How to Clean Quartz Countertops? Here’s a Comprehensive Guide!
Unlike marble, quartz is a non-perforated artificial stone, which is highly durable and heat resistant, making it ideal for busy kitchen countertops. The life and beauty of the countertop depends on how you clean the countertop.
When you walk into a kitchen, the first thing you notice is the cleanliness of the countertops. There are several countertops available in the market. The Quartz countertops are preferred due to their aesthetic look and numerous other benefits. Unlike marble, quartz is a non-perforated artificial stone, which is highly durable and heat resistant, making it ideal for busy kitchen countertops. The life and beauty of the countertop depends on how you clean the countertop.
Quartz countertops are manufactured products called “artificial marble” that are a mixture of crushed quartz and various resins, polymers and pigments. The resulting product is an excellent countertop material and is perfect for kitchen countertops.
It’s easy to learn how to clean and care for your quartz countertop. The quartz countertop requires less maintenance, but if you want to maintain a new luxurious look, you need to know the right way to clean your quartz countertop. It’s very easy to remember what you should and shouldn’t do. This article will deliver everything you need to know about cleaning and caring for your quartz countertops.
Why do quartz countertops get dirty?
There is no perfect material that is stain-free. Everything has some drawbacks, and the countertop of the kitchen is the busiest space in our home. As a consumer buying a countertop, you want to know all the pros and cons clearly in advance. After all, you are spending money, and it’s about your home. Quartz countertops are made of natural stone and have properties similar to granite, but resins and other artificial elements create unique properties that differ from granite. Some are good, and some are bad.
The good: Resins help make quartz countertops non-porous.
The bad: but resins can also be damaged by detergents, chemicals, and heat.
Tip: You can keep your quartz countertop shiny and new with proper care and maintenance unless there is severe damage and you need to replace your countertops.
The mechanism of staining on the quartz counter is different:
- Traditional stains occur when a substance is absorbed, and a dark stain is formed.
- Quartz stains are caused by a chemical reaction with the resin used to make the countertop.
- Detergents, chemicals, foods and drinks discolor the resin.
- A “spot” is a bright white spot that usually looks white (similar to a marble sculpture).
Certain foods and drinks (especially tea) also cause dark spots. Tea can affect or react with the resin used to bond the quartz by fixing the dirt on the surface.
How to clean a quartz countertop?
Quartz countertops rank pretty high when it comes to the desired features of the kitchen. Alongside soft-closed cabinets, quartz countertops are one of the coveted items for homeowners, and when they finally get them, they take care of it.
Quartz is a hard stone, but it can get dirty quickly, although, with proper cleaning, this is not a problem.
“Wait,” you say?
“Is there a wrong cleaning method?” Yes, there is about quartz. Due to the polished luster, this way may scratch the surface. Some people have complained that they have used the wrong product and cannot restore the quartz’s natural luster.
Here are the basic steps to keep your quartz countertop clean:
- Prevent dust and bread crumbs from accumulating on the quartz surface.
- Immediately wipe off spills with a soft, moistened microfiber cloth or electronic cloth.
- Dry polish the quartz surface using a second dry microfiber cloth or electronic cloth.
- For dry stains, use specific detergents.
By following these basic steps, you can keep your quartz countertop in excellent condition for years to come. The following section details how and why you need to perform these steps to keep your quartz countertop clean and in good condition.
Avoid common home cleaners
Many of the average cleaning products currently in cabinets rely on harsh chemicals or high acidity to cut dirt. Unlike ceramic, laminate and metal fixtures, these chemicals may damage the quartz. The resins and polymers that hold all the quartz together on the countertop can be decomposed over time by these products, resulting in a matte, dull finish and exposure to hard-to-remove stains.
Dishwashing liquids are tempting to use because they always have a tap right next to the sink, but these soaps can lead to other problems. The problem with these products is that they are not formulated to clean the stone’s surface and tend to leave a translucent film on the countertop’s surface. These may not be visible at first, but they can accumulate and create a dull mist surface even in areas where former countertops are dull or low in trafficking.
