How to Clean Quartz Countertops Gently and Effectively

When your quartz surfaces present problems, you need to deal with them safely and strategically. Otherwise, you could find yourself making your issues much worse. With some simple maintenance tips, you’ll be able to keep your quartz gleaming and glossy without etching the surface or rendering stains permanent. In this blog, we break down how to clean quartz countertops with tips and tricks to keep your quartz looking like new.

What is Quartz?

Quartz may sound like it’s a natural mineral – and it is. Yet the engineered quartz that you see in modern kitchens and bathrooms comes from a man-made, manufactured process. It’s formed of a buffet of ‘ingredients,’ different pieces which include resin and more than 90 percent crushed natural stone We tend to connote man-made materials with strength. Indestructibility, even. However, with engineered quartz, that may not necessarily be the case. Just because this engineered stone seems like it’s indestructible doesn’t mean that it’ll also stand up to overly harsh cleaning procedures. 

Simple, Safe and Effective Quartz Maintenance Tips

Quartz is easy to maintain if you have the right product. Here’s the secret ingredient: A multifunctional quartz cleaner and polish like Granite Gold® Quartz Clean & Shine. With one cleverly designed product, you’ll be able to keep all of your quartz surfaces looking new. Otherwise, you’ll find that keeping your quartz looking good is more about what you don’t do. When cleaning your quartz, keep these factors in mind for the best possible result.

What Not to Do When Cleaning Quartz

There are many things you should not do when learning how to clean quartz countertops.

1. Common Household Cleaners

Your average household cleaner will contain harsh chemicals that won’t work with the binding agents that hold quartz together. It may be tempting to use dish soap or other readily available detergents to clean your counters, but over time that will reduce the integrity of your quartz surfaces. Because quartz is comprised of more than 90 percent crushed natural stone, it has the same reactions to harsh chemicals as granite and other natural stone.

2. Harsh Cleaning Implements

Sharp metals and scouring pads will nick and dull your quartz surfaces. Refrain from using any tools that will cause physical damage to your stone — instead, buff gently using a soft cloth or safe-on-stone scrub sponge, and you’ll see better results.

3. Heat

Here’s a good rule of thumb: Avoid exposing your quartz surfaces to extreme heat. Hot objects can cause yellow or brown discolorations — hallmarks of a resin burn. Instead, use trivets and hot pads to protect your kitchen countertops from hot pans, and avoid placing heating elements directly on bathroom countertops to keep your quartz in the best condition possible.

Stain Management with Quartz

Quartz is a composition of more than 90 percent crushed natural stone and resin bonding agents to keep those natural materials held together. If you scratch or nick your quartz surface, it’s much easier for staining substances to seep inside the stone.

Etching is a process that results after exposure to liquid acids. It’ll dull the surface of your quartz after a chemical reaction between the acids and the mineral molecules of the stone. The “watermark look” that’s a byproduct of etching can look like it’s just beneath the surface of polished stone. Etching can be problematic, as it has the potential to become permanent unless it’s repaired in a timely manner by a stone restoration professional.

Your best bet to avoid etching is to shy away from using high-alkaline and acidic substances, which stand a higher chance of causing that corrosive chemical reaction with your quartz surfaces. Bleach, vinegar and even some types of simple soap and water can be dangerous for your stone due to their pH levels.

Give Your Quartz Cleaning Regimen a Quick, Quality-Based Upgrade

Quartz is very sensitive to overly acidic or otherwise harsh cleaning agents. For the most effective and safe clean in your home, you need to find a cleaner with a pH that isn’t too extreme. We’ve made that search easy by creating Granite Gold Quartz Brite®. This easy-use spray is a two-in-one formula that cleans grime and dirt from your quartz surfaces and leaves a glossy finish at the same time. To buff your quartz surfaces to a natural luster and shine, spray our Granite Gold Quartz Brite® directly on the surface. Buff with a soft cloth, wipe dry and repeat as desired. Granite Gold Quartz Brite® is safe for food-prep surfaces, streak-free and great for quartz surfaces of all kinds (including Silestone, LG and more).

Relying upon stone-care professionals can also go a long way in properly cleaning your quartz. Call our friendly team of stone care experts with three-generations of expertise today at 1-800-475-7866 to learn more about what Granite Gold®'s premium products can do for you and your granite surfaces.