Countertops

Quartz countertops have become one of the most popular choices for kitchens and bathrooms, offering the perfect combination of beauty, strength, and low maintenance. According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), quartz is now the leading material in kitchen remodels, surpassing granite thanks to its durability and wide range of styles (NKBA). 

But while quartz is non-porous and easy to care for, knowing the right cleaning techniques will help you preserve its appearance for years to come. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean quartz countertops properly.

Step 1: Daily Cleaning with Mild Soap and Water

For everyday cleaning, use a soft cloth or sponge with warm water and a mild dish soap. Wipe down the surface and rinse with clean water to avoid residue buildup. Because quartz is non-porous, it resists bacteria and staining better than many natural stones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends soap and water as one of the most effective ways to clean household surfaces (CDC).

Step 2: Address Spills Quickly

While quartz is stain-resistant, it’s not completely stain-proof. Beverages like wine, coffee, and tea can discolor the surface if left for extended periods. Wipe spills as soon as they occur to keep your countertops looking pristine.

Step 3: Remove Tough Stains with Non-Abrasive Cleaners

For stubborn spots such as dried food or grease, use a non-abrasive household cleaner or a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water. Avoid abrasive scrubbing pads, which can dull the finish. A plastic scraper can be used gently for hardened residues like gum or paint.

Step 4: Avoid Harsh Chemicals

One of the most important care tips is to avoid bleach, oven cleaners, or products containing high acidity or alkalinity. These chemicals can break down the resin binders in quartz, leading to surface damage. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) cautions that harsh chemical cleaners may also release harmful fumes into the home (EWG).

Step 5: Use Trivets and Cutting Boards

Quartz is highly durable and scratch-resistant, but it’s still recommended to use trivets for hot pots and pans and cutting boards for food prep. Prolonged heat exposure can damage resin binders, while sharp knives may leave marks over time.

Step 6: Weekly or Deep Cleaning

For a deeper clean, spray a quartz-safe surface cleaner once a week and wipe with a microfiber cloth. This helps maintain the surface’s shine and ensures oils or residues don’t build up over time.

Why Proper Care Matters

Quartz countertops are designed to last for decades with minimal upkeep. According to Houzz’s 2024 Kitchen Trends Study, 42% of homeowners who upgraded their countertops chose quartz for its durability and low-maintenance features (Houzz). By following simple cleaning steps, you can keep your counters looking like new while protecting your investment.

Want to learn more about quartz and its long-term benefits? Explore our Quartz Countertops page to see styles, colors, and expert fabrication services.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to clean quartz countertops is simple and straightforward. With daily wiping, quick spill management, and mindful use of cleaners, you’ll enjoy sparkling countertops that look just as good years from now as they did on day one.

Ready to upgrade your kitchen or bathroom with quartz? Contact Prime Countertops and Renovations today to get started with expert guidance and installation.

When remodeling a kitchen, bathroom, or even a smaller home project, countertops are one of the biggest design decisions you’ll make. For homeowners looking for a budget-friendly and sustainable option, remnant countertops are becoming a popular choice. 

Remnants are leftover pieces of high-quality stone slabs such as granite, quartz, or marble that remain after larger fabrication projects. Rather than letting these smaller sections go to waste, fabricators repurpose them for new installations. Here’s why you should consider remnant countertops for your next project.

1. Cost Savings Without Compromise

One of the biggest benefits of remnant countertops is cost savings. Because these pieces are offcuts from larger slabs, they are often sold at a fraction of the price of full slabs. According to a 2023 HomeAdvisor report, homeowners spend an average of $3,000–$5,000 on new countertops, with material selection being one of the largest cost factors (HomeAdvisor). Remnant countertops allow homeowners to enjoy premium materials like granite or quartz while keeping budgets under control.

2. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Choice

Choosing remnants supports sustainability by reducing waste in the stone fabrication industry. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that construction and demolition debris accounts for over 600 million tons of waste annually (EPA). By using remnant countertops, you help give new life to high-quality stone that might otherwise be discarded.

3. Ideal for Smaller Projects

Remnant countertops are especially well-suited for smaller installations where a full slab isn’t necessary. Common applications include:

• Bathroom vanities
• Laundry room counters
• Fireplace surrounds
• Outdoor kitchens
• Accent tables or shelving

For projects like these, remnants are both cost-effective and stylish, giving you the beauty of natural stone or quartz without the expense of purchasing a full slab.

4. Variety and Unique Options

Because remnants are sourced from previous projects, you’ll often find a wide variety of colors, patterns, and materials available. For homeowners seeking something unique, remnants can provide one-of-a-kind opportunities. No two slabs of natural stone are identical, meaning your project will feature distinctive veining, coloration, or movement not found anywhere else.

5. Professional Fabrication and Installation

Even though remnant countertops come from leftover slabs, they are fabricated and installed with the same level of quality as full-sized countertops. Fabricators cut, polish, and finish remnants to meet exact specifications, ensuring a flawless fit for your project. You don’t sacrifice quality—only cost.

Why Broward County Homeowners Choose Remnants

In areas like Broward County, where home renovations are a growing trend, many homeowners are turning to remnants for smaller upgrades or eco-friendly projects. According to Zonda’s Remodeling Index, home improvement spending in South Florida has grown consistently over the past five years, with kitchens and bathrooms being the top areas of investment (Zonda). Remnant countertops offer a practical way to participate in this trend without overspending.

