How to Clean and Deal with Quartz Countertop Stains?

Quartz countertops have dominated the modern housing industry with their stunning aesthetics and multitude of styling options. From your kitchen to your bathroom, the quartz countertops’ immaculate elegance gives your home a crisp and subtle look. They are widely used for stylizing the countertops in kitchens, bathrooms, and even bars. But its usage is not just limited to indoors. The durability and damage-resistant nature of quartz also allows you to install quartz countertops outdoors. But does quartz stain? Unfortunately, it does stain. So, what stains quartz countertops? There are a handful of substances, including wine, tea, and coffee, that can stain the quartz. If cleaned properly, a little spill here are there won’t affect the aesthetic of your quartz countertop in the long run. Here, we cover all about quartz countertop stains and what we can do to get rid of them.

How Does Quartz Stain?

Quartz is a naturally occurring mineral most known for its aesthetically pleasing pigments and high resistance to damage. It did not take too long for quartz to become a trendy choice for most house owners ever since the quartz countertop’s invention in the 1960s. Among several strengths, quartz’s resistivity to stains is one of the special properties contributing to its trending usage in most households. Quartz does not easily stain, but other materials in the slabs, including resins and pigments, are prone to stains. The spills from coffee, tea, fruit juice, wine, turmeric, etc., can cause stubborn stains on the surface of a quartz countertop.

Some other features of the quartz countertops are as follows:

1. The quartz slabs are highly durable and can last a lifetime under the right conditions.
2. Quartz does not get scratches and cracks easily.
3. The super smooth surface of the slabs helps maintain hygiene and cleanliness of the surface.
4. The beautiful designs and color patterns of quartz make the space look glamorous.
5. Cleaning quartz slabs is very easy and time-efficient.

How Often Should You Clean Your Quartz Countertops?

One of the biggest conveniences of a quartz countertop is that it requires minimal maintenance. Regardless, a regular clean-up is a must to keep the quartz as glossy as new. It’s suggested that it should be cleaned at least once every day. Mainly, the surface of the quartz countertop in your kitchen must be wiped properly after every use. The kitchen countertop is usually the most used part of several households and is prone to hazardous contaminants caused by food residues. Therefore, regular cleaning of the quartz countertop not only keeps the stains away but also prevents any kind of infectious contamination.

Tips to Keep Quartz Countertops Clean

Adopting some basic cleaning and maintenance habits on a daily basis can help you keep your quartz countertop in good condition for several years or even decades. So, the below-listed pointers are a few essential tips you can follow to keep the countertop clean.

Tip 1: Clean Up Spills Immediately

Spills on countertops are quite common. Throughout the years, your countertop probably had all sorts of food and drink spills on it. But the ones that can really leave a mark on your countertop if not cleaned immediately are coffee, wine, tea, and turmeric. Although the quartz countertops’ stain resistance is comparatively higher than other countertop materials, quartz can still get stain marks. But, it only happens if you let the food or drink spills dry out on the countertop surface for a long time. To prevent the stain mark, wipe the surface with a clean cloth right after the spill. So, do quartz countertops stain even after cleaning? Not really! Just make sure to wipe the surface properly after every spill.

Tip 2: Protecting the Quartz Countertop from Extreme Heat

Heat resistance is another one of the special qualities of quartz countertops. But that does not mean it is able to withstand extreme amounts of heat. If you introduce the quartz slab with over 150°F of heat, the thermal shock will cause the quartz to crack. Likewise, the quartz slab also constitutes other synthetic materials, including resins. Extreme heat on the synthetic materials of the countertop can lead to yellow spots on the surface. To prevent such heat damage, do not place hot pots on your quartz countertop directly. Use heat-resistant sheets or cooking racks instead.

Tip 3: Use Cutting Boards for Surface Protection

Quartz is known for its toughness, but still, you have to protect its surface from sharp knives. Even a little scratch on the surface can ruin the appearance of your stunning countertop. The best way to protect it from knife scratches is by using chopping boards. You can cut fruits or vegetables using a suitable cutting board and protect the surface of your countertop from potential scratches. With the usage of a cutting board, you not only protect the quartz slab from scratches but also help it stay clean.

