How To Take Care of Quartz Countertops

Knowing how to take care of quartz countertops can keep your surfaces looking brand new for years. At Caesarstone, we’ve engineered our quartz to offer outstanding durability and low maintenance requirements. In this post, we’ll walk you through the very simple steps on how to take care of quartz countertops.

What is the Effect of Oven Cleaner on Kitchen Countertops?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions concerning the care of quartz countertops, so we’ll address it first.

Greasy countertops are understandably annoying, which is why many people suggest using oven cleaner on the surfaces.

The effects of oven cleaner on many kitchen cooking surfaces are positive, offering an effective solution to hard-to-clean grease splatter. The effects of oven cleaner on a quartz kitchen countertop (or any stone countertop, for that matter) are detrimental.

Oven cleaner typically contains lye, which has historically been used as a paint thinner. Given lye’s effect on your skin (it is a common cause of chemical burns), you can imagine that it’s not exactly good for your countertop’s finish.

What is the effect of oven cleaner on kitchen countertops? Well, for one, it can permanently discolor the finish on your quartz countertops.

Alcohol is another common ingredient of oven cleaner. It can also discolor your quartz countertops, as can ingredients like sodium hydroxide.

Another major reason to avoid using oven cleaner on your quartz countertops? It’s overkill. There are several better cleaners, which we’ll explore now that we’ve gotten this question out of the way.

Proper Care of Quartz Countertops

How To Polish Quartz Countertops

Photo: Moorland Fog 6046

Soft Scrub’s gel cleaner containing bleach can do the trick. Don’t apply the cleaner directly onto your countertop. Instead, apply it to a damp cloth and then wipe your quartz. Complete the process by rinsing the surface off with water and wiping it dry.

If you find that stains are particularly baked in, forming a “patina,” use Bar Keepers Friend cleaner in the powdered form alongside the Soft Scrub gel cleaner.

As for how to polish quartz countertops in the true sense, at Caesarstone we don’t recommend doing this yourself. Using abrasive pads to polish the surface on your own can leave swirls and marks in it. Your best bet, if your countertop contains scratches or other damage that doesn’t come out with cleaning, is to have the countertop removed and polished off site by a professional.

How To Take Care of Quartz Countertops: What Cleaners To Use

There are many products advertised as “quartz countertop cleaner and polish” in department stores. Outside of Soft Scrub and Bar Keepers Friend, though, water and mild soap or vinegar will usually do the trick just fine.

When using vinegar, create a 50/50 solution with water. It’s best to avoid sponges or brushes. Just stick to a soft, non-abrasive cloth and work in a gentle circular motion or with light pressure.

How to Care for Quartz Countertops: What To Avoid

You already know that oven cleaner is bad for your quartz countertop. What else should you avoid, though? Here’s a rundown.

Extreme Heat

Quartz is heat-resistant, not heat-proof. As such, you’d be wise to avoid placing hot pots and pans directly on the surface. Ignoring this can lead to discoloration of the resin in quartz countertops. Use trivets and hot pads when possible.

Sharp Objects

Quartz is harder than many other types of stone (including granite, which you can read about here) but it can still scratch if you’re not careful with knives and other sharp instruments. You should always use a cutting board.

If you need to scrape something (such as dried gum) off your countertop, use a plastic putty knife instead of a metal blade.

Hard Water

Many American households have what’s known as hard water. This means the water contains high levels of minerals. Hard water leaves marks on virtually every surface it comes into contact with, including quartz countertops.

You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches by avoiding these stains since they can be quite annoying to remove. Always use a coaster when resting a glass of water on your countertop. Further, be sure to dry your countertop thoroughly after cleaning. Any water droplets left on the surface can leave a mark.

Sealing

Unlike other stone surfaces, quartz never needs to be resealed. We ship our quartz with a durable “baked in” finish that will last a lifetime (or more) without the need for resealing.

Different Caesarstone finishes come with different requirements, however. Honed, Concrete, and Rough finishes require additional care compared to Polished. You can learn more about that on our finishes page.

Caesarstone: Low Maintenance, Quality Surfaces

At Caesarstone, we’re committed to producing high-quality surfaces that offer maximum enjoyment with minimal maintenance requirements. Right from the start, we choose the very best materials and inspect the results at every stage.

We invite you to visit one of our Caesarstone locations to see our surfaces for yourself. You can also check out our virtual kitchen designer to begin crafting your dream kitchen today.

How To Care For Quartz Countertops: Frequently Asked Questions

What quartz countertop cleaner and polish should I use?

For everyday cleaning, mild soap and water are usually more than enough. You can also use a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar.

For more intensive cleaning, we recommend Soft Scrub Gel, which contains bleach. Do not put bleach itself directly onto your countertop surface as this will discolor it. We also don’t recommend that you polish your countertop. A good cleaning should be enough to restore your countertop’s luster if you find it’s faded.

How do you take care of quartz countertops?

Quartz countertop care is remarkably simple. Just wipe the surface with water and mild soap or vinegar regularly. If you need to do more stringent cleaning (say, to remove stains), you can use Soft Scrub’s gel cleaner, which contains bleach.

Outside of that, you don’t need to do much else. Quartz never needs to be sealed and the finish is durable enough that you shouldn’t have to have it polished at any point.

How do you take care of quartz countertops in the bathroom?

Because quartz is highly moisture resistant, the process of caring for it in the bathroom isn’t all that different from caring for your kitchen countertops. Just take some extra precautions to avoid exposing your countertop to harsh soaps or body washes.

What does oven cleaner do to kitchen countertops?

Oven cleaner dulls and discolors kitchen countertops. The effect may not be very pronounced if you wipe the cleaner off immediately but repeated (or prolonged) use will produce detrimental results. For this reason, we strongly recommend against using oven cleaner on your quartz countertops.