What is the best cleaner for quartz countertops?

As you may have heard, I’ve recently finished upgrading my kitchen after moving into an old house needing considerable renovation. We’ve smashed down walls and completely remodeled the space. It took forever to decide the style of the kitchen. It needed to be durable and easy to clean. I prefer the high-shine look on most of my surfaces, so we eventually opted for quartz countertops, which look stunning. Still, I have one question, what is the best cleaner for quartz countertops? Today, I share some fabulous tips to help you keep your quartz countertops shiny and sparkling.

Our countertops can endure quite a bashing and bear quite a lot of stains when we make dinner, especially when batch cooking. So It is sensible to know how to deal with these spillages without making the stain worse or permanent.

There are some simple rules to follow, and you shouldn’t ignore them, or you could ruin your countertops by stripping the surface seal, dulling the shine.

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What is a quartz countertop made from?

Quartz countertops consist of manufactured, engineered stone containing approximately 95 percent ground natural quartz and 5 percent resins, polymers, and pigments. This mixture forms a hard surface comparable to granite. The quarts can be roughly ground to produce a flecked appearance or smoothy ground to give a smooth, creamy appearance, some times they add glitter to give the countertops an extra sparkle.
Engineered quartz uses Italian Bretonstone technology that blends ground quartz or other natural stone particles like granite and marble with a polymer resin.

How to clean and care for quartz countertops like a pro.

What is the best way to clean quartz countertops? Let’s break down the care of your countertops into daily, weekly, and special stain removal sections, then visit each category separately. 

Daily cleaning.

You should wipe your countertops after every meal, especially if there has been a spillage on the counters. Often children’s drinks are heavy with dyes, and colorings may stain the surface if left untreated for a long time.

We eat at the island for 75% of our meals, so it does tend to get quite messy and always needs a wipe down after cooking and eating. Use the best quartz cleaner you can buy. I prefer to use a particular stone and granite cleaner; the best one I found is this one by Method. It works well and brings the surface nice and shiny. Method daily granite cleaner cuts through grease and removes heavy stains like Tomato Ketchup and Curry sauce. It’s light enough to use a couple of times a day as a daily cleaner.

• Tea is a problem for quartz worktops, and it can stain quite badly, so clean up any tea stains as soon as they happen.
• More importantly, prevention is better than cure when it comes to tea stains, so always use a coaster under drinks and never put a wet spoon or tea bag on the surfaces.
• Between each meal, use a soft polishing cloth like this one, soaked in soapy water, to clean up any stains and marks you may have made from cups of tea, coffee, and kid’s drinks.

Weekly cleaning

Once a week, I like to deep clean my quartz countertops. This ensures that nothing hides under kitchen gadgets that may damage the surface of your countertop. To deep clean your surfaces:

• Remove everything from the surfaces.
• Wipe them down with soapy water.
• Allow drying time.
• Polish with a soft cloth and specialist quartz and granite cleaner like this one. This polish brings back the sparkle and shine to the whole countertop and makes them look as good as new.

Stain removal

Occasionally, you cannot remove a stain with soap and water or with a specialist granite cleaner like Method Daily Granite Cleaner. 

These stains are virtually impossible to move from light quartz:

• Curry
• Beetroot
• Juice
• Grease
• Tea
• Coffee
• Red wine
• Biro ink

So, what is the best cleaner for quartz countertop stains that nothing else can remove?

The best thing I have found to remove stubborn stains is this Elbow Grease Paste; however, you must be careful when using this paste because it is abrasive and will dull the shine on your granite or quartz surfaces, so always: 

• Test in an inconspicuous area first to ensure the paste will not damage your worktop surface.
• Using a damp cloth, put a pea-sized amount of Elbow Grease Paste onto the cloth and rub very, very gently until the stain starts to lift.
• You will find that the longer the stain has been on your counter, the harder it will be to remove.
• It’s virtually impossible to use this paste without taking some of the shine off your countertop, so only use it to remove tiny stains that you won’t notice too much. It’s not ideal, but I’d prefer a small, dull spot than a stain, but you should continue at your own risk.

This post tells you how to remove stains from granite, contains some excellent tips and tricks, and explains how to make a poultice to put on stubborn stains.

Homemade quartz cleaner.

You don’t need to buy anything fancy; good old mild dish soap and water spray are the best DIY quartz countertop cleaner.

Cleaners to avoid using on quartz countertops. 

Even though quartz countertops can be very durable, there are quite a few cleaners that you should avoid using to prevent permanent damage to the surface of your countertops. So here’s a list of what not to use on granite and quartz.

• Any abrasive sponges, cleaners, cloths, or scrubbers
• Bleach
• Vinegar
• High PH cleaners
• Oven cleaners
• Grill cleaners
• Glass cleaner
• High acid cleaners, especially citric acid.

How can homeowners prevent damage to quartz countertops

It’s always good to know what you should not clean quartz countertops with to avoid unnecessary damage. Using an inappropriate cleaner can make the countertop surface dull and sometimes stained, but you should also treat your quartz countertops with care:

• Do not use bleach
• Always use a chopping board.
• Do not smash things on top of your countertops, like bottles or jars. 
• Always use coasters.
• Do not put hot pans on the countertops. Use a trivet.
• Wipe up grease immediately.
• Wipe up stains and spillages immediately. 
• Avoid getting biro stains on the countertops. 

Tips for disinfecting quartz countertops 

Knowing how to disinfect quartz countertops is important because you don’t want to damage the surface permanently, or it will dull and be more susceptible to stain. The best way to disinfect your quartz countertops is to:

• Dilute rubbing alcohol or Isopropyl alcohol with warm water and put it into a spray bottle.
• Spray a small amount onto the surface of the worktops.
• Wipe from the back of the counter in a z shape to the front to remove bacteria and prevent cross-contamination.

This solution makes a great all-purpose cleaner and can replace most of your expensive cleaning products. It’s great for windows, chrome, and glass, as it leaves a streak-free finish and is remarkably cheap.

How to seal your quartz countertops

To replace the shine on your quartz and granite countertops, you will need to reseal them. I believe it’s best to call in a professional quartz sealer to do this job and restore your countertops to new. 

How to clean black quartz countertops 

Even though black quartz shows dust, grease, and fingerprints, it is just as easy to keep clean as any other countertop. The best cleaner for quartz countertops is wiping the surface daily with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth. Ensure the water is hot, so it evaporates quickly to prevent water spots and streaks.

FAQ 

And that’s how I clean my quartz countertops daily. I hope you found my cleaning tips helpful.

If you have more questions or know the best cleaner for quartz countertops, leave a comment below.