Tip 4: Keep the Countertop Clutter-Free

Cluttering too many things on your quartz countertop can lead to scratches. The clutter not only causes scratches but also hides the aesthetic appeal of the countertop by overcrowding your kitchen space. So, keep the counter as clear as possible so that you are able to wipe the surface clean with ease. Often, clutter can also leave stubborn stains on the surface of your countertop, which might be out of your sight. If not cleaned instantly, the stain might leave a permanent mark over time.

Tip 5: Protection from Chemical Damage

The quartz slab can react badly to some harsh chemicals. Products such as paint removers consisting of methylene or trichloroethane chloride can ruin the surface of the countertop. Likewise, the chemicals contained in nail polish remover, permanent markers, inks, bleach, and so on can also cause severe damage to the quartz slab. Any chemical solutions with high pH can lead to irreversible damage to your countertop. So, if such chemicals spill on your countertop, immediately wash out the surface with plenty of water and clean it with a clean cloth.

Removing Stains Out of Quartz Countertops

The steps to clean your quartz countertops stains are quite simple. But you have to be careful not to cause any scratches or staining while cleaning the quartz. Some appropriate ways to clean your kitchen countertop to remove stains are:

1. Remove the Dried Gunk from the Quartz Surface

If your countertop has some dried gunk patches from dirt residue, make sure to scrape that out first. Rough scrappers can leave scratches on the quartz surface. Therefore, use a putty knife or a nonabrasive scraper to remove the dried buildup. Scraping the surface very gently will get the buildup out of the quartz.

2. Use a Degreaser to Wipe Out the Grease

Grease is most common in your kitchen countertop. If you do not wipe off the grease from the surface, the grease will accumulate over time, making the cleaning process difficult. So, to wipe out the grease, use a degreaser, which you can easily find in any online store or physical shop nearby. Make sure to get a degreaser agent from a trusted brand. To clean the quartz surface, spray a sufficient degreaser on the surface. If the grease is from several days of accumulation, let the solution stay on the surface for a few minutes. It will dissolve the grease, which you can wipe out using a cleaning cloth.

3. Clean the Countertop Using Mild Dish Soap

For a daily cleaning process, using mild dish detergent is sufficient to keep your quartz countertop clean and sparkling. Get a microfiber cloth or a soft sponge and dip it in the mix of dish soap and warm water. Now, wipe the surface with the cloth or sponge dipped in soap mix and distribute it throughout the surface until you have covered the entire countertop. Clean the cloth and wipe the surface again to remove the soap. You can repeat the wiping until you get a clean counter surface. Lastly, do not forget to wipe out the water residue from the surface using a dry cloth.

4. Use Isopropyl Alcohol for Disinfecting the Quartz Surface

Simply cleaning the quartz countertop is not enough. Disinfecting the counter surface is also an essential part of the cleaning process. If not disinfected regularly, the quartz surface may serve as a perfect spot for bacterial contamination. To prevent the contamination, you can use isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Spray the alcohol on the surface evenly and rub the surface using a wet cloth. After that, clean the surface with warm water and then dry out the quartz using a dry cloth.

What You’ll Need?

Not all materials are suitable for cleaning quartz. Some harsh chemicals and scrappering objects can cause scratches or discoloration of the quartz slab. So, use the following cleaning items for stain removal on your quartz countertop:

• Mild dish soap
• Warm water
• Baking soda
• Non Abrasive sponge
• Non Abrasive glass cleaner
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Microfiber cloth
• Isopropyl rubbing alcohol

Steps to Clean Quartz Countertops

In the above section, we showcased the general cleaning method. But here, we will discuss the cleaning steps for specific quartz staining agents. The most common quartz countertop staining agents in our household are red wine, coffee, turmeric, and water residue. With the steps listed below, you will easily get rid of these common stain marks from your quartz slabs.

