Quartzite counters are known for their natural beauty and impressive durability, making them a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms. However, knowing how to clean quartzite countertops is the key to keeping them looking their best for years to come.
While it is generally a resilient stone, professional cleaners warn us that it is still prone to scratches and discoloration when cleaned incorrectly, leading to dulling over time.
Here, they share their best cleaning tips and essential do’s and don’ts for cleaning quartzite countertops around your home to maintain a surface that's both functional and aesthetic.
How to clean quartzite countertops
When tackling any counters when cleaning a kitchen or cleaning a bathroom, the first step is to declutter countertops and remove any loose debris, dust, and crumbs. This is easily done with a microfiber cloth. Then, you can start deep cleaning.
What you will need
- Soft microfiber cloths, available at Walmart
- A clean, dry towel
- A natural stone cleaner, such as Stone Care International Granite Cleaner, from Amazon
- Dawn dish soap, available at Walmart
- Baking soda, such as Arm & Hammer, from Walmart
- Plastic wrap
- A quartzite sealant, such as a Granite Gold Water-Based Sealer, from Amazon
1. Clean up wet spills immediately
Elizabeth Shields, operations manager at Super Cleaning Service Louisville begins, ‘Durable and heat resistant, perfect for heavy-duty kitchen use. But it’s more porous than you might think, so spills can stain if they’re left sitting. Regular sealing helps, but you’ll still need to be quick when removing red wine stains, or removing coffee stains.
‘I would wipe it first with a microfiber cloth or paper towel to remove dust, grease, and any food bits. Then, our expert cleaners spray a little of either Granite Gold Daily Cleaner [available on Amazon], or, if a client is sensitive to chemicals, Seventh Generation Granite & Stone Cleaner [also at Amazon]. Then, wipe again with a microfiber cloth, and buff with a soft towel for a dry, polished finish.’
2. Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasives – including vinegar
Much like cleaning stone floors, it is always best to avoid using harsh chemicals and abrasives on quartzite countertops – and that includes cleaning with vinegar warns Ashley Kider, cleaning expert and chief operating officer at Dashing Maids.
They advise, ‘Always avoid harsh chemicals like bleach or acidic substances. Use a mild, pH-neutral cleaner solution to clean the surface using circular motions.
‘You can make your own cleaner by mixing a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water for everyday cleaning and maintenance.’
3. Remove stains with baking soda
Some natural ingredients leave abundant color marks, making it hard to remove turmeric stains, for instance. Should your quartzite countertop stain, your best bet is to clean with baking soda, explains Ashley Kider, a cleaning expert.
Ashley says, ‘For stains, you can create a paste out of water and baking soda. Spread the paste onto the stain, cover it with plastic wrap so it remains undisturbed and has time to work its magic, then wipe it clean after a day or two.’
Plastic wrap is useful for several cleaning tasks around the home, helping to keep cleaning solutions in close contact with a surface and stop them being disturbed as they work, such as on countertops, faucets, and shower heads.
4. Reseal your counters regularly
When introducing natural materials into your decor scheme, you need to keep up to with the maintenance. For quartzite, that means regularly resealing the surfaces to keep the countertops looking their best says Elizabeth Shields, operations manager
She explains that ‘A quartzite countertop looks like marble but acts like granite.’ This means it is incredibly porous. ‘If you're into that unique, earthy vibe, quartzite brings it in full force since it’s 100% natural stone, formed from sandstone over time through heat and pressure.’
To keep it looking as good as the day it was installed, you should reseal the counters with a product like the top-rated 511 Impregnator Sealer, from Amazon at least once every 12 months on top of regular cleaning.
Cleaned and cared for correctly, quartzite counters can last for decades in your home. Consider the upkeep when picking the best countertops for a kitchen, however, as this approach to maintenance doesn't fit into everyone's busy lifestyles, and you don’t want to make expensive kitchen remodeling mistakes.
