Quartz Countertop Stain
by Joseph
Quartz Countertop Stain
QUESTION:I have a HanStone quartz counter top. Tea stains it. The manufacturer has told me to leave a soap/water solution to seep in and then clean it. But I thought quartz is non porous and should not stain. Is there a sealer I should use for quartz? Some of the stains are not coming out. I bought quartz to avoid this very problem. Please advise?ANSWER:Well, makers of quartz like to tout their product as "non-porous," but they all hedge and claim stain-resistant and not stain-proof.Straight from HanStone website: HanStone™ is a non-porous material that is highly resistant to stain, scratches and heat. However, it is not stain, scratch, or heat proof. How they can legally get away with these contradictory statements is beyond me. It's unfortunate that they feel the need to be misleading, but they have to try to gain an edge somehow since granite has a long-established and better reputation. You probably wish you knew this sooner, but there are some varieties of granite that are truly stain-proof. They are so dense that nothing gets absorbed, unless maybe a liquid was able to sit a few days without evaporating, which of course is near impossible. If you are setting tea cup on the countertop and spills are staining, then the surface is obviously porous. HanStone warns not to use any solvent on their countertop. This may damage the resin and color pigments. Solvents are used all the time to clean granite and marble. Because of this, I'm a bit hesitant on making a recommendation about what you should do to clean it. Cleaning The Stain Typically in this situation with marble or granite I'd suggest using a poultice made with 12% hydrogen peroxide and talc to draw the stain out. In your case, stick to 3% hydrogen peroxide (the kind you buy at the drug store) and talc powder. Mix the talc and hp into a paste like peanut butter. Apply the poultice to the stain about 1/2 inch thick. Use plastic wrap to cover the poultice and tape down the edges with masking tape. Let the poultice sit for 24 hour and then remove the plastic, but not the poultice. Let it dry until hard. Remove the poultice and clean with hot water. Hopefully, the stain will be gone or you'll notice improvement. Repeat if necessary. Sealing I would call HanStone and ask them if a sealer will damage the surface. I doubt it will, but I'm not certain. If not, then yes I'd apply MB-4 Impregnating Sealer . Follow the directions carefully and wipe the excess sealer off the surface before it dries. Good Luck, Ryan  I highly recommend MB Stone Care Products to maintain all your marble, stone and granite countertops and floors in optimal condition. I've used other good products (Stone Tech, Miracle) but found MB Stone Care is the most reliable and effective.
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