Quartz countertops offer a long-lasting gorgeous look with very minimal upkeep. Even with their stunning finish and durability, there are tips and practices on how to clean quartz which will leave your countertops looking brand new for years! In this article, we will go over Daily upkeep, stain removal, Chips, and deep scratches.
Quartz Countertops Upkeep
Daily Cleaning
You should clean your quartz countertops daily by using a soft rag and dish soap wipe gently and remove any residue. Make sure that any other cleaner is quartz friendly and won’t cause any damage to the surface. If the surface is greasy use a degreaser to get rid of the residue. Make sure the degreaser is quartz friendly so as not to damage your countertops.
Best practices for daily upkeep
Beyond the daily cleaning, there are precautions you should take to make sure your quartz stays in the best quality available. Below I have listed out the three main things to pay attention to so you can avoid damaging your countertop in any way.
- Intense heat can damage your countertop so make sure to use heat pats when dealing with any hot pans or materials.
- Although, quartz countertops are water-resistant if you leave liquids sitting too long on the surface it can cause staining or damage. Make sure to wipe up all spills as soon as you can.
- It may be tempting to cut food directly onto your quartz countertop, but we do not recommend it. Quartz is very durable and scratch resident, but it isn’t scratch-proof. So for the safety of your countertop using a cutting board is the best option. It will also help with keeping your knives sharp.
- Be cautious with the cleaners you use on your quartz. Acidic and alkaline cleaners can damage quartz countertops so make sure to research what cleaners you plan to use on the surface. Soap and warm water are always good options if you are not certain about what cleaners to use.
How to Remove Stains from Quartz Countertops
Since quartz is nanoporous many assume it is also stain-proof, but that is actually a myth. Quartz can not absorb liquids, but the surface can be discolored if there is a chemical reaction with the liquid and the resin in the countertop leaving a discolored spot. If this happens you will want to treat it as soon as possible to about permanent damage to the surface. There are a few ways to take care of granite countertop stains listed below.
- Use a product made for quarts deep cleanings like Weiman Quartz Countertop Cleaner or Bar Keepers Friend
- Glass Cleaner – can sometimes work depending on the stain
- Magnet Errasor – This may work, but be careful because it could cause further damage
- Acetone – works for gummy things or ink stains
When a chemical stain accrues on your quartz countertop it is hard to fully fix and if you try too many of the steps above it can cause further staining or bleaching. Make sure to use caution and always try to take care of any liquid spill initially to prevent any staining.
How to fix chips or Deep Scratches
Quartz is hard to break or chip, but it does occasionally occur. It should be a simple fix as long as the chip isn’t too deep. You can purchase a kit that will come with everything you need to fix the damaged countertop or you can follow our DIY tutorial. To fix a chipped quartz countertop yourself you will need, ammonia-based cleaner, masking tape, pigmented epoxy adhesive for dark quartz, or superglue for lighter quartz, and Sandpaper.
Steps to fixing scratches
- Wipe down the surface with ammonia-based cleaner then use the smacking tape to tape around the chip or deep scratch. The tape will help reduce the glue from spreading.
- For a lighter quartz countertop get super glue. Use a harder super glue if chip or scratch is deep and a less dense super glue if the nick is smaller. Then use the superglue to fill the chipped area till it is level with the surface. For a darker countertop follow the same procedure just with a matching or similar pigmented epoxy adhesive. Please note you might want to apply a little extra epoxy glue to your crack because it will shrink up a bit when it dries, unlike superglue.
- Then let glue or epoxy sit for at least 24 hours or longer to cure. This step is the most important in the process because if you mess with the glue before it dries it could get indented or spread to parts of your counter.
- When the glue is fully dried take
- lastly get sandpaper with a higher grid of 300-600 wet it down, and file the extra glue or epoxy done to be smooth and level with the quartz countertop.
Quartz is a durable and well-made countertop that doesn’t get damaged often, but when it does make sure to take the right steps to ensure not adding any further damage. If you have any questions please comment them below or contact your quartz manufacturer. To find the perfect countertop for your kitchen click here! To learn more about quartz countertops and the main differences between quartz and granite countertops click here to ready a blog post comparing them.
