When it comes to desirable kitchen features, a quartz worktop ranks pretty highly. Together with soft closure cupboards – maybe a five ring Neff hob and an in-built wine chiller too – a quartz worktop is one of those items that home-owners covet and when they finally have their own, they want to look after and cherish it.
Quartz, while a hard-wearing stone, can be prone to staining but if cleaned the right way, this shouldn’t be a problem. “Hang on,” you say, “there’s a wrong way to clean?” Yes, when it comes to quartz, there is. With its highly-polished sheen, there is a danger that the surface can be scratched. Other people complain that they can’t recover the quartz’s natural lustre as they’ve used the wrong products.
If you follow these basic steps, you’ll be well on the way to keeping your quartz worktops in top condition for years to come. In the next sections, we provide more detail about how and why you need to take these steps to keep your quartz worktops clean and well-maintained.
Your quartz worktop is one of the most maintenance-free worktops on the market but it still makes sense to look after your investment by employing some regular cleaning. Whenever a spill occurs, it’s crucial that it is cleaned up straight away. The longer a substance is left on the quartz, the more damage it could potentially do, so wipe the surface quickly. Similarly, keep it dust and crumb-free so that when you do wipe the surfaces, a nasty, abrasive toast crumb doesn’t scratch it. Sounds stupid, but it happens.
Never, ever use strong chemical products (caustic soda, hydrochloric acid and paint stripper) on your quartz surfaces. This extends to bleach, which, if left on the surface for a few hours, can affect the sealant which protects the surface. Many people swear by simply using water; we recommend STAIN-PROOF Daily Countertop Cleaner, which adds sealant while cleaning and Oxy-KlenzaTM that is great for stubborn marks. To remove a specific stain, check with your worktop manufacturer, as they’ll be best placed to advise on the right product.
It’s unlikely you would grab a metal scouring pad and start scraping away those marks, but you must make sure that the cloth you do reach for is not in any way abrasive, as it could permanently mark the surface of the quartz. A microfibre cloth is recommended over a plain dishcloth; use a wet one for cleaning and a second to buff dry. The microfibre cloths are absorbent and won’t leave watermarks. Better still are the specially-designed glass/polishing e-cloths, which are meant for high-shine surfaces. These don’t necessitate any product at all.
Avoid strong chemicals and bleach. Quartz countertops and worktops are best cleaned with warm water in the first instance, and prompt cleaning with high-quality e-cloths does not require any special cleaning products. For deeper cleansing, products such as STAIN-PROOF Daily Countertop Cleaner and Oxy-KlenzaTM are recommended.
Quartz is more resistant to staining than other natural stone materials such as granite and marble, but it is not completely impervious to staining as some people believe. In comparison to other natural stones, quartz is almost completely non-porous, making staining less likely, and easier to remove if it does occur.
In a lot of cases, all you need to do is wipe with a wet soft cloth such as an e-cloth, and buff with a second dry e-cloth. For other more stubborn stains, use a specialised cleaner such as Oxy-KlenzaTM.
Harsh cleaning solutions should always be avoided, as they can potentially spoil a quartz worktop. Use water instead in the first instance, and a special quartz cleaner such as STAIN-PROOF Daily Countertop Cleaner and Oxy-KlenzaTM for deeper cleaning.
You’ve probably waited a long time to buy your quartz kitchen worktops. Look after them the right way and you’ll be able to enjoy them for many years to come.
If you have any questions on Calacatta Marble Quartz, Gray Quartz. We will give the professional answers to your questions.