Stone Cleaner for Quartz Countertops
One of the most asked questions when it comes to owning a quartz countertop is: “What do I clean my quartz countertop with?” That is an important question because even the most resilient countertops have care and maintenance requirements. Let’s look at some general guidelines for cleaning and maintaining your quartz countertop surfaces.
What is Quartz?
When it comes to kitchen countertops quartz is a popular material. In fact, quartz countertops are becoming more and more the norm for many areas of the market. Fabricators that used to specialize in marble and granite are beginning to offer quartz as an option. But what is it?
Quartz is an engineered material that is composed of a mix of substances including the mineral quartz, polymer resins, and pigments for color. The results of combining these ingredients is a surface that is nonporous and very easy to clean. In fact, many quartz manufacturers tout the material’s ease of maintenance. But nearly all of them make a common statement. They say, ‘quartz is not indestructible’. So, if quartz is not indestructible, then what must be done to keep it looking its best?
Cleaning Quartz
If you have a quartz surface and you have researched how to clean it, you will usually find that the manufacturer gives some general information about how to care for the surface. Then, they tell you what not to use to clean your quartz. Finally, they list some specific cleaners that are approved. For example, here are some quotes taken from popular quartz brands regarding what not to use on their products.
Caesarstone Cleaning
Caesarstone is a popular quartz material. In a document on its website Caesarstone says the following:
Prolonged exposure to cleaning solutions may cause permanent damage/discoloration to the countertop surface. Avoid exposing Caesarstone to chemicals, such as oven grill cleaners, floor strippers, paint removers/strippers, toilet bowl cleaners, oil soaps, tarnish removers, furniture cleaners, drain products, battery acid, dishwasher detergent, etc. Should your surface accidentally be exposed to any potentially damaging products, rinse immediately with water to neutralize the effect.
The above statement shows two things. First, You must be careful what you clean your surface with. Second, Anything you do clean your quartz with needs to be rinsed off with water. Let’s look at another brand.
Cleaning Silestone
Along with other warnings and direction, the Silestone website makes the following statement regarding its quartz product:
Do not use paint strippers, caustic soda, or products with a pH of more than 10. If bleach or solvent is used, it should be diluted with water and never left in permanent contact with the product.
Again, the same principles are cited as guidelines for maintaining Silestone as were stated for Caesarstone. Namely, be careful what you use and be sure to rinse the quartz with water. But the Silestone page reveals why when it includes products with a pH of greater than 10.
Suggestions for Cleaning Quartz
As a general rule, many quartz surfaces require cleaners that are not abrasive (liquids with no gritty substance) and that have a pH between 4 and 10. chemicals outside these ranges can affect the resin in the material.
When cleaning quartz countertops, having an understanding of what is needed for certain kinds of cleaning is very helpful. One website that specializes in cleaners for all kinds of stone countertops offers a page that discusses cleaning quartz countertops here.
Since there are various kinds of cleaning and even stains. It pays to understand how the cleaners and surfaces interact. Knowing some simple tips and what to watch out for can help you to make decisions that are helpful without having to have a company tell you exactly what product to use for any given cleaning purpose.