On May 25, 4:31 am, Tim Watts wrote:

Regular formica/chip - always has problems with the formica (whatever)
never being very robust. Either water gets in and lifts it or it stains
(OK, I cook curries) or it doesn't like the odd bit of heat...

This is my Formica bench after about 17 years.
http://i35.tinypic.com/ngsqqg.jpg

I scrub food off it with a metal scouring pad and that doesn't seem to
harm it.