Do not set hot items directly on the counter
Quartz is heat resistant, but only to a certain extent. It will not stand up to the punishment of a hot pan placed directly on the countertop. Extreme heat damages the resin on the surface of the countertop and causes discoloration. Discoloration due to heat damage is usually irreparable, and in many cases, you must replace the entire stone plate to eliminate the damage.
In addition, sudden temperature changes can cause thermal expansion and cracks on the surface. Always use a kitchen pad or trivet if you need to put something hot on the quartz countertop to avoid direct heat exposure.
Use warm water to clean the surface
When cleaning the countertop, make sure the water you use is at room temperature or slightly warm. This is to prevent damage to the resin on the countertop.
Do not cut food without using a cutting board
Prevention is vital when it comes to caring for your quartz countertop. With the right amount of force, sharp metal objects cause permanent scratches on the surface. Therefore, when cutting food, you should always use a cutting board to avoid scratches.
Do not use metal objects to scrape the surface.
No matter how careful we are, spills will still occur, and sometimes you will need to scrape dirt off the surface of the quartz as part of keeping your countertop. Always use clean plastic objects such as plastic knives and scrapers, and never use sharp metal objects.
Use detergent for quartz and natural stones.
Detergents are formulated from scratch for use in quartz and combine a streak-free pH-balanced cleaner with an all-in-one bottle for polishing. This allows you to spray and clean the counter quickly and efficiently while at the same time keeping it shiny and bright and keeping the cooked surface clean for your next meal.
To clean the quartz with this cleaner, spray it directly onto the surface, polish it with a microfiber or paper towel, and wipe it with a dry cloth. Another good news is that this cleaner is also great for other similar synthetic surfaces such as LG, Corian, Formica, Ceramics and Laminates. Avoid using it on the floor as polishing will make the surface slippery.
As an additional benefit, the built-in polish makes future counter-cleaning tasks a little easier, as sticky substances and dirt are less likely to adhere to smooth, shiny surfaces. This helps to remove watermarks and soap scum easily and helps resist dirt left unattended for some reason.
Clean the quartz countertop with a suitable cloth
It is unlikely that you will pick up a metal sponge and start scraping those marks, but you need to make sure that the cloth you receive is not abrasive, as it can make permanent marks on the surface of the quartz. We recommend microfiber cloth over the ordinary cloth. Use a wet one for cleaning and another for dry fluff. Microfiber cloth is absorbent and does not leave a watermark. Even better is a specially designed electronic glass / abrasive cloth designed for high gloss surfaces.
Clean up spills before they settle down
Turning spills into dirt only adds to your work and, at the same time, allows them to damage the stones. Therefore, it is essential to clean spills quickly with mild soap and water.
How to remove attached dirt (sticky dirt)?
Use warm water to dilute stubborn stains, and if you are dealing with spills of dry food that took a long time to soften, the squeegee is effective in removing this kind of dirt, especially after soaking for more than 5 minutes.
How to get rid of grease
Mild soaps are not always practical when tackling hard grease on quartz countertops. This usually requires a degreasing agent specially formulated for quartz or a carefully prepared natural cleaning solution. In the latter case, you can use a solution of white vinegar diluted with a ratio of 1-part vinegar to 4 parts water. Never use raw materials as the stones can discolor and be damaged. Spray a degreaser, wipe thoroughly with a sponge/cloth, and wipe with a damp cloth to remove grease spots for daily cleaning.
Final thoughts:
Quartz countertops are durable but can become dirty, scratched, or damaged if not correctly cared for. To ensure that the quartz remains intact for years to come, avoid the above mistakes and clean the countertop regularly. If you need assistance in choosing and installing a quartz countertop for your kitchen, please get in touch with us. We will be happy to help you.
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