1. Removing Water Stains

The major source of water stains in quartz is the existence of mineral content in the water. This issue is a common occurrence in the case of hard water usage. If you let the hard water spill or residue dry on the countertop surface, the mineral will remain on the quartz, causing visible stain marks. The stains can dull the look of your countertop, so wiping the quartz dry is very important.

Here is how to get water stains out of quartz:

• Step 1: Buy a mild cleaning gel from any online store or a physical store nearby.
• Step 2: Take a microfiber cleaning cloth and damp it with tap water.
• Step 3: Grab the damp cloth and pour 5-7 drops of the cleaning gel.
• Step 4: Clean the quartz slab with the damp microfiber cloth evenly.
• Step 5: Wipe the quartz surface again with a cloth that’s dry.
• Step 6: Clean the surface dry after every water spill to avoid watermarks.

Here’s what you can/cannot do to protect your quartz countertops from water stains:

2. Removing Red Wine Stains

Red wine is known for leaving behind harsh stains anywhere it gets spilled on. From clothes to countertops, no surface is red wine stain-proof. When it comes to your quartz countertop, the red wine can leave a stain if the spill dries out on the surface, and do not clean it immediately. But, no need to worry about the stain. Cleaning the red wine stain off of the quartz countertop surface only requires a few simple steps.

Here is how to get red wine out of quartz:

• Step 1: Take around 5 grams of hydrogen peroxide and mix it well with 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
• Step 2: Pour the mixture paste over the red wine stain.
• Step 3: Cover the surface of the stain with plastic wrap.
• Step 4: Leave the plastic wrap on the surface for a day.
• Step 5: Remove the plastic and clean the surface using detergent and warm water.
• Step 6: Dry the surface using a dry wiping cloth.

Here’s what you can/cannot do to protect your quartz countertops from red wine stains:

3. Removing Coffee Stains

The coffee stain removal process works for other spills as well, such as tea and fruit juice spills. The spills from such drinks, including coffee, can stain the quartz if you allow the spill to remain on the surface for a long time. Luckily, coffee spills do not leave a harsh stain if cleaned immediately and are easier to clean.

Here is how to get coffee stains out of quartz:

• Step 1: Prepare a solution containing 1:3 proportion of water and baking soda.
• Step 2: Pour the mix over the stain.
• Step 3: Let the mixture that you made sit on the countertop for about 5 minutes.
• Step 4: Gently wipe off the mix with a microfiber cloth.
• Step 5: Dry the surface with a dry cloth.

Here’s what you can/cannot do to protect your quartz countertops from coffee stains:

4. Removing Turmeric Stains

Quartz turmeric stain is one of the stubborn stains that can be hard to get rid of if not cleaned regularly. Turmeric spills are quite common in a household where spices are a must in daily meal preparation. If you leave the turmeric spill on the quartz surface for a long time, it will leave a yellow stain, dulling the looks of your beautiful quartz slab. But, with some simple steps, turmeric stain removal from your quartz counter becomes a piece of cake.

Here is how to get turmeric stain out of quartz:

• Step 1: Mix 1 part water with 3 parts baking soda in a solution.
• Step 2: Apply the solution to the turmeric stain.
• Step 3: Let the solution sit there for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Step 4: Rub the stain with a damp cloth until the stain goes away.
• Step 5: Use a dry cloth to clean the surface until it is completely dry.

Here’s what you can/cannot do to protect your quartz countertops from turmeric stains:

Conclusion

Quartz countertop is a perfect option for you if you wish to enhance your household space, such as your kitchen and bathroom. You can not only enjoy the supreme aesthetics of quartz but also get the benefit of its low-maintenance and damage-resistant features. But, somehow, if you stain your countertops, we have got your back with the stain removal processes as illustrated above. Whatever the stain is from coffee, water, red wine, or turmeric, you will be able to get rid of it efficiently. However, if you feel the necessity of professional help for your countertop maintenance, Granite Karma is always open for free consultation. Contact us right away!