Polishing Dull Silestone

QUESTION:

I have coffee bean Silestone countertops in my kitchen.


It always had a dull finish, so I use car wax (Turtle Wax) a few times a year and it seems to work.

Is this okay?

It puts on a nice shine and the water beads with less rings. The down side is it does take a little elbow grease and I'm not sure if it causes any harm to the countertop.

ANSWER:

A polished or shiny finish is the most common but not the only type available for Silestone. Also, the degree of "shine" can vary, so it may not be a super high-gloss.

How "shiny" a surface can get depends on how hard it is and the composition of the material.

For example, some colors of granite or marble will take a shine better than others. Even though man-made quartz countertops like Silestone are very hard, they will still only be able to get so shiny and may not be as shiny as other surfaces you see.

The picture you submitted does show reflections in the Silestone surface, so it's likely that the finish is as it should be. Unlikely that anything is "wrong" with it.

Wax is a very "old-school" method. Now sometimes old-school is the best, of course, but not in this instance.

Wax only makes for more involved maintenance as it builds up, need stripping occasionally, can turn yellow, and like you said... takes work to apply.

A better choice is to use a dedicated stone polish like the Topical Polish/Shine Enhancer. This will work equally well on Silestone and all quartz countertops.

Silestone and all other brands of quartz countertops are composed mostly of "quartz" which is natural stone. Thus, it's best to treat Silestone like granite by using cleaning and maintenance products made for granite and marble.

Just apply a little Topical Stone Polish on the surface, wipe around, and buff to a shine. Quick and easy. It will last quite a while (depending on usage of the countertop) but does not build up, discolor, or need stripping like car wax.

It adds the desired pop to the shine and provides a little extra protection without all the work and hassle of wax.

Eliminate Finger Prints on Black Silestone

by Shannon

QUESTION:

We just purchased black Silestone counter tops and when we touch it or set a pan or plate on it it leaves a mark that you can still see even after wiping. What can we do to prevent this?

ANSWER:

This is a common problem with dark and especially black honed granite, which is easily solved by applying a color-enhancing sealer that makes the stone darker so the finger prints are not so noticeable.

Of course, you cannot apply a sealer to Silestone quartz countertops, so it's just a matter of cleaning it. If the fingerprint oils are staining as you may be suggesting ("leaves a mark that you can still see even after wiping") then that could be a problem you'll need to contact Silestone or your fabricator about.

Most likely, it is just a matter of oils from fingers and the pots / pans creating a temporary change in the look of the immediate surface that may be irritating but not damaging or permanent.

Although, you may not be using the best quartz countertop cleaner. A change here may solve the issue.

Try using Granite Countertop & Marble Cleaning spray for a "regular" cleaner. The is a premium-quality countertop cleaner for granite and marble. Excellent for Silestone as well.