How to look after natural tops: our cleaning and maintenance advice

A quick guide on how to clean and care for your wooden, veneered or marble bathroom worktops. Check out our tips for cleaning and maintaining them in the most delicate yet effective way. Watch the video at the end of our post to see how you can keep your bathroom worktop always looking clean and shining.

Natural materials are undeniably luxurious and elegant. However, unlike engineered materials, choosing a natural material for the bathroom worktop also means having to take extra care for cleaning and maintenance, so as to preserve its original beauty. Not to worry: it’s all a matter of understanding the specific characteristics of the material and knowing what you need to do to keep it spotlessly clean daily without any risk of damaging it.

Let’s continue with our maintenance tips for different materials. We have already touched upon cleaning and looking after resin shower trays  and resin worktops. Today’s post will focus on luxurious natural worktops for Ideagroup bathroom furniture, specifically wooden, veneered and marble ones.

Wooden tops: cleaning and care

Natural wood lends character to bathroom furniture with its rich, warm look, feel and texture. The natural grain, knots and uneven texture of natural wood, and the unique characteristics and delicate condition of fossil wood boasted by the Cubik collection, may be an issue of concern.

Nature has favoured the preservation of these reclaimed woods by inhibiting the degradation process. Keeping them looking beautiful is easier than you may think. Let’s see how!

• General recommendations: clean along the grain, using a microfibre cloth or a soft bristle brush;
• For routine cleaning simply use a damp cloth and lukewarm water, and dry the surface accurately. With a little daily care and attention (always making sure limescale and soap residues are completely removed) not much more is needed;
• For more thorough cleaning you can add some neutral soap to the water, always remembering to make sure the surface is thoroughly dry.

The Cubik collection boasts several natural wood types:
see them all here

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Veneered top: cleaning and care

Veneered tops need exactly the same care and attention as solid wood ones. For your convenience we will reiterate the same recommendations as above. Of course you can always refer to the cleaning and care instructions contained in the booklets included in the package of your bathroom units: keep the instructions booklet as over time you may forget how to care properly for your bathroom worktop. 

• General recommendations: clean along the grain, using a microfibre cloth or a soft bristle brush (especially if it is Teak);
• For routine cleaning simply use a damp cloth and lukewarm water, and dry the surface accurately. With a little daily care and attention (always making sure limescale and soap residues are completely removed) not much more is needed;
• For more thorough cleaning you can add some neutral soap to the water, always remembering to make sure the surface is thoroughly dry.

Wooden worktops: the latest trend in bathroom furniture »

Marble worktop: cleaning and care

Marble has come back in fashion in recent years, as it is no longer just the epitome of prestigious, classic style. Modern, minimal homes are increasingly embracing the elegance of marble and its wonderful veins, and bathrooms are no exception.

To care properly for your marble bathroom top you need to follow some basic rules:

• Daily cleaning and care: marble is a naturally porous material that tends to absorb liquids, so it is fundamental that any spill is wiped off immediately to prevent permanent stains;
• Hard water stains: being a calcareous stone, marble must never be cleaned with common descaling detergents, which – like all acid substances – would corrode the surface irreparably;
• Mild solutions: marble tops can be cleaned daily with Marseille soap or baking soda (or other mild, neutral soaps) diluted in water. Rub any stain with a microfibre or woollen cloth, rinse well and wipe dry immediately to prevent marks and stains;
• Professional detergents and tools for more thorough cleaning: cleaning products specifically designed for marble are available on the market, including most supermarkets. They are excellent for cleaning and protecting your marble top and preserving its natural shine;
• Superficial stains and damage: you can restore your marble top to its original condition with the help of specifically designed polishing pads (available on the market). Alternatively, you can refer to a specialised stonemason.

Explore all the contrasting textures of the Dogma collection

Tips for cleaning your bathroom worktop: learn from our videos

Our Youtube channel contains a number of videos that show how to clean and care for your bathroom washbasins and tops. Here’s the full list:

As you have seen, it is not that difficult to preserve the beauty of a natural material, even if it is used in the bathroom.

If you still have doubts contact our dealers to find the most suitable material for your bathroom and learn how to care properly for it. Or feel free to continue exploring our blog, where you can find lots of interesting information about bathroom furniture made of different materials.