Sometimes it’s hard to remember that the kitchen worktop has a practical purpose other than making your kitchen look gorgeous – either way stains and spills are not helping.

Every day: Naturally you want to keep food-preparation areas scrupulously clean, so wipe down work surfaces before and after every use. You can use an Ecover antibacterial spray, but warm water and Ecover washing-up liquid is enough if you are thorough.

Ceramic tiles: Clean up the grouting with a solution of one part bleach to four parts water, using an old toothbrush to scrub between the tiles. Stains can be tackled with an Ecover all-purpose kitchen cleaner, but be careful of abrasive cleaners on glazed tiles.

Laminate: Stubborn stains can be cleaned with a paste of bicarbonate of soda with a few drops of Ecover floor cleaner.

Solid wood: Regular oiling is required to prevent the wood soaking up water – follow manufacturer’s recommendations carefully. Firm rubbing with a cloth and a washing-up liquid solution should clean up the wood, but take care not to allow spills of tomato sauce, curry etc to sit on the surface as they can be tough to remove.

Stainless steel: Fingermarks can be removed with a microfibre cloth or try a dab of baby oil on a clean cloth. Avoid any abrasive materials, which could scratch the surface.

Granite: Hardwearing and resistant to stains, Ecover washing-up liquid is all that’s required here. Avoid any abrasive materials, which could scratch the surface.