Care and Maintenance
Quartz surfaces are very easy and relatively low maintenance to care for. For everyday cleaning, we recommend simply using mild dish soap and warm water. Stay away from harsh, abrasive cleansers and cleansers that contain bleach. You can gently scrape hardened material off with a plastic putty knife. Quartz is the most durable countertop stone you can buy and, unlike granite, quartz countertops don’t need to be continuously re-sealed. The majority of quartz countertop sold today are manufactured from about 93% crushed quartz and 7% polymers. The infused materials result in countertops that are nearly scratch proof, almost maintenance free.
Granite requires little care. To clean your granite countertops we recommend using mild soap and water. There are products available for daily cleaning of granite that contain sealant; these products will enhance the protection on your stone. These types of cleaning products will work well in cleaning your stone, but are more costly than the simple and inexpensive option of soap and water. Avoid the use of cleaners such as vinegar, Windex or bleach, as they can remove the protective sealant from your counters.
There are many misconceptions on staining of granite countertops. Granite is approx. 95-98% stain resistant. All stone however is porous to some extent, which is why we recommend that granite be protected with a sealer. There are some stones that are virtually impenetrable, such as Tropical Brown and Emerald Pearl. Granites do vary in their composition, therefore, some stones may be more prone to stains than others. Your granite representative can advise you when choosing your stone. You want to select a stone that meets your individual needs and taste.
Our best recommendation is to "test run" your stone to ensure that it is the right product for you. Take a sample and abuse it; spill an assortment of different products on it to determine what your granite can handle and what it can’t. Also, try cutting on it and placing hot plates on it to view firsthand what it can withstand; this way, once your stone is installed, you will feel comfortable using it. We offer our customers 10” x 10” samples to take home.
Marble and onyx do require more care as they are softer and more porous, and as such, we recommend that these stones not be used in high traffic areas such as kitchens.