Do Quartz Countertops Stain?

Quartz countertops are engineered stone countertops made by combining 90% ground quartz and 8-10% resins, polymers, and pigments. Quartz is a popular choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops due to its durability and ease of maintenance. A lot of homeowners and designers also like the versatility of its color and design. Since it is man-made stone, it can come in all sorts of colors and patterns making it aesthetically suitable to any type of kitchen.

However, the most popular quartz countertops colors are of the light variety. This is because light-colored quartz countertops will suit any design and color scheme.

Do quartz countertops stain?

Quartz countertops are highly stain resistant but it is not true that they do not stain. Just like any type of countertop, quartz is vulnerable to staining from red wine, coffee, tea, tomato sauce, juice and etc. if the spills are not cleaned right away. But unlike granite (which is a natural stone), the staining does not occur because the staining liquid is absorbed by the countertop surface.

The staining occurs when the liquid reacts to the resin, which is one of the main components in quartz countertops. Resins are what help make quartz countertops non-porous but they are also what can be damaged by cleaners, heat and chemicals.

How to prevent stains on quartz countertops

The good news is stains in quartz countertop surfaces are easily preventable. Just clean the spills immediately and use protective surfaces like trays, coasters, trivets and cutting boards.

Stains can also occur on white or light-colored quartz countertops due to improper cleaning. Don’t clean your countertop using cleaners that have bleach and keep solvents such as detergent and paint thinners away from the quartz surface.

How to clean white quartz countertops

Quartz countertops might be highly stain and heat resistant but it still needs proper maintenance in order for it to keep its beauty for a longer period of time.

Regular cleaning

Quartz countertops need to be cleaned routinely:

• Wipe with mild dish soap – Harsh cleaning agents have a high chance of reacting to the resin on the countertop surface and will cause the quartz to stain. Stay away from cleaners and use dish soaps, antibacterial soaps or hand soaps instead. Mix the soap with water and this solution will get your quartz countertop looking sparkly clean in no time.
• Use the right cloth – Make sure that the cloth you are using to wipe your countertop is not in any way abrasive as it could permanently damage the surface of the quartz. A microfibre cloth is recommended for cleaning quartz countertops because it is highly absorbent and won’t leave watermarks.
• Sipe spills immediately – Always clean up spills as soon as they happen. It’s always a good idea to clean up any spills before they have a chance to set up.

Extreme cases

Daily wiping your countertops and paying attention to spills will fulfill its basic needs. But once in a while, you will need to deep clean your countertop surface. Spray an ample amount of non-abrasive cleaner all over the surface and let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping away with a soft cloth.

How to remove stains from quartz countertops

No matter how much you take care of your countertops, stains are sometimes inevitable.

Most stains on quartz are due to liquid that was able to sit for too long on the surface and most experts recommend using a powder cleanser like Bar Keeper’s Friend or Bon Ami. Apply the powder on the stain and scrub with a nylon pad or brush. For mild surface stains, apply glass cleaner on top of the stain and scrub away with a non-abrasive nylon scrub pad. These methods will remove stains from quartz but won’t fix a damaged resin.

Water is made out of several minerals such as calcium or limescale. When water evaporates, these minerals are left behind creating chalky stains that won’t wipe away. Water stains are easily removed by bleach and other acidic cleaners, but as mentioned before, acidic products damage quartz surfaces and ph-neutral cleaners won’t be able to remove water stains.

The only way to remove water stains is to scrape off the deposits as much as possible with a plastic spatula. You can also use steel wool but make sure to use light handed circular motions then follow up with using a dry cloth to wipe off the loosened buildup.

Another effective way to remove water stains is to mix baking soda with water until it becomes a paste-like consistency. Then pour the mixture on the stain and rub it in with a soft cloth.

Common mistakes when cleaning white quartz countertops

Now that you know how to remove stains from quartz, let us now look into the common mistakes that everyone makes when cleaning white or light-colored quartz countertops so that we can avoid making them.

• Using acidic and alkaline cleaners – Acidic and alkaline cleaners will break down the bonds between resin and quartz and permanently damage the surface.
• Using metallic objects to scrape the surface – If you need to scrape off gunk on your quartz countertop, don’t use sharp metallic objects. Instead, use plastic objects such as a plastic knife or a scraper.
• Using hot water to clean the surface – Make sure the use water that is at room temperature or only mildly warm to avoid damaging the resin.
• Not wiping spills immediately – This is the most common reason for stains. Always wipe away spills as soon as they happen.

Conclusion

Yes, you can remove stains from white quartz countertops but the whole process can easily be avoided by prevention.

If you need help in picking out and installing countertops for your home, give Granite Selection a call at (888) 906 3317 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Granite selection is a manufacturer and installer of natural stone countertops for kitchens and bathrooms in the Chicagoland area. Located in Elk Grove Village, IL, we serve a 70 mi area.