Looking for high-quality remnant options in your area? Explore our Remnants and Slabs in Broward County page to view our current selection and start your project today.

Final Thoughts

Remnant countertops combine affordability, sustainability, and style, making them an excellent choice for homeowners looking to maximize their renovation budget. Whether you’re upgrading a bathroom vanity, creating a custom accent piece, or tackling a full kitchen remodel, remnants provide the same beauty and durability as full slabs—without the higher price tag.

Ready to find the perfect remnant countertop for your next project? Contact Kitchen Cabinets and Countertops today and discover the possibilities.

Real estate experts estimate that homeowners will see a 54% to 74% return on investment when they update their kitchens. Surprisingly, minor midrange remodels garner the best profitability.

Modest remodels usually involve upgrading appliances, cabinets, and countertops while avoiding major structural work. Of these three options, kitchen countertops offer the biggest “Wow!” factor. Appliances are easy to sell and replace, and a simple coat of paint or new hardware can refresh cabinets.

Kitchen design experts can offer you a variety of kitchen countertop ideas. However, not every countertop for kitchen is perfect for your personality.

You may want a countertop that is perfect for plenty of cooking, fits your budget, or fits in with your design aesthetic. Knowing your priorities before committing to a style of countertop is the best way to proceed in freshening up your kitchen.

In the following article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of countertop materials and which one might be right for you.

Laminate Countertops

If you are replacing your countertops, then there’s a good chance that you’re looking to update your laminate surfaces.

Laminate countertops are plastic sheets glued onto particle boards. They come in many colors and styles and are easy to install, easy to repair, and inexpensive. Unfortunately, laminate countertops don’t hold much luster and can be scratched by knifework. However, these countertops hold up to heat well, although if not adequately glued, the adhesive holding the thin sheets in place can come undone.

Laminate countertops are perfect for rental units where you may want to swap out the material every few years or leave them in place for an extended period of time. They need no special maintenance and are great for short-term tenants.

Granite Kitchen Countertops

You used to find that granite countertops were the most expensive option for updating your kitchen. However, in many quarters, quartz has overtaken granite in price.

Granite styles range from standard to rare, but overall an excellent choice for your kitchen remodel.

First, granite is a sustainable resource. A single granite quarry can employ thousands of people and last hundreds of years. Once these artisans secure the stone from the ground, little is done to the rock to process it for commercial use. This means they use fewer toxic chemicals and greenhouse gas emissions to produce the natural countertops.

Another great feature of granite is the material’s ability to resist heat. You can place a hot pot on a granite countertop without damaging the surface. There is no discoloration or melting when it comes to hot pans. However, you should consider a heat-absorbing mat for some appliances that emit sustained heat.

Unlike laminate countertops, granite is almost impervious. In addition, granite is so tough that you can cut on it in a pinch. However, experts don’t recommend this because it might dull your knives.

One of the biggest pros of granite is its amazing variety and natural designs. From clean white marble to more exotic options with hints of pink and gold, granite countertops are a unique natural substance.

If you damage your granite, it is nearly impossible to repair it yourself. Instead, you should allow a professional to address chips or cracks. Also, granite is a porous material, so liquids can `stain the surface if left to pool for long periods.

Quartz Countertops

Although quartz is the most abundant mineral on Earth, these countertops are not a natural product. Instead, the milled quartz dust is mixed with resins and polymers to give the material its form. Pigments and other materials, including crushed glass, provide the countertops with distinctive colors and appearance.

These engineered pieces have a few advantages over natural stone, but the biggest is that they can be engineered to almost any shape.

Granite countertops usually need two or three to fit the average kitchen. Unfortunately, these seem to be sometimes obscured by a matching epoxy.

Depending on the installer, this may be true with quartz, but in some cases, the quartz is ordered to your specific dimensions and manufactured per spec.

Quartz countertops are as hard as granite and can withstand the same amount of punishment. But, of course, this also means that quarts can chip and crack like granite if struck hard enough.

However, sealed quartz is not porous and difficult to stain even when a liquid pool is on it for an extended period.

One advantage of granite over quartz is that while the mineral quartz is heat resistant, the polymers that hold it together are usually not. As a result, you may damage or melt your quartz countertop by placing too hot a pan on it.

Lastly, while quartz can come in a multitude of designs, it often can’t match the natural patterns of granite. That said, if you are looking for a unique substance that needs little maintenance and will add a “wow” to your kitchen, quartz is often the right choice.

Other Choices

There are several other materials to try if you are looking for a unique design aesthetic. For example, you could try an inexpensive butcher block or acid-washed metal for another.

Butcher block does take regular maintenance but is excellent for working kitchen because the more you use it, the more rustic it looks.

Metal or concrete is a great modern choice, and the proper epoxy or acid wash will look eye-catching.

Lastly, these unconventional choices are usually less expensive than granite and quartz and more appealing than laminate.

The Right Choice for You

As we stated at the beginning of this piece, the best kitchen countertops are the ones that fit your needs. So, before you start this process, make an inventory of your needs and decide how you use your kitchen.

Is it a working kitchen with a lot of cooking going on? Or is it a kitchen where the “wow” is almost as important as the “yum?”

If you need help choosing your next kitchen countertops, consult the experts at Artistic Marble & Granite. Contact us today to start your counter remodel.