Wiping down your worktops is one of the easiest ways of making your kitchen look shiny and clean. But with so many different surfaces out there - from stainless steel to laminate - it can be tricky to know what approach to take.

With surfaces, cabinets and sinks, there's no one-size-fits-all approach! Here's our guide to cleaning different surfaces so that you can get your kitchen sparkling again.

Worktops

Natural solid surfaces

Granite is a good example of a natural, solid surface. Black granite looks wonderful when newly polished but it can take a lot of elbow grease to keep it looking shiny.

Clean with solution washing up liquid mixed with hot water, then rinse and buff to a shine with an . There are many proprietary sprays available such as .

Stainless steel

To clean, wash with a solution of washing up liquid and hot water, then dry with a soft cloth. Don’t use any abrasive cream cleaners as they can scratch the surface. If you just want to remove finger marks, put a dab of baby oil or rinse aid on a clean cloth and rub the whole surface.

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Laminates and man-made composites

Wipe down with a solution of washing-up liquid and hot water or use an anti-bacterial all-purpose kitchen spray. If you have staining, use a cream cleaner. If the surface is textured, use a nylon bristled brush to get into the grain.

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You’re safe to use solvents on laminates so you can tackle marks such as felt tip with white spirit or nail-polish remover. Rinse thoroughly. Chips and small scratches can be repaired using a laminate repairer or sealant. To remove scratches on man-made composites rub with medium and fine-grade sandpaper in a circular motion. Buff well with a soft cloth.

Ceramic tiles

Treat as you would a laminate surface. Clean grouting with an old toothbrush dipped in a bleach solution. Rinse thoroughly.

Kitchen units

Wood/wood veneer

Wipe with a damp cloth and a solution of washing-up liquid and hot water. Use neat washing-up liquid on stains, rubbing along the grain with a soft cloth.

Coloured wood effect

Wipe down with a washing-up solution taking care not to over wet. Rub stains carefully with a slightly .

High gloss

These can easily be scratched so use a soft damp cloth. Use neat washing-up liquid on stains, rubbing gently, then rinse well and dry. or microfibre cloth to remove watermarks.

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Kitchen sink

Ceramic

For a thorough clean, use a slightly abrasive cream cleaner or an anti-bacterial cleaning spray. To restore brightness fill sink with a cold water and add a cup of bleach. Leave to soak then rinse thoroughly.

Coloured

For general cleaning, use a damp cloth and washing up liquid solution or antibacterial cleaning spray. Don’t leave tea, coffee or fruit juices sitting in the sink as these will stain. Soak stubborn stains in a solution of biological washing powder or well-diluted bleach.

Composite

Wipe down with a damp cloth and washing up liquid. Remove any limescale marks with or scouring pad and paste of bicarbonate of soda.

Stainless steel

Wipe with a damp cloth and washing-up solution or anti-bacterial spray. Once a week use a cream cleaner, rinse and dry. Use a proprietary as necessary.

Enamel

Wash as stainless steel — but do not use limescale removers. If you get a build-up of scale remove using a plastic scourer, neat washing up liquid and plenty of elbow grease!

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