Quartz countertops are heat resistant but not heatproof, so if you leave a curly iron, a hot saucepan, or a cigarette on them long enough, you’ll have a burn mark. Although it can be tricky removing burned marks from quartz countertops, treating the burn mark or stain as soon as possible makes the process easier.
In this article, I will share with you some home remedies you can use to remove burn marks from your quartz countertops without ruining them. However, before we get into the various methods, let me briefly address a few important points.
Can Quartz Countertops Be Burned?
As I said, quartz countertops are heat resistant but not heatproof. So, yes, they can be burned. In fact, all stone countertops can be burned if the heat is high enough and applied for long enough.
However, because quartz countertops are made with a resin binder (which has a melting point of around 300 degrees Fahrenheit and can withstand heat up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit without any issues), they are less likely to be damaged by heat than other types of stone countertops.
You should still use caution when placing hot items on your quartz countertop. Instead, use a trivet or hot pad to protect the surface from extreme heat.
How Does Quartz Countertop Get Burn Marks?
Now that we’ve answered the question “can quartz countertops be burned,” let’s move on to how these burn marks or stains occur. There are three main ways quartz countertops get burn marks;
- Direct Contact With Hot Objects
This is the most common way quartz countertops get burned. If you place a hot pot, pan, plate, curly iron, or iron on your countertop without using a trivet or hot pad, you’ll likely have a burn mark.
- Cigarette Burns
Another common type of burn mark is from cigarettes. For example, if you smoke cigarettes inside your home and do not use an ashtray on your quartz countertop, the heat from the cigarette can cause a burn mark.
- Chemicals
Chemicals can also cause burn marks. For instance, if you spill a corrosive cleaning product on your countertop and don’t clean it up right away, it can eat through the finish and leave a permanent stain.
- Dry Heat
Dry heat from countertop toasters, ovens, and hair dryers can also cause burn marks. This can be caused by placing these items on the surface of your countertop or by leaving them on for too long.
Now that we know how burn marks occur, let’s move on to how heat affects quartz countertops.
How Does Heat Affect Quartz Countertops?
It is also essential to understand how heat affects quartz countertops before you try to remove a burn mark.
As I mentioned earlier, quartz countertops are made with a resin binder with a melting point of around 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
This means that if you expose your quartz countertop to direct heat (such as from a curling iron, hot pan, or cigarette) for too long, the resin can start to melt, and you’ll see a change in the appearance of your countertop.
What You’ll Need To Remove Burn Marks From Quartz Countertop
If you’re looking to remove burn marks from your quartz countertop, you’ll need a few things.
- Mild Abrasive Cleaner
- Magic Eraser
- Soft Cloth or Sponge
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Flour or Baking Soda
- Toothpaste
How To Remove Burn Marks From Quartz Countertops
To remove a burn mark from your quartz countertops, here are a few tried and tested methods you can follow:
1. Using An Abrasive Cleaner
One of the best ways to remove a burn mark from your quartz countertop is to use an abrasive cleaner. Abrasive cleaners contain tiny particles that help to scrub away the burn mark.
When using an abrasive cleaner, be sure to use it sparingly and avoid using it on areas not affected by the burn mark.
There are a lot of abrasive cleaners on the market, such as Comet, Bar Keepers Friend, etc. To remove a burn mark from your quartz countertop using an abrasive cleaner:
- Step One: Wet the burn mark with water and then sprinkle a small amount of the cleaner onto the area.
- Step Two: Gently scrub the area with a soft sponge or cloth in a circular motion. Continue scrubbing until the burn mark has disappeared.
- Step Three: Rinse the area with water and dry it off with a soft cloth.
- Step Four: Check to see if the stain is gone. If the burn mark is still visible, repeat steps one through four.
2. Using Baking Soda And Toothpaste
Another way to remove a burn mark from your quartz countertop is by using baking soda and toothpaste.
The baking soda’s abrasiveness will help scrub away the burn mark, while the toothpaste will be a mild cleaner.
Baking soda also contains antibacterial properties that help to clean the area. When combined with toothpaste, it makes an effective cleaning solution for burn marks on natural and engineered stone countertops like quartz.
To remove a burn mark from your quartz countertop using baking soda and toothpaste:
- Step One: Sprinkle some baking soda onto the affected area of the quartz.
- Step Two: Dampen a sponge or cloth with clean water and scrub the area in a circular motion.
- Continue scrubbing for about 30 seconds.
- Step Three: Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the sponge or cloth and continue scrubbing the area in a circular motion.
- Scrub for an additional 30 seconds.
- Step Four: Apply toothpaste over the burn stain you scrubbed with baking soda.
- Step Five: Allow the toothpaste to sit on the surface of the burn stain until the paste dries.
- Step Six: Once the toothpaste has sat on the surface of the quartz countertop overnight, use a clean, damp sponge or cloth to wipe it away.
- Step Seven: Rinse the area with clean water and dry it with a soft cloth.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide And Flour (Poultice)
If you have a stubborn burn mark that won’t disappear, you can try using hydrogen peroxide and flour. Combine hydrogen peroxide and flour to create what is commonly known as a poultice.
A poultice is a paste-like substance that’s used to remove deep-seated stains from porous surfaces like granite and quartz. This can also be used to remove burn marks from quartz countertops.
To remove a burn mark from your quartz countertop using hydrogen peroxide and flour:
- Step One: Mix equal flour and hydrogen peroxide parts in a small bowl to create a paste.
- Step Two: Apply the paste over the affected area and cover it with plastic wrap.
- Step Three: Allow the paste to sit on the surface of the burn mark for 24 hours.
- Step Four: After 24 hours, remove the plastic wrap and use a clean damp sponge or cloth to wipe away the paste.
- Step Five: Rinse the area with water and dry it off with a clean cloth. There you have it!
4. Using Magic Eraser
Last but not least, you can use a magic eraser, a type of cleaning pad made with melamine foam, to remove the burn mark from your quartz countertop.
This foam effectively removes stains and dirt from natural stone surfaces. It’s also known to work wonders on burn marks.
The magic eraser works similarly to sandpaper but without damage. For example, to remove a burn mark from your quartz countertop using a magic eraser:
- Step One: Wet the magic eraser with water and then gently rub it over the surface of the burn mark.
- Step Two: Rub the eraser in a circular motion until the burn mark has disappeared.
- Continue scrubbing for about until the burn marks begin to fade or disappear.
- Step Three: Remove the residue by rinsing the area with water and drying it off with a clean cloth.
Additional Tips and Advice
Before you head on out, here are a few additional tips and advice:
- First, test the method on a small, inconspicuous countertop area first to make sure there’s no damage.
- Use a mild cleaner, soap, and water to remove any residue behind the cleaning solutions.
- Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s care and cleaning instructions.
- If the burn mark is still visible after trying all these methods, you may need to call a professional.
- A professional stone restoration company will have the necessary equipment and experience to remove the burn mark without damaging your countertop.
Final Thoughts
Burn marks should be avoided at all costs because dealing with them on countertops can be quite a hassle. But if you do happen to get a burn mark on your quartz countertop, you can try one of the four methods mentioned above.
I hope this article helped you out. Please feel free to share this article with your friends and family. Also, if you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!