How to clean quartz countertops and remove stains safely

Step by step: how to clean quartz countertops and remove stains safely

Safety first. Never mix bleach-based cleaners with vinegar or ammonia. Keep oven cleaner, drain cleaner, paint strippers and other strong alkaline or acidic products away from quartz; even a splash can permanently discolor the resin.

1. 1

   Clear the counter and brush off crumbs

   Move appliances and canisters aside and sweep crumbs into your hand with a dry cloth. Grit dragged under a wet cloth can scuff the finish.

2. 2

   Scrape off dried food

   Hold a plastic scraper or old credit card flat and push dried dough, gum or sauce off the surface. Never use a knife or razor blade, which can scratch the resin.

3. 3

   Wash with warm soapy water

   Add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of warm water. Wipe the whole counter with a soft cloth or the soft side of a sponge, working from the backsplash toward the edge.

4. 4

   Degrease cooking splatter

   For greasy film near the stove, spray a non-abrasive kitchen degreaser or glass cleaner, leave it for a minute, and wipe. Check that the product is not highly alkaline or acidic and does not contain abrasives.

5. 5

   Lift marker and ink with rubbing alcohol

   Dampen a cloth with isopropyl alcohol and rub the mark gently until it lifts. Rinse the spot with water afterward.

6. 6

   Rinse off any residue

   Go over the counter with a cloth dampened in plain water to remove soap and cleaner. Leftover soap is what makes quartz look streaky or cloudy.

7. 7

   Dry and buff

   Dry with a clean microfiber cloth using long strokes. The surface should look even, with no streaks when you look across it toward a window.

What not to use on quartz countertops

Avoid abrasive powders and pads, oven cleaner, sealers and polishes, and anything strongly acidic or alkaline. Cambria’s care guide lists bleach, oven cleaners, Comet, Soft Scrub, S.O.S. pads, pumice, paint removers and furniture strippers as products to keep off its quartz, and says never to apply sealers or topical treatments.

• Scouring pads and powders dull the polish and leave fine scratches.
• Oven and drain cleaners can burn and permanently discolor the resin.
• Sealers, waxes and “stone polish” sprays leave a dull, patchy coating on quartz, which is nonporous and does not need them.
• Nail polish remover and paint thinner can soften the resin; wipe spills up fast and rinse.

Can you use bleach or vinegar on quartz? It depends on the brand

Check your manufacturer’s care guide before using bleach or vinegar, because quartz makers disagree.

The Caesarstone care guide also suggests Bar Keepers Friend for rust marks and a monthly deeper clean. If you do not know your brand, stick to mild soap, water and a non-abrasive cleaner, and test anything stronger in a hidden spot.

Is quartz heat resistant?

No, not reliably. Quartz is mostly crushed stone bound with resin, and the resin can scorch, yellow or crack under a hot pan. Always use a trivet or hot pad.

The Natural Stone Institute notes that engineered quartz contains about 70 to 93 percent quartz aggregate mixed with polyester resin and pigments, and quotes a fabricator who sees heat damage from electric frying pans and slow cookers. Put countertop appliances that get hot on a cutting board or trivet, and do not set pans straight from the oven on the counter.

Quartz is easy to confuse with natural stone. If your counter needs sealing, it is probably granite or quartzite; see how to clean granite countertops or how to clean quartzite countertops.

Mistakes to avoid

• Putting a hot pan or slow cooker directly on the counter and scorching the resin.
• Scrubbing with the green side of a sponge or a scouring powder.
• Sealing or waxing quartz, which leaves a dull, blotchy film.
• Using a razor blade to scrape dried food.
• Letting oven cleaner or drain cleaner overspray land on the counter.
• Using a bleach cleaner when your brand’s warranty forbids it.