Quartz countertops are a popular choice for many homeowners because they have an elegant, high-end look that is sure to impress. However, if your quartz countertop isn’t shiny and glossy looking, it can be frustrating trying to figure out what the problem is.
In this blog post, we will discuss why your quartz may not be as shiny as you would like and what you can do about it. To briefly answer the question of this topic, your quartz countertop may not be shiny due to;
There are a couple of reasons why quartz countertops may not be as shiny as you would like. Below are the detail of some of the main reasons why;
- Dirty, Debris, Or Stain Build-up
- Heat Damage
- Chemical Damage
- Soap Scum
- Hard Water Stains
1. Dirty, Debris, Or Stain Build-up
One of the most common reasons why quartz countertops are not shiny is because they have been dirty. I did not mean to sound captain obvious but this is probably the most common reason why your quartz countertop may not be shiny.
This can be as a result of dirt and stain buildup on the countertop surface, or oil and debris buildup around the edges.
If this is your issue, there are a couple of different ways that you can go about cleaning your quartz countertops to get them back in a shiny state.
First, there are many different cleaners available on the market today that you can use to clean your countertops. If a cleaner does not work, then you may need something a bit stronger.
Before using any of these cleaners on your quartz countertops, it is important that you read the instructions carefully to make sure they are appropriate for the surface.
Second, if you are not someone who likes to clean or does not have time for it then there is always the option of hiring a professional to clean the countertops for you.
If you clean your countertop regularly with an all-purpose cleaner and you find that your quartz countertop still does not have a shine then proceed to the other reasons I have listed below.
2. Heat Damage
The second common cause for quartz countertops not being shiny is heat damage. If you have heat damage, it is usually the result of your countertop being exposed to high temperatures over a long period of time.
This can be a result of your stove being placed too high on the countertop, or if you have an oven, toaster, or other appliances that are placed on the countertop that gets really hot.
If your quartz countertops are heat damaged, then you will likely see the countertop gradually lose its shine and eventually turn dull.
Unfortunately, heat damage is very hard to fix and it will require professional help in order to restore the luster of your quartz countertops.
In addition, you can also have your countertops resurfaced to remedy this problem as well if the damage is not too severe.
This is why it is important to always use trivets, coasters, placemats, etc. to keep heat away from your countertops. If you follow the simple steps preventing heat damage then this is not a problem that you will have to worry about.
3. Chemical Damage
Quartz countertops are often marketed as being very resistant and durable so most homeowners tend to be careless with chemicals around their countertops.
So some homeowners are surprised to find that their countertops are losing their shine, become chipped, or dented with time.
It is important to know that quartz is still a type of stone and therefore it can be damaged with strong chemicals such as bleach or even ammonia and other things that put a strain on it.
Inappropriate chemicals from cleaner, solvents, or other substances can cause your quartz countertops to become dull and lose their luster or shine over time.
This is because these chemicals react with the minerals and resins in the quartz and cause a change to the surface.
As a result, these chemicals tend to erode the surface of the quartz countertops and make them lose some of their shine, or the chemicals build up on the surface of the quartz countertops and cause them to be less shiny.
There are a couple of different ways that harmful chemicals affect the shine of our quartz countertops.
If this is your issue, then you will want to try and remove the chemical as soon as possible to stop it from damaging the countertop.
Luckily, there are a couple of ways you might be able to effectively deal with this problem.
You can either use a commercial acidic cleaner to clean the countertops or use white vinegar to salvage the quartz countertop if these harmful chemicals have only built up.
On the other hand, if these harsh chemicals have already reacted with the surface of the quartz countertop then you will want to consider having it resurfaced.
This is the only way that you can effectively remove chemical damage from your quartz countertops.
4. Soap Scum
Usually, the most common places you will find quartz countertops being installed are around the kitchen and the bathroom.
This is because quartz countertops are a good choice in these areas due to their resistance and durability when it comes to water damage.
However, this means that these countertops are prone to soap scum buildup over time.
Soap scum buildup as the name suggests is a buildup of soap scum or calcium deposits that are found on surfaces where there is hard water. More on the latter later.
Soap scums are very common in bathrooms and kitchens because they are exposed to high levels of moisture and humidity.
The nature of these kinds of build-up is that they look like a white or gray haze and can be a bit difficult to remove.
They usually obscure the shine and luster of the quartz countertops and it is important that you do not try to just scrub them away as this will damage the surface of your quartz countertop.
If you find that your quartz countertops are looking less shiny than usual and you suspect that these soap scum deposits are to blame, then there is a simple solution.
You can use an abrasive cleaner specifically for this kind of build-up to remove it.
However, if these soap scum deposits have been building up and your quartz countertops are now looking dull, then you will want to consider resurfacing the quartz countertops instead.
This is because it is very difficult to remove soap scum deposits if they have been building up over time. This will also ensure your quartz countertops are properly cleaned and free of any soap scum deposits.
5. Hard Water Stains
As hinted before, soap scum is a white or gray haze that builds up over time on surfaces where there is hard water.
However, you should know that soap scum is not the only thing that can cause hard water stains on quartz countertops.
Hard water stains are usually a result of mineral deposits that are left behind when water evaporates.
Meaning there are certain minerals in the same types of water and when they are allowed to dry over the surface of the quartz countertops, the minerals will be left behind on the surface of the quartz.
This can lead to irregular or spotty white stains on your quartz countertops that look like salt deposits.
It causes the quartz countertop to lose its shine and makes it look dull and matte.
You can identify hard water stains by examining your quartz countertops carefully and seeing if there are any irregular white spots that look like salt deposits.
Fortunately, removing hard water stains from your quartz countertops is not that difficult. You can use a commercial acidic cleaner to remove the stains.
How To Maintain The Shine On Your Quartz Countertops
There are a couple of tips that would make your quartz countertops shine like new.
- You should avoid using any abrasive cleaners to clean your quartz countertops as this can lead to scratches which will make your quartz countertops look dull.
- You should also avoid using any products that contain bleach to clean them as this can lead to chemical damage which will also affect the shine of your quartz countertops.
- You should avoid using any scouring powders or rough sponges to clean them as this can result in damage to the surface of your quartz countertops.
- Since hard water stains are usually the result of mineral deposits, you can prevent them from appearing on your quartz countertops by firstly making sure that the water you use to clean them is not hard.
- Secondly, you should make sure that these minerals do not sit too long on the surface of your quartz countertops.
- You can rinse them off regularly to keep minerals from building up and causing stains on your quartz countertops.
- To remove hard water stains, you can use a commercial acidic cleaner that will get rid of them.
- It is best to test such cleaners on an inconspicuous area of your quartz countertops first to ensure that they do not cause any more damage.
- You should also avoid leaving the soapy lather on the surface of your quartz countertops for too long as this can lead to soap scum deposits.
- If you need help with how to clean quartz countertops, you can contact a professional.
If you follow these simple tips, then you will be able to keep your quartz countertops looking new and shiny.
Final Thoughts
When it comes down to it, you want to clean your quartz countertops as often as possible, but in the best way possible.
There are also a couple of tips you can follow to make sure that your quartz countertops stay shiny and new.
If you follow these simple steps, then your quartz countertops will look new for a long time to come.
Lastly, if you want to keep up on your quartz countertops, you can contact a professional for help.
Thanks for reading this article.
