How to Clean Stone Benchtops: Care Guide for Sintered Stone
Reviewed by Team Asetica · Sydney · Perth · Melbourne · October 2026
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Asetica supplies sintered stone slabs to stonemasons, cabinet makers and builders, and this guide to caring for the benchtops they install is based on our 2026 Clean and Care Guide and our product care notes. To clean a sintered stone benchtop day to day, wipe it with a soft cloth dampened with warm, soapy water using a mild detergent. The surface is non-porous, so it never needs sealing or polishing. For tougher marks, the right cleaner depends on the stain: dish soap or glass cleaner for food and wine, solvents such as acetone for ink and adhesives, and vinegar or an acidic cleaner for rust and lime scale.
- Daily: wipe with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. Any pH balanced general purpose cleaner is fine too.
- No sealing and no polishing, ever. Sintered stone is non-porous.
- Avoid dishwashing cloths, abrasive pads for routine cleaning, scrubbing one spot hard, leaving strong chemicals on the surface, and hydrofluoric acid.
- Use a trivet under hot pans and a cutting board for knives. Both are simple precautions.
- Download the full Clean and Care Guide 2026 (PDF).
How do you clean a stone benchtop every day?
Asetica sintered stone is designed to stay looking new with very little effort. This routine from our care guide is all most kitchens need:
- Spray or wipe. Use a household spray cleaner, or a soft cloth dampened with warm water and a mild detergent.
- Wipe in wide, circular motions with a clean cloth. There is no need to leave the spray sitting on the benchtop before you wipe.
- For a deeper clean, use warm water and a clean microfibre cloth, or a cream cleanser with a microfibre cloth.
- Wipe away any residue with a clean cloth.
Any pH balanced general purpose cleaner can be used, including dish soap and glass cleaner. Microfibre cloths work well but aren't essential. Skip dishwashing cloths, though: they can leave oils and residue on the surface.
What should you avoid on a sintered stone benchtop?
- Polishing: don't try to polish the surface. It doesn't need it.
- Heavy scrubbing in one spot: avoid scrubbing the same area over and over.
- Abrasive pads: stick to soft cloths for routine cleaning.
- Dishwashing cloths: they can transfer oils and residue.
- Leaving strong chemicals on the surface: Asetica sintered stone resists many household cleaners, but don't leave strong chemicals or solvents on it for an extended period.
- Hydrofluoric acid: always keep it away from your benchtop.
How do you remove stains from a stone benchtop?
Asetica sintered stone is extremely resistant to damaging chemicals, so stubborn marks can be treated with the cleaners below. Let the cleaner sit for up to 10 minutes, then scrub and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
| Stain or mark | What to use |
|---|---|
| Wine, coffee, food, fruit juice | An alkaline detergent or oxidant: dish soap, glass cleaner, or diluted bleach and water |
| Wax, shoe polish, rubber marks, dyes, markers, inks, adhesives | A solvent: lacquer thinner, acetone, rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits |
| Rust, lime scale, cement or plaster residue | An acidic cleaner: vinegar and water, or an over the counter acidic cleaner such as CLR |
| Tar, nicotine | A solvent or an oxidant |
| Dried food, gum, nail polish, paint | Gently scrape off with a blade or putty knife, then clean with warm, soapy water. Any grey marks left by the blade wipe away with soap and water or a glass cooktop cleaner |
| Smears, residue or films | A glass or ceramic cooktop cleaner, then wipe off with plenty of water and clean rags. A squeegee makes this easier |
| Grey knife or utensil marks | The cleaners above, or a non-abrasive liquid cleanser such as Bar Keepers Friend |
Source: Asetica Clean and Care Guide 2026. Take care handling and storing any of these products, and follow each manufacturer's instructions. Don't leave strong cleaners on the surface for an extended period.
