Quartz countertops don’t only look amazing in the kitchen but they are also one of the toughest and most durable materials in the world of kitchen countertops. Here are some things you should avoid when taking care of or cleaning quartz kitchen countertops.
Don’t Use Harsh Cleaning Chemicals
Yes, quartz countertops are very strong and durable, but that doesn’t mean that you can use harsh chemicals for cleaning them. Quartz is not resistant to chemicals like acids and harsh abrasive cleaners. These cleaning agents can do more bad than good for your countertops. If the use of these cleaners pertains, you will start to notice your quartz countertops becoming fragile, weak, and dull. It is only a matter of time before these countertops start to dissolve because of the constant use of these chemicals and harsh agents. For cleaning, you should use a simple warm water and soap solution. It will do plenty for you.
Don’t Let The Spills Linger For Too Long
This a huge mistake a lot of people make with quartz or any light-colored countertop. The spills, when seen, need to be cleaned immediately. You can’t let the spills linger for too long, otherwise it will settle into the surface and then it will become semi-permanent. If this keeps happening, then you will see your countertops becoming more stained and they will start to lose their shine and luster. It’s best to clean the spills straight away, no matter how big or small.
Using Hard Brushing Pads
Sometimes, those hard bristle brushing pads can seem like a good idea to help get rid of any gunk or sticky residue on top of your countertops. But this is not true for quartz countertops. Quartz may seem like a heavy duty and durable material, but even it has some limits. You can’t brush off the surface with a hard bristled pad, it will leave ugly scratches on the surface. The best way to get rid of these stains and residues is to use baking powder and a soft toothbrush.
Setting Hot Pans On The Countertop Surface
Quartz is not heat resistant and that’s why you can’t just set hot pans and pots on top of the countertop. This will turn into ugly black marks which can look very obvious especially on light color quartz surfaces. You want to use heat pads and trivets to set hot utensils and pans if you must put something on the countertop.
You can also invest in a chopping board which can be used as a large trivet and you can settle and deal with hot foods and utensils there. Try not to set hot utensils directly on the countertop if you want them to last long.
Not Using A Plastic Scraper
A lot of the time, people forget that there are plastic scrapers available for scraping off any dried food or residue from the surface of quartz countertops. People will, more often than not, use metal knives or something of the sort to scrape off the residue. This is not a good idea because metallic objects and knives will scratch the surface of quartz.
If the scratch runs too deep, then it will be a disaster to fill it up. Quartz is one of the few materials that can lead to a huge hassle when trying to fill up or remove quartz scratches, mostly because there are color problems and not every filler matches the particular quartz color.
Cutting Things Directly On The Surface
As mentioned above, you can’t use metals like knives and butcher cleavers on the quartz countertops. You will need to invest in a good quality cutting board for that. Knives and cleavers are the enemies of quartz countertops and it can get even worse if you use a ceramic knife to cut something directly on top of the countertop. First of all, it’s not sanitary and secondly, it leads to a lot of scratches on your countertops.
If you prevent these mistakes from happening, not only will your quartz countertops look brand new, but they will also last for a long time. If you are searching for a countertop replacement NC, look into quartz countertops because they are durable, non-porous, and easy to maintain.
