How to Clean and Care for Apollo Slab Worktops

Pale worktops show every join, so Apollo articles dwell on lighting, veining scale and how a colour sits next to white paint. Apollo Kitchen Worktops publishes these guides for homeowners who prefer lighter, cooler work surfaces and want to know how they read in British daylight.

If you already have Apollo Slab worktops, looking after them is mostly about simple daily habits. Wipe them with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, dry them afterwards, use chopping boards and trivets, and keep harsh chemicals away from the surface. Because Apollo Slab is a solid surface material, light marks can often be buffed out, and a professional repolish can bring a tired worktop back to its best.

We no longer supply Apollo Slab worktops, but we know many homes across the UK have them, and we are often asked how to keep them looking good. This guide covers the essentials. Always check the care guide supplied with your worktops too, as it takes priority for your particular product.

Everyday cleaning

For daily cleaning, warm water with a little washing-up liquid and a soft cloth is all you need. A microfibre cloth works well because it lifts grease without scratching.

• Wipe spills quickly. Tea, coffee, red wine, turmeric and beetroot are much easier to remove when fresh.
• Rinse and dry. Cleaning products left to dry can leave a film, and in hard-water areas water left standing can leave limescale marks.
• Clean in circles. Working in gentle overlapping circles across the whole surface helps keep the finish even.

Avoid relying on window or glass cleaners as your everyday product, as they can leave a smeary film on solid surfaces.

Removing stubborn marks

Most marks on solid surface sit on the surface rather than soaking in. If washing-up liquid has not shifted something, try a non-abrasive cream cleaner on a damp cloth, working gently in circles, then rinse and dry.

For limescale around the tap and sink, a household limescale remover, used as its label directs and rinsed off thoroughly, is usually effective. Do not leave any product sitting on the surface for longer than the instructions say.

If a stain still will not shift, stop rather than scrubbing harder with something aggressive. Repeated heavy scrubbing in one spot can leave a patch that looks different from the rest of the worktop.

What to avoid

Solid surface worktops are hard-wearing, but some things can damage them:

• Hot pans and dishes. Never put hot pans, especially cast-iron ones, directly on the worktop. Always use a trivet or pan stand.
• Heat-producing appliances. Put a heat-resistant board under slow cookers, air fryers and similar appliances.
• Harsh chemicals. Oven cleaner, drain unblocker, paint stripper and acetone-based nail varnish remover can mark the surface. If any are spilled, rinse with plenty of soapy water straight away.
• Cutting directly on the surface. Knives will scratch it. Always use a chopping board.
• Metal scrapers and scourers. These can gouge or dull the finish.
• Boiling water straight into the sink. If you have a solid surface sink, run the cold tap while you pour boiling water to reduce the risk of thermal shock.

Looking after a solid surface sink

If your Apollo worktop has a matching solid surface sink, give the bowl a little extra attention. Clean it regularly with washing-up liquid or a non-abrasive cream cleaner to stop grease and tea stains building up, then rinse and dry. If you have a boiling water tap, check the sink manufacturer’s guidance; solid surface manufacturers commonly recommend filling a pan or container rather than running boiling water directly into the bowl. Washing-up bowls and sink mats also help protect the base of the sink from scratches.

Dealing with scratches and wear

All solid surfaces pick up fine scratches over time, especially in the areas you use most and on darker colours. The advantage of a solid surface is that it is the same material all the way through, so scratches are not permanent in the way they can be with a printed or coated surface.

Very light surface marks can often be reduced with a non-abrasive cream cleaner and patient circular buffing. Anything deeper is best left to a professional. Sanding a solid surface worktop at home without the right abrasives and technique can easily leave a dull or uneven patch that is more noticeable than the scratch.

When a professional repolish makes sense

If your Apollo Slab worktops look tired, scratched or patchy, a professional repair and repolish is often a more economical option than replacement. Depending on the condition of your worktops, it can help with:

• General scratches and wear from years of use
• Dull or uneven patches, particularly around the sink and hob
• Minor burn marks and some chips
• Getting a kitchen ready for sale or for new tenants

Our repair and repolish service may be able to help with existing Apollo worktops. Let us know the colour you have and send a few photos of the areas that concern you.

What if you need new or matching worktops?

If your worktops are beyond repair, or you are extending your kitchen, we can help even though we no longer supply Apollo Slab. Many Apollo colours come from the same manufacturer as our Corinth Stone worktops, so there is a good chance of finding a close match. Because colour can vary between batches and ranges, always compare a physical sample against your existing worktop before ordering.

A quick Apollo Slab care checklist

• Wipe daily with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, then dry
• Use a non-abrasive cream cleaner for stubborn marks
• Always use trivets and chopping boards
• Rinse off chemical spills immediately
• Book a professional repolish when wear starts to show

Need help with your worktops?

Whether you want to refresh existing Apollo worktops or replace them, our team can help. Visit our repair and repolish page to bring your current worktops back to life, or order free samples of the closest Corinth Stone colours and request a quote for new worktops.