Homeowner? Asetica slabs are backed by a 25-year Asetica warranty, and our care guide notes that every Asetica surface must be registered for warranty within 30 days of installation. If you're not sure whether yours has been, ask your stonemason or contact us. Register your warranty
Can you put hot pans on a stone benchtop?
Asetica sintered stone is extremely resistant to big swings in heat and cold. Even so, we always recommend placing a trivet or hot pad between a hot pot or pan and the benchtop. It is a safety precaution: heat can transfer from the hot item into the surface, and a trivet stops you burning yourself on it.
Can you cut directly on a sintered stone benchtop?
Use a cutting board, for two reasons. Asetica sintered stone is extremely scratch resistant, but knives and metal utensils leave grey "metal transfer" marks when you cut directly on it. Those marks come off with the cleaners above, but it is easier not to make them. And the hard surface can dull your knives.
Do sintered stone benchtops need sealing?
No. Asetica sintered stone is non-porous, so it keeps its look without sealing or polishing, whatever the colour. That is one of the main care differences from natural stone. Our Calacatta White, for example, gives a Calacatta marble look without the sealing, etching or staining of natural marble.
| Care need | Asetica sintered stone | Natural marble |
|---|---|---|
| Sealing | Never needed (non-porous) | Needs sealing |
| Etching | Extremely resistant to damaging chemicals; avoid hydrofluoric acid | Can etch |
| Staining | Stain resistant | Can stain |
For the full background on the material, see what is sintered stone.
What if a stone benchtop is chipped or damaged?
Our care guide covers cleaning, not repairs. If a benchtop is chipped or damaged, contact the stonemason who installed it, or call Asetica on 1300 161 388. The full warranty terms are in the 25 Year Warranty document on our downloads page.
Still choosing a colour? Order up to 3 free samples, sent the next business day, and try the care routine at home. Samples are available to NSW, VIC and WA addresses. Choose your samples
Frequently asked questions
How do you clean a sintered stone benchtop?
Wipe it with a soft cloth dampened with warm, soapy water using a mild detergent, then wipe away any residue with a clean cloth. Any pH balanced general purpose cleaner is also fine. It never needs sealing or polishing.
Do stone benchtops need sealing?
Asetica sintered stone doesn't. It is non-porous, so it never needs sealing or polishing. Natural stone such as marble does need sealing, and it can etch and stain.
Can I use vinegar on a sintered stone benchtop?
Yes. Asetica's care guide lists vinegar and water, or an acidic cleaner such as CLR, for rust, lime scale and cement or plaster residue. Don't leave strong cleaners on the surface for an extended period, and never use hydrofluoric acid.
Can I put a hot pan on a sintered stone benchtop?
Asetica sintered stone is extremely resistant to big swings in heat and cold, but we always recommend a trivet or hot pad under hot pots and pans. It is a safety precaution, so you aren't burned by heat that transfers from the pan into the benchtop.
Can I cut directly on a sintered stone benchtop?
Use a cutting board. Asetica sintered stone is extremely scratch resistant, but knives leave grey metal marks that need cleaning off, and the hard surface can dull your knives.
What should I do if my benchtop is chipped?
Contact the stonemason who installed it, or call Asetica on 1300 161 388. The full warranty terms are in the 25 Year Warranty document on our downloads page.
More guides from Asetica:
- How Much Does Sintered Stone Cost in Australia?
- What Is Sintered Stone? Properties, Uses and Comparisons
- 12mm vs 20mm Stone Benchtops: Which Thickness to Choose
Asetica Surfaces is a trade wholesaler supplying sintered stone slabs to stonemasons, cabinet makers, builders, architects and designers across Sydney, Perth and Melbourne. Asetica does not cut, install or quote direct to homeowners; your chosen stonemason does. The care advice in this guide is based on Asetica's Clean and Care Guide 2026 and our product care notes. See the range at our Perth (Home Base Subiaco) and Melbourne (South Yarra) showrooms, or book a visit to Sydney (Padstow). Call 1300 161 388.
Choosing a colour? See sintered stone in person.
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