You can’t deny the fact that quartz kitchen countertops, among other stone types, are a really beautiful addition to your kitchen, whether home or industrial.
The rich color patterns quartz offers, in addition to its strengths and durability, the foremost choice for many chefs and homeowners all over the world.
Do you already have them but don’t know how to maintain them? OR Are you yet to decide on purchasing and installing one?
Well, learning how to clean them regularly, however, is very important for you. This is to ensure that your quartz countertops retain their beauty and elegance, even after a long time of use.
Invariably, you get to keep them bright and sharp all the time. You also get to keep your investment in check, just in case you eventually decide to sell your property in the long run.
Quartz countertops are very easy to maintain. Once they’ve been installed into your kitchen, they usually don’t require more than a simple wipe for you to make them colorful and shiny again.
But as simple as cleaning or maintaining them can be, knowing the essential processes and steps involved is highly important.
Because not having a good knowledge of how to clean your countertops can ultimately damage them.
This is why we’ll be looking at the simple steps you can follow in the next section of this article.
Quartz Countertops Cleaning
Regular maintenance on your quartz countertops is very simple. The cleaning of your quartz countertops should even be a routine job for you, say daily or monthly depending on the method to be used.
Typically, your cleaning tasks should be done every day to keep the sheen and brightness in the colors and patterns of the quartz.
All you’ll need for this is warm water, mild detergent, and two dry soft cloths. Quartz has its natural antimicrobial agents and wouldn’t need bleach or harsh chemicals to keep them sparkly clean always.
Don’t also use harsh sponges or scrubs that can wash away the finish.
You need to also avoid the use of acidic and alkaline chemicals that can weaken its composition. Abrasive cleaners that can quickly wear off of the sealant should also be avoided.
Cleaners and chemicals to be avoided:
- Turpentine
- Drain Cleaner
- Dishwasher Rinsing Agents
- Oven Cleaner
- Bleach
- Vinegar
- Nail Polish Remover
- Methylene Chloride or Trichloroethane
These cleaners can have quite a harsh and severe effect on the surface of your countertops. They have a high pH level that can cause discoloration and also gradually weaken the material.
Just in case any of these cleaners spill on the surface of your countertops, wipe immediately with a mild detergent mixture and dry with a dry soft towel.
Dealing with Simple Spills
Quartz might be resistant to stains, but it’s not completely stain-proof. So you have to routinely perform regular cleaning tasks to keep it in good shape always; just as good as new.
You don’t even need more than two soft towels for wiping and a warm mildly soapy water to clean.
As mentioned earlier, avoid using soaps and detergents that contain acidic chemicals and astringents which can cause your quartz countertops surface to wear and scratch more quickly.
To clean, soak one of the dry soft cloths with warm soapy water. Squeeze and smoothly wipe over the affected surface to prevent the spill from expanding.
Go over the area again and again until it’s completely clean. Rinse the surface with clean water and then wipe dry with another dry towel.
Quartz doesn’t absorb and store stains but it’s advisable to wipe the spills immediately as they happen.
This will prevent the stains from accumulating overtime and also save you from a more expensive maintenance measure in the future.
Dealing with Hard Stains
There are some hard stains that a simple wipe can’t thoroughly clean; hard, crusty, and sticky stains that’d take more effort, time, and materials to clean.
These stains would require that you scrape them off first with a flexible plastic scraper. Don’t use metals or hard sponges.
To make the dirt a lot easier to chip away, you can spray the stuck and sticky mess with warm water. A soft sponge can also be useful in certain situations.
After scraping the dirt off, you can then wipe the surface clean with a warm and mild soapy water (as described in the previous section).
In case you encounter more stubborn stains, you can spray a simple vinegar solution or a glass cleaner on the affected area to wipe the surface completely clean.
This reduces the stickiness on your quartz countertops surface and keeps it fresh and sparkling always.
Other Ways to Preserve The Surface of Your Quartz Countertops
Quartz is quite durable. However, it’s not immune to damages and wears over time.
So, to keep the smooth and sparkling appearance of the surface of your countertops in check, avoid the use of the abrasive cleaning agents that were mentioned earlier. These materials can cause your quartz to lose its color, blub, and wear over time.
Best to always use a mild detergent or vinegar solution for wiping the duration. Also, don’t use hard or metal scrubs, sandpapers, and stiff-bristled brushes that can scour your quartz.
Quartz is heat-resistant. They can withstand heat temperatures as high as 150°C. However, intense heat can still also cause serious cracks and breaks after some time.
So, avoid placing hot materials like pans and pots directly on the surface. Instead, use mats or trivets.
Sharp knives can scratch and dull your quartz countertops surface too. Anytime you want to cut, slice, or dice, use a cutting board instead.
Also, avoid placing or dropping heavy things on your quartz countertops. Whenever you need to move them, do it carefully.
Extreme force on your quartz countertop surface can cause severe cracks and chips.
You even can request the help of an RSK Marble and Granite professional to have it done for you if you haven’t tried transporting it on your own before.
Call the experts here at RSK Marble & Granite at 978-447-1001 or by contacting us here.