5 Tips for Caring for Corian Quartz Countertops
After being the first on the market with its solid surface material, Corian, DuPont decided to take its offerings even further by acquiring the Zodiaq brand and turning it into Corian Quartz. The difference between solid surface Corian and Corian quartz is that the latter features quartz and other natural mineral aggregate, giving it a unique shine and glimmer. Like solid surface, Corian quartz is extremely low-maintenance stuff and is easy to clean and keep clean. It's also very durable, resistant to scratches and much less likely to chip than its natural-stone counterparts. That doesn't mean, however, that it is completely impervious to damage. The advantage Corian quartz has over natural stone is that the surface is not porous like marble or granite, meaning fluid is unable to seep into the surface like it can happen with natural stone. This is largely where quartz gets its reputation for ease of maintenance. You don't need to worry about sealing the surface, and stains are much easier to remove since it's unlikely that anything will make its way beneath the surface. So, let's get into everything you need to know in order to keep your Corian quartz and Zodiaq countertops looking their best.
1. Avoid Household Cleaners:
Many of your average cleaning products you have in your cabinets right now rely on harsh or abrasive chemicals to cut through stains. While these might be perfectly fine on ceramic, solid surface, laminates and metal fixtures, your Corian quartz can be damaged or marred by these chemicals. Quartz is typically made up of 90-95% quartz, with the rest being made up of resins, polymers, and pigments. The resins and polymers that hold all that quartz together in your countertop can be broken down over time by these products, leading to a hazy or dull surface. Then you have something like ordinary dish soap, which is tempting to use since you have some on tap right there next to the sink, but this can be counterproductive as well. The problem is that these tend to have organic moisturizing compounds that end up leaving a translucent film on the surface of your countertops. This may not be noticeable at first, but it can build up to make for a generally hazy surface.
2. Avoid Abrasive Cleaning Pads
Sometimes it might be tempting to use a scouring pad or steel wool on a tough stain or soil build-up, but this can leave you with a marred surface as well. These small abrasions might not be too noticeable at first, but they build up to make for a dull surface that has lost its luster and sheen in the light. Also, once that surface has been abraded, you're setting yourself up for a more difficult to remove stain to set in. Instead, try soaking a particularly stubborn spot with a wet towel with warm water or a stone-safe cleaner.
3. Use a Plastic Putty Knife
Instead of scrubbing away at a crusty spot on the surface of your quartz with a knife, spoon or scouring pad, you can use a plastic putty knife to scrape gunk away from the surface before wiping it clean. That way you can get that tough, hardened food or spill that was left to sit without scratching or dulling the surface. A nylon brush is another good tool to keep around, with the added bonus that it works particularly well on grout as well as any stone surface you might have around the house.
4. Use a 2-in-1 Quartz Cleaner and Polish
Formulated specifically for use on any brand of quartz, Granite Gold Quartz Brite® combines a pH balanced cleaner with a streak-free polish. The advantage of that built-in polish is that it actually makes your job in cleaning in the future a little easier. Just like wax on a car, sticky substances and stains have a harder time sticking to a well-polished surface. This is especially handy for being able to quickly wipe away soap scum and hard water marks and helps to resist any stain that is left to sit on the countertop surface. Just spray the solution directly onto the surface and buff it in with a microfiber cloth or paper towel, before wiping the surface clear with a dry cloth. Easy as that. This cleaner also works well for other similar synthetic surfaces, such as solid surface, laminates, Formica, ceramic and laminate.