How to look after your quartz worktops

If you are thinking about having quartz worktops in your home, or perhaps have recently had them installed, you are making an excellent choice. Quartz worktops are a highly desirable feature for your kitchen, bathroom or bar area. Not only do they look stunning, but they are also extremely durable and hard wearing.

However, there is also a lot that you can do to keep your quartz worktops in peak condition, and ensure that they look just as good in months and years to come as they did when they were first installed.

So in this article we take a look at:

• Understanding more about quartz worktops;
• How to clean quartz worktops;
• How to protect quartz worktops from damage.

Understanding more about quartz worktops

Quartz worktops are a man made product composed of around 93-94% crushed natural quartz and 6-7% polymer resins. The polymer resins act as a binding agent and help to maintain a consistent colour, pattern and texture throughout the worktop. 

There are many benefits to quartz worktops. These include:

• Quartz worktops do not stain easily.
• The surface of your quartz worktop is non-porous so does not absorb water.
• The surface of your quartz worktop is also resistant to acids.
• Quartz worktops are scratch resistant.
• Quartz worktops are heat resistant, and will also be sealed during manufacture to reinforce this.
• Quartz worktops are very hygienic.

Quartz worktops usually have a polished finish, but some manufacturers can also supply them in either a satin or leather finish.

How to clean quartz worktops

Overall, quartz worktops are fairly low maintenance. However, it is important to get into a good cleaning routine with your quartz worktops to ensure that you keep them looking at their best. There are four basic steps to follow:

• Wipe them after use

Get into the habit of wiping your quartz worktops after every use. This will prevent dust and crumbs building up on the quartz surface. Also make sure that you wipe up any spills immediately. A wet soft cloth – such as a microfibre cloth or e-cloth – is ideal for doing this. And drying them with another cloth will keep the surface in tip top condition.

• Remove any buildup of debris immediately

Don’t let debris such as sticky food or ingrained dirt build up. The longer it is left, the more likely it is to spoil or stain your quartz worktops. But be careful not to use harsh products such as scouring pads, abrasive cloths or chemical cleaners. Instead, try lifting the debris gently with a blunt tool such as a putty knife, then cleaning with a soft cloth as above.

• Degrease them regularly

Quartz worktops can get greasy, particularly in the kitchen, so take time to degrease them regularly. Look for a degreasing product that is safe to use on quartz and does not contain bleach. Spray or wipe it generously on your quartz worktops, wipe clean then rinse off with a sponge or wet towel. Finally, buff your worktops dry to restore the finish.

• Tackle tough stains as soon as you spot them

As we saw earlier, quartz worktops are extremely stain resistant. But if you do spot a dried-in stain, tackle it straight away. There are many stain removing products on the market, or you could try either isopropyl rubbing alcohol or a homemade product such as a water and vinegar solution. If in doubt, check with your quartz worktop manufacturer or supplier for advice as to the best product to use.

How to protect quartz worktops from damage

As well as regular cleaning, there are a few things you can do to prevent damage to your quartz worktops. Four things to be careful of are:

• Clean up immediately

We saw earlier the importance of always wiping quartz worktops after use, and dealing with debris immediately. As well as keeping your worktops clean, these are both very important in protecting your worktops from damage. Untreated spills, crumbs, or dirt could potentially stain or scratch your worktops. So always clean up immediately to prevent this from happening.

• Protect them from heat and acid

Although quartz worktops are highly resistant to heat and acid, it is still wise to build in a bit of common sense protection as well. So use mats or trivets when working with hot pans or dishes. And use coasters for drinks that are either very hot, prone to stain, or contain citrus. All of these elements could potentially damage your quartz worktops.

• Use chopping boards for cutting food

Even though quartz is durable, don’t be tempted to use your quartz worktops as chopping boards. It is much better to use separate chopping boards rather than using the worktop surface itself. Remember that quartz is scratch resistant but not completely scratch proof, and it would be such a shame for little scratches to start appearing on your quartz worktops.

• Remember not to use harsh cleaning products – ever!

You know how it goes. When you first have something new – in this case a quartz worktop – you are very careful to treat it well and keep it looking its best. But as time goes on, it’s all too easy to start falling into bad habits without really thinking about it. No matter how long you have had your quartz worktops, always remember not to use any kind of harsh cleaning products on them. Don’t cut corners : stick to the guidelines above to keep your quartz worktops the best they can be for as long as possible..

We hope that this article has helped you understand more about the benefits of quartz worktops and how to keep them looking as good as new for years to come. And if you are planning to install quartz worktops in your home, why not start by browsing through some of the products we supply at Zenstone? Then do pay a visit to Zenstone’s Chobham showroom where you will be able to see some wonderful examples and see just how good quartz worktops could look in your home.