of plain water after you’ve washed them, removing the detergent completely. To be absolutely sure, wipe the surface dry with a chamois leather cloth afterwards.
What are the best cleaning products for the kitchen?
As our products are easy to maintain, a particularly mild cleaning product should be sufficient. The milder, the better. Plain water or a few drops of washing-up liquid are usually enough.
Never use scouring agents, steel wool, cleaning products with abrasive additives or products containing vinegar, citric acid or any other chemicals, as they may cause damage to the surfaces.
How do I deal with grease stains in the kitchen?
Everything kept outside a kitchen cupboard, such as all kitchen utensils, surfaces, rear panels and the extractor hood attract a layer of grease and dust after a while. To remove it, you can easily clean large surfaces with water and a fat-dissolving washing-up liquid.
The tops of cupboards, too, tend to attract grease deposits and lots of sticky dirt. To prevent this from happening, simply cover those surfaces with newspaper, which can be replaced at regular intervals. The grease then collects on the paper, which can easily be removed, so that there’s no need to scrub the surface.
What can I do about a bad smell in a kitchen cupboard?
Something got knocked over and leaked, and although you cleaned up immediately, it has left a nasty smell in your kitchen cupboard. One simple trick to get rid of the problem is to place some ground coffee in the cupboard. It absorbs the smell and replaces it with a pleasant and distinctive aroma.
