There are the two cardinal rules for keeping your kitchen bench in tip-top shape:

Never, never, never cut anything directly on the kitchen counter top.

When cutting always do so on a board (you can cut on a plate, but you risk the chance of scoring the plate’s surface).

Never, never, never use anything abrasive to clean your kitchen bench.

This includes avoiding scrubbing brushes, scourers, and cleansers that contain abrasive ingredients.

It is wise to use a non-toxic and environmentally friendly cleanser on your bench top not only for the sake of the environment, but also because of the close proximity to the food you and your family consumes.

A great non-abrasive, non-toxic cleaner is 1 part of BiCarbonate of Soda mixed to 2 parts of vinegar to make a watery paste. Apon adding the vinegar you’ll feel like a primary school biology student again as the mixture bubbles up and hisses… relax, that’s what it is supposed to do. Dip a cloth in the mixture and wipe over your bench. Rinse the cloth with clean water and re-wipe the surface to clear away the BiCarb mix.

If there are stains on your bench, mix a little more BiCarb to the vinegar to make a thicker paste and apply this over the stain. Leave for about an hour and then wipe clean. This paste is also a great solution for baked on grime on stove tops (not the stove element).