How Do You Clean Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops aren’t natural stones. Instead, they’re man-made stones or engineered stones made of crushed quartz, polymers, pigments, and resins.

The number of homeowners choosing quartz for their houses is increasing rapidly. Now, quartz isn’t only for kitchen countertops, but for bathrooms too.

Quartz’s increasing popularity is attributed to its high durability, versatility, and, most importantly, ease of cleaning and maintenance.

Mistakes in cleaning quartz countertops can permanently damage them and cost a lot. So, how do you clean quartz countertops to prevent these kinds of mistakes?

Cleaning quartz isn’t a difficult task at all. Out of the big three, marble, granite, and quartz, quartz is by far the easiest to clean and maintain. And in my opinion, it’s the best looking too.

In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about cleaning and maintaining quartz countertops. Let’s get started!

A Brief Overview of Quartz Countertops

Quartz has two main characteristics that put it in the lead above granite and marble. The first great thing about quartz is that it’s nonporous. This means that you’ll never need to seal it.

On the other hand, Granite does have to be sealed every so often, and marble needs it more frequently. Marble is the most porous and absorbent out of the big three.

This means that spills on quartz aren’t a big deal. You just clean it up; no harm, no foul. The second great thing about quartz is that it’s stain-resistant. However, it’s not stain-proof.

Being stain-resistant means it’s going to resist the stain long enough for you to clean it. If you let a spill or something similar sit there for a long time, say a week, you run the risk of staining your countertop.

Stain-proof means that it doesn’t stain at all, which isn’t true in quartz countertops. You need to keep that in mind to properly maintain your quartz.

How Do You Clean Quartz Countertops

As mentioned above, quartz is stain-resistant. So, for daily cleaning, all you need is a microfiber cloth and some mild dish soap.

Here’s how to clean your quartz countertops daily:

1. Dampen your cloth first.
2. Add a spritz of dish soap to your cloth.
3. Wipe down your quartz countertops.
4. Rinse your cloth and wipe down the countertops to remove any leftover soap.
5. Repeat if needed.

The dish soap won’t harm your countertops whatsoever. Instead, it should pick up and grime, grease, or crumbs.

And for spills, you can just wipe them immediately with a cloth or paper towels, and it should be fine. That’s how easy cleaning quartz countertops is.

How to Clean Stubborn Stains

If you’re dealing with a more stubborn stain, don’t worry, it’s not a big deal either. You can use Weiman Quartz Countertop Cleaner or Shine-EEZ.

These two products will remove any stubborn stains besides leaving your quartz countertops shiny and brand new again. Spray your cleaning products on your countertops and wipe them with a microfiber cloth.

Removing Pen or Permanent Marker Stains

You can remove pen or permanent marker stains with rubbing alcohol. First, spray rubbing alcohol on the stain. Then, wipe it off using a damp microfiber cloth.

Rubbing alcohol also cleans water and soap stains. Besides, it can help remove grease stains with a mixture of dish soap and warm water.

What to Avoid to Maintain Your Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops are low maintenance and durable. But that doesn’t mean that they’re indestructible. Here are things to avoid when caring for quartz countertops.

Abrasive Scrubbers

Avoid using abrasive sponges or scrapers. These cleaning items will cause small scratches that might not be visible to you. However, over time, this will cause your quartz to lose its shine and durability.

You won’t even need to use any of these. A microfiber cloth does it all. It’s recommended to use a microfiber cloth on quartz as it’s soft, highly absorbent, and doesn’t leave any water stains afterward.

If you need to use a scraper to remove any built-up grease or sticky stains, use rubber or plastic scrapers. Stay away from magic erasers as they’re rough on quartz.

Placing Hot Pots Directly on Quartz

Heat can cause stains and discoloration to your quartz countertops. Yes, quartz is heat resistant but not entirely heatproof.

High heat damages the resin of the quartz, causing discoloration that can be extremely hard to fix. You’ll want to make sure to use hot pads to protect your countertops.

Cutting on Quartz

Quartz is scratch-resistant, but cutting with sharp knives on it will for sure damage your countertops. Also, keep in mind that quartz isn’t scratch-proof. So, make sure to use a cutting board to maintain your quartz shine.

Harsh Chemicals and Wrong Cleaning Products

Only use cleaning products that are specifically for cleaning quartz. Avoid acidic cleaners like lime, vinegar, etc. Also, stay away from alkaline cleaners.

Acidic and alkaline cleaners will only damage the resin in quartz and cause permanent staining. Mild soap will do the job for you, and you won’t even need to use harsh chemicals.

When in doubt of whether you should use a specific product, contact your quartz countertop supplier. It’s better than running the risk of using something that can damage the countertop you invested money in.

Not Cleaning up Spills Immediately

Spills on quartz might not be the end of the world. It’s easy to clean and remove them unless you allow them to sit long enough to stain your countertop.

Yes, quartz countertops can be stained. They’re not stain-proof but stain-resistant. When spills are left for a long period, they can react with the resin, causing damages that lead to discoloration.

All you need to do to save yourself all that hassle is to wipe spills immediately.

Conclusion

Quartz countertops are the best when it comes to durability, but they can also get stained and damaged if not maintained well. Creating a daily cleaning routine and avoiding the mistakes we mentioned above are more than enough to keep your quartz looking brand new.