Hi Anne, Great question,

Formica tops are wonderfully durable, and do very well with wear and tear. This kitchen was installed a year ago with the same concerns from the home owner, and they are pleasantly surprized to see how well it has held up in a busy family kitchen! If it does get minor stains and scratches it can be rubbed out using scotchbrite and some softscrub cleaners. More major stains and scratched can be buffed out by your installers or after service provider at a realtively inexpensive maintenance price. This could probably be done every 3-5 years in order to maintain a fresh look on your Formica Solid Surfaces! Overall these are designed to last a lifetime if well maintained. Hope this helps.
Ann M. Fuller