High-end countertops made of stone, such as marble are breathtaking but a little expensive. However, some options look just as beautiful. Desirable materials like Quartz can look just as luxurious at times. But it’s common to mix up Quartz with Quatzantine. Not only do they come from the same family, but they look very similar. The difference to focus on is that Quartz should be cleaned differently from Quartzantine and just about every other material.
This prompts popular questions like what is the best cleaner for Quartz countertops? And more importantly, when we have the right materials, understanding how to clean quartz countertops becomes the focus. Just because they are a stain-resistant material does not mean they are bulletproof. This will be your ultimate guide full of tips and tricks to keeping our quartz countertops squeaky clean.
Focusing on the Materials, You Need
Different countertops require different materials for cleaning. Some solutions may not work as well with specific materials. It’s also important to stick to what you know as some shelf cleaners have abrasive and toxic materials.
Here are some safe cleaning solutions:
- Mild soap or detergent
- Poultice
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Vinegar
There are a lot of different homemade solutions we can talk about that work great. But sometimes we need to amp it up a step to get harder stains out. Let’s take a look at the materials and understand what situations they are best for.
- Using mild soap or detergent with warm water is always the best way to get up sticky residues or debris on the counters. It helps kill some bacteria as well which is why you can always use it after cooking on the counters as well.
- Poultice is a way to handle some stains that are set before you can get a chance to clean them up. Poultice does the job of sucking the stain up and out of the quartz. It’s a white powdery solution that can be bought at Home Improvement stores like Home Depot.
Make Poultice at Home:
You don’t need to spend $10 to $30 on a Poultice solution when you can make it basically from common household items. It’s simple. To make the paste all you need to do is mix water and baking soda into a paste and it will be in liquid form instead of powdery.
- Isopropyl Alcohol is a stronger option for stains that aren’t working with regular dish soap. Here you should also mix ¼ cup of Isopropyl alcohol with water and put it into a spray bottle. This can be sprayed onto a cloth and then onto your surfaces also as a disinfectant.
- Last but certainly not least is vinegar. Vinegar is a common household item that is both strong and natural. You don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals and it gets up stains, rust, and any other problems you may run into with stained countertops
Here is How You Can Clean Quartz Countertops
There is a difference between taking care of stains, getting spills up quickly, and your routine cleaning. In none of these scenarios do you want to be abrasive? But your approach may vary depending on the situation. Here we can go over the common approaches to cleaning your quartz countertops and kitchen.
Normal Wipe Downs
Anytime you cook on the countertops you should absolutely clean them up afterward with a nice wipe-down. However, you don’t need to do a full clean every day if they aren’t being used. Twice a week you can take your wipes or disinfectant spray and clean as needed.
Basics to Remember
- Putting trivets and coasters down can prevent water rings and other stains
- Fruits left out on counters can leave sticky residues
- Always wipe down after dealing with raw meats
The best everyday cleaner for quartz countertops is likely to be a vinegar solution. It’s natural and you don’t have to worry about it eating away at your countertops. It’s also cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Basic Stains
When it comes to getting up your basic spills, you will want to give it some attention immediately. This means any sort of liquids or foods (especially if warm(. Simply taking a nonabrasive washcloth or dishtowel will do the trick. Here are easy-to-follow steps on how to clean your quartz countertops.
- Grab paper towels, washcloth, or dishtowel and blot any large spills. Moving it around by wiping it may only cost the spill to spread.
- After blotting the area spray your homemade quartz cleaner or store-bought solution onto a fresh cloth or sponge to wipe the area clean.
- Don’t let the cleaning solution dry with splotches. Take a dry cloth and wipe the counter dry in a circular motion to avoid smudges. This gives you the shiny new look you are after!
All Dried Up
Naturally, when we have kids or significant others that are unaware of the trail they leave behind, it’s hard to get things up immediately. This is how stains dry and may become slightly harder to clean up than if you were to get on top of it immediately. This is when we can switch to a slightly more powerful solution to fix the problem.
Liquid stains should be relatively easy to get up with a vinegar solution. If you want to know how to clean quartz countertops with vinegar simply dilute it with warm water (not hot) to soak over the stain and rub it to ease the stain out of the quartz.
If we are dealing with something a little more stubborn such as nail polish. It becomes a slightly more tricky situation. Quartz can be easily damaged by sharp options and if it’s really stuck you may end up chipping your countertops. If you have a rubber putty knife and a stronger cleaning solution, you can use the two together to lift the dried nail polish off the counter.
Go Away Grease
Grease is one of the ickiest things to deal with after making a delicious dinner. Even when you wipe it up it seems to stick around forever. Using a degreasing commercial product is generally fine such s a Krud Kutter. Be sure if you haven’t used the product before to check for harmful ingredients mentioned in the list above. It may take away the grease but it may also take away the finishing with it.
Here is a full step-by-step guide:
- Use the grease-removing product according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This can usually be found on the side of the product or straight on the back under instructions or “How to Use”
- After you have gone through that process it doesn’t hurt to do a basic clean. This is using your mild soap and a cloth to wipe down the area and pat dry.
The Soaking Method
In cases where you think your quartz countertops may need a deep clean, it’s never a bad idea to spray a generous amount of the solution directly onto the counters. You can let it sit for 10 minutes and soak in the areas that need the best cleaning.
Should I Use Sealant?
Sealing is when you coat a countertop so that spills and stains do not set on the actual material because it is porous and won’t come out. This always has the follow-up question as to whether the quartz countertop needs to have a sealant.
Negative. Quartz already has its own sealant-like properties built in. This is because while Quartz is a natural stone, it still is engineered as opposed to some of the other countertop choices you may have. Interestingly enough some people have found that when they have taken the steps to apply a sealant they have not only wasted their time and money but damaged the countertops!
One of the reasons that quartz countertops are one of the most popular choices is because it is durable and easy to clean without needing any extra protection. If you remember to use safe products when cleaning and keep away hot items, your countertops should last without issue.
| Stone Material | Sealant Needed |
| Marble | Yes |
| Quartz | No |
| Quartzite | Yes |
| Granite | Yes |
If you aren’t entirely sure and getting new countertops you can speak to the professionals installing them as to whether your material needs to be sealed or not.
Squeaky Clean Methods
When it comes to how to clean stains on quartz countertops there are several methods you can choose from. Whether it is working with vinegar or buying a commercial bought cleaner, you will want to make sure that the ingredient list is helpful and not harmful. This is the first step because without the right cleaning products you can’t get the job done.
The actual job is fairly easy as quartz is a durable material that is still mostly natural stone. Since it has its own sealant-like material there is no need to try and do one yourself. You’ll notice it doesn’t stain easily or permeate. But of course, stains happen, and knowing how to handle them is half the battle.
A simple wipe-down will normally do the trick. If this isn’t enough you can go for a stronger cleaning solution or you can opt for letting it soak on the stain for 10 minutes. This will allow you to try and loosen that gross stuff up and have squeaky clean counters!
