Hi Joaney & Lainy I also use only windex on all my bench tops. The granite I had before was a white with a few burgundy streaks and gorgeous highlights through it. Can't remember the name, might have been River White but not sure and I found nothing stained it at all. The marble in my bathrooms I have now look very expensive and impressive but I know every single mark on them even though a visitor mightn't pick them out. In my kitchen I now have Caeser stone and if you want a virtually indestructible bench top this would be it. I have blackbutt timber floors and as they have a lot of color, I chose all white in the kitchen with just a tiny fleck. I just love granite because of the beautiful grains you get running through it.

Personally if I had the access to the marble I would take it! Traditional concerns regarding bleach spill etc are not that relevant these day s. If you keep these items like laundry powders and cleaning chemicals off the bench and in the cupboard they shouldn't cause you much trouble. I keep all mine in a caddy that keeps them off surfaces and easy to move around the house and store in the cupboard. How many of us hand colour or hand bleach anything anymore. Most laundry troughs these days are too small to make these jobs even possible. Or if you are a craft lover do these things in the outdoors or garage. Hand washing is usually with very gentle detergents on smaller items and usually done with care. If the laundry is a chore make your work area a pleasure to be in!

Ok, so we don't need engineered stone in our kitchen, as we have it there already, but we just had more of the same stone installed in our new powder room & ensuite to match the kitchen's earthy colour scheme. We do, however, need to choose a natural granite for our alfresco kitchen as engineered stones are not covered by manufactures' warranty in our situation. So, I stick with engineered and natural stones for the long term bench top of choice.

How exciting renovating your kitchen. Making it your own. Changing the old for the new. Learning all about stone and how you can use it in the home. So much to learn, so much choice, so many different types of stone for benchtops on the market. The Marble Man specialise in repairs polishing and sealing stone with 27 years experience working with all stone - natural and manmade - can assist you with information on stone. Take the time to learn about stone - www.themarbleman.com.au. Give The Marble Man technicians a call 1300 627 626. We can advise you on Natural marble, granite, limestone, travertine and engineered stone - such as those manufactured and sold by various brands. All produce outstanding, high quality stone to be used for kitchen benchtops, bathroom vanities and other uses in the home or commercial environment. It is important to look after stone. All stone for benchtops, bar tops, vanity units and tables require regular care to keep them looking clean and attractive. Some natural stone benchtops are porous and if not sealed can be susceptible to staining. The Marble Man specialises in removing stains from kitchen benchtops, bathroom vanities, bar tops and tables using a poultice or special cleaning products. Our trained technicians will assess your stone to determine the level of cleaning it requires and recommend the right products to keep your stone benchtops looking like new. Give The Marble Man technicians a call 1300 627 626. Take the time to learn about stone - www.themarbleman.com.au.