How to Clean and Care for HI-MACS Worktops

If your cabinets are already espresso or forest green, the worktop has to earn its keep as the bright plane or the shadow. Work-Tops writes for kitchens that run darker — walnut, charcoal and evening light — where worktop colour has to carry contrast without looking gloomy.

Looking after HI-MACS worktops is straightforward. For everyday cleaning, a damp cloth and a mild cleanser are all you need. Wipe up spills promptly, keep hot pans and harsh chemicals off the surface, and use a chopping board. Because HI-MACS is a non-porous solid surface, it does not need sealing, and light scratches can usually be buffed out rather than living with them for good.

This guide is based on the manufacturer’s UK use and care guidance. You may notice the brand is now often written as HIMACS; it is the same material.

Everyday cleaning

For day-to-day cleaning, wipe the worktop with a damp cloth and a mild cleanser, then dry it with a soft cloth. A few habits make a real difference:

• Wipe spills as they happen. Most food and drink marks lift easily when they are fresh.
• Clean in circular motions. Working over the whole surface, rather than just one spot, helps keep the finish even.
• Dry after cleaning. Leaving water to evaporate can leave marks, particularly in hard-water areas, which covers much of the UK.

On matt finishes, the manufacturer notes that a mild abrasive cream cleaner can also be used. Occasionally cleaning the whole surface with a mild abrasive cream and a wet sponge helps keep the appearance uniform.

Dealing with stubborn stains

Because HI-MACS is non-porous, stains generally sit on the surface rather than soaking in. For tougher marks:

• Food colouring, tea and fruit juice: the manufacturer’s guidance is to apply a bleaching agent for no more than five minutes, then clean with a household all-purpose cleaner and rinse with clean water.
• Nail varnish: use an acetone-free remover or a mild abrasive, then rinse.
• Small burn marks: a mild abrasive cleaner or abrasive sponge can help.

Always rinse cleaning products off fully and dry the surface afterwards. If a mark will not shift, stop rather than scrubbing harder and get in touch with us.

Chemicals to keep away from HI-MACS

Some household products can damage solid surface if they are left in contact with it. The manufacturer advises:

• Strong acids such as drain cleaners, toilet cleaners and oven cleaners should be used with care near the worktop and wiped off immediately, as leaving them can cause whitening.
• Products containing strong solvents such as acetone should be avoided. If one is spilled, rinse it off with soapy water straight away.

A simple rule is to keep oven cleaner, drain unblocker and nail varnish remover well away from the worktop, and to rinse quickly if anything is spilled.

Protecting HI-MACS from heat

Do not put hot pots or pans directly on a HI-MACS worktop. Use a trivet, pan stand or heat mat, and put a board or mat under heat-producing appliances such as slow cookers and electric frying pans. When pouring boiling water into a solid surface sink, run cold water at the same time.

Your hob cut-out will have been made following the installation guidance for your hob, but it is still sensible to use pans that fit the ring and sit centrally, so heat does not spill onto the worktop.

Scratches and everyday wear

Like all solid surfaces, HI-MACS can pick up fine scratches with daily use, and these tend to be more visible on darker colours. Always use a chopping board, because knives and sharp objects will scratch the surface.

The good news is that HI-MACS is the same material all the way through, so marks are not permanent:

• Superficial scratches: the manufacturer suggests rubbing in a circular motion with a wet, fine abrasive pad (a Scotch-Brite 7448 or similar), then cleaning with soap and water.
• Deeper scratches: these can be sanded out with progressively finer abrasive paper and then finished with the pad. This needs a light, even touch, so if you are unsure it is better to ask a professional.
• Cuts, cracks or heavier damage: leave these to a professional fabricator.

Does colour make a difference to care?

The cleaning routine is the same whatever colour you choose, but how much you notice everyday marks can vary. Darker and more heavily pigmented colours tend to show fine scratches, water marks and dust more readily than lighter, speckled or patterned colours, which are more forgiving in a busy family kitchen. If you love a deep, dark worktop, it is still a perfectly practical choice; it simply rewards wiping and drying a little more often. Seeing samples at home, under your own lighting, is the best way to judge.

When to book a professional repolish

Over the years, any worktop can lose a little of its original evenness, especially around the sink and the areas you use most. Rather than replacing it, solid surface can be repaired and repolished to bring it back. Our repair and repolish service covers solid surface worktops, including HI-MACS, and a professional repolish is a good option if:

• You have scratches that home buffing has not removed
• There is a burn mark, chip or crack
• The finish looks patchy after years of use
• You are selling or letting your home and want the kitchen looking its best

A simple HI-MACS care routine

• Daily: wipe with a damp cloth and mild cleanser, then dry.
• Weekly: give the whole worktop a thorough clean in circular motions, including behind appliances.
• As needed: deal with stubborn stains using the methods above, and buff out light scratches.
• Always: use chopping boards and trivets, and rinse off chemical spills straight away.

Thinking about HI-MACS for your kitchen?

If easy care is high on your list, HI-MACS is well worth considering. Browse colours on our HI-MACS page, order free samples to see them at home, and request a quote with your measurements when you are ready.