Worktop not fit for purpose

Loza2016

I have a white laminate worktop from Howdens in my utility and a white quartz worktop from another supplier in my kitchen. They are both as bad as each other for staining so don’t think getting quartz will solve the problem. 

ComicGeek

We had a light coloured quartz worktop installed 2 years ago, and started having problems with water rings, tea stains etc right from the start.

We bought some pink sponges from a website (can't remember which, will have to check), and they just clean everything with just water and a quick wipe, non abrasive. Looks like new after wiping. Might be the cleaning products used rather than the worktop. 

born_again

Howdens must be getting fed up with consumer issues.

They have just moved from one unit to a bigger on up the road from us.
It has a very large sign (bigger than the Howdens one) on the front of the building stating "Trade Only"

JusticeforJJ

I've just had someone from Howdens look at my newly-fitted worktop that had immovable ring marks on it and he used a 'magic sponge' to remove these.  However, there was one persistent stain he couldn't get rid of, so we'll see what Howdens say about that.  My question is: why is the surface so porous and not made of more serviceable material?  I would argue that it's not fit for purpose if you have to be careful what you put on it and it can't be wiped clean.

TELLIT01

JusticeforJJ said:

I've just had someone from Howdens look at my newly-fitted worktop that had immovable ring marks on it and he used a 'magic sponge' to remove these.  However, there was one persistent stain he couldn't get rid of, so we'll see what Howdens say about that.  My question is: why is the surface so porous and not made of more serviceable material?  I would argue that it's not fit for purpose if you have to be careful what you put on it and it can't be wiped clean.

You would need to check the description of the worktop to see if there is any warning about them being porous.

Lawnbythesea

Hi 
has anyone had any success with sorting out their definitely not fit for purpose laminate worktops?

JusticeforJJ

I believe there's a case to say these worktops aren't fit for purpose.  I've communicated with the Howden's branch who supplied mine and they've recommended using Star Drops' The Pink Stuff.  However, this isn't mentioned in Howden's Super Matt Surface Cleaning Guide, which advises using Unika Super Matt Cleaner and a Melamine sponge.  It states that "Other cleaning products and processes should not be used."  If Howden's are finding these worktops hard to clean with their own company's advised methods, then that proves there's a problem.  By using a cleaning product not recommended by Howdens, they could claim that the guarantee has been invalidated by damaging the worktop.  I'm certainly keen to take this matter further.  In my 50 odd years of using kitchens I've never known such a user-unfriendly work surface.  I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to the way forward ...

JusticeforJJ

And another thing!  I've just finished cleaning my work surface with a magic sponge given to me by Howdens and it's disgusting how much grease and dirt comes off on it.  Therefore, if not using it, you can imagine the unhygienic condition the work top would be.  I'm going to write a complaint letter to Howdens head office and will post whatever response I get from them.

Ergates

JusticeforJJ said:

And another thing!  I've just finished cleaning my work surface with a magic sponge given to me by Howdens and it's disgusting how much grease and dirt comes off on it.  Therefore, if not using it, you can imagine the unhygienic condition the work top would be.  I'm going to write a complaint letter to Howdens head office and will post whatever response I get from them.

Magic sponges are good fo rremoving stains, but shouldn't be any better at removing grease than a standard non-abrasive cleaner and a cloth.

born_again

JusticeforJJ said:

And another thing!  I've just finished cleaning my work surface with a magic sponge given to me by Howdens and it's disgusting how much grease and dirt comes off on it.  Therefore, if not using it, you can imagine the unhygienic condition the work top would be.  I'm going to write a complaint letter to Howdens head office and will post whatever response I get from them.

Why are you complaining about them giving you a product that gets the worktop clean???

How dirty they get is not down to them, but the householder & how they treat the worktop.