You’ve heard that quartz is the best countertop for commercial spaces, but what about quartz countertop maintenance? Is it a lot of work to keep quartz countertops in good condition? Choosing a new countertop comes with many questions, and there’s so much to learn. This guide will help break down everything you need to know about maintaining quartz countertops and keeping them in tip-top shape for years to come.
Why Choose Quartz?
There are many reasons people choose quartz countertops for their facilities, but the biggest selling point is durability. Quartz is virtually indestructible. It won’t crack or chip, and it’s resistant to scratches and stains. It’s also antimicrobial, which means that bacteria can’t penetrate the surface. These properties are because quartz slabs are made of ground quartz mixed with resin to make it completely nonporous.
The manufacturing process of quartz countertops also means they are easy to customize. The ground quartz and resin are typically mixed with pigments and polymers that add color, flecks, and veining to the finished product.
You can order quartz in large amounts made using the same materials, so it’s easy to match the countertops throughout your entire commercial project. Other natural stones, like granite, can’t be mass-manufactured, and it’s much more challenging to get a cohesive look.
These features, along with many others, make quartz the ideal material for countertops in commercial buildings. Hotels, restaurants, apartment buildings, senior living facilities, and more can benefit from having high quality, durable, and easily customizable countertops.
Now that you’ve decided quartz countertops are the best choice for your commercial space, let’s take a look at maintaining them. Here’s everything you need to know about caring for your beautiful new countertops.
Quartz Countertop Maintenance
One of the major benefits of quartz is that it’s extremely easy to care for. That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to quartz countertop maintenance.
Sealing Isn’t Necessary.
First off, if you’ve had any experience with other natural stone countertops, you’re probably familiar with the process of sealing them every year. Most granite, marble, and limestone countertops are incredibly porous, so you must seal them to keep stains and bacteria from seeping under the surface. Quartz, on the other hand, never needs to be resealed.
Clean With Warm Water and Mild Soap
Quartz can be easily cleaned using a soft microfiber cloth soaked in warm water and dish soap. Start by removing any crumbs or stuck on gunk with a wet cloth. Avoid using any sharp objects to scrape grime off the surface. Even though quartz is scratch-resistant, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you need to use something to get off any stuck-on food, use a putty knife and scrape gently until the food is removed.
Once the extra buildup is removed, wipe the countertops down with the wet, soapy rag to remove any existing residue and clean the surface. Make sure you’re using a soft cloth and mild soap. It’s best to avoid harsh cleaners and scrub your countertops with anything that could scratch them.
Stain Removal
Quartz countertops are resistant to stains, but that doesn’t mean that leaving a massive tomato sauce spill unattended for a while won’t result in some staining. You should always clean up any spills right when they happen, but that’s not always realistic in a commercial setting.
When dealing with stains, you can use a mixture of baking soda and water. Just be careful not to clean with the baking soda. Simply apply it to the stain and let it sit for five to ten minutes; then gently wipe it off with a warm damp cloth.
Another stain removal option that can be helpful is using isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Wet a soft rag with the rubbing alcohol, and wipe gently at the stain until you see it begin to lift. Be sure to wipe off the surface with soapy water after using the alcohol for a fresh, clean shine.
Speaking of shine, are you wondering how to get your quartz countertops to sparkle? Try spraying them down with a glass cleaner and letting them sit for a few minutes, then wipe the surface down with a wet cloth.
Most quartz manufacturers recommend this method for cleaning, but a few say to stay far away from using glass cleaner on your quartz. It’s always best to check the manufacturer’s recommendations before using any cleaning product not explicitly designed for quartz.
What to Avoid
Quartz excels in nearly every area, but it does have an Achilles heel: excessive heat. Many natural stone countertops can handle heat easily, but quartz isn’t as heat resistant. This is because the resin used to engineer the countertops makes them vulnerable to high temperatures.
Exposure to temperatures over 300 degrees Fahrenheit can cause discoloration and leave behind scorch marks, so you should avoid placing hot pots and pans and hot hair tools directly on quartz counters. Keep hot pads and trivets handy to prevent any problems with heat damage to your countertops.
While maintaining quartz countertops is relatively easy, it’s important to avoid cleaning them with bleach. Many people reach for bleach when they want to deep clean and disinfect things. And while that’s great for many surfaces, you should never use bleach on your quartz countertops. Even disinfecting wipes may contain bleach, so be careful to choose a bleach-free option if you use them on your quartz. If you veer away from mild dish soap, find a cleaner or degreaser made specifically for quartz countertops.
Superior Commercial Solutions Is The Leader In Quartz Countertops
Choosing the right countertops for your commercial kitchen is crucial, and Superior Commercial Solutions is here to make that decision easier. We offer the best commercial kitchen countertops to make quartz countertop maintenance a breeze. We’ll be with you every step of the way, from design to installation.We specialize in quartz countertops to provide the durability and flexibility that commercial buildings like restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes, and senior living facilities require. We are located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and offer commercial countertops, cabinets, sink fixtures, and decor across the United States. Schedule your consultation today!