Care and Maintenance
Care and maintenance for different surface materials vary significantly, with quartz and tile requiring gentle, pH-neutral cleaners, while porous natural stones like marble and sandstone also need regular sealing and a strict avoidance of acids and abrasives
Care and Maintenance of
Natural Stone & Terrazzo
Daily Care
Granite, Marble, Quartzite and Terrazzo are porous and can stain and are not impervious to damage. However, they can last a life time if properly cared for. Care must be taken to ensure any spilt substances are mopped up immediately such as cigarette ash, hot oil, lemon juice, beetroot juice, wine, detergents, alcohol, bleach, inks, dyes and acidic or alkaline substances.
Daily cleaning should only be done using pH neutral substances or stone safe cleaners. As natural stone is porous, it is not recommended to use abrasive products or generic chemicals to clean your benchtops. For a general wipe down we recommend Glitz Stone & Benchtop Cleaner that can be purchased from Bunnings or The Stone Doctor Stone Cleaner from Woolworths. For a deeper clean, wet the surface with a microfiber cloth and clean, warm water. Then, using a mild cleaner solution, for example Caesarstone cream cleaner, wash evenly in small overlapping sweeps. Rinse thoroughly with clean, warm water to remove all traces of cleaner solution and dry with a microfiber cloth. Do not use Jiff or similar products with grit in the solution.
Coasters should be placed under all glasses, particularly those containing liquors or citrus juices. Vinegar, citrus, and tomato will etch marble, therefore do not let them sit on the stone. If you have marble in your bathroom, we recommend a felt bottomed tray for your cosmetics and soaps etc.
Heat Resistance
Placemats should be used when placing hot cookware on the stone surface. Stone is heat resistant and can withstand gradual exposure to hot or cold temperatures, but sudden and extreme temperature changes can cause permanent damage to benchtops.
Sealing
Sealing significantly repels staining agents though doesn't make stone completely stain proof. All Tru Stone natural stone and terrazzo benchtops are sealed with a high quality sealer such as Lithofin. The level of stain resistance achieved using such sealers varies according to the porosity and structure of the stone to which it is applied. Although the stone is sealed, Tru Stone cannot guarantee that these tops will not stain. Remember; sealer helps a stone to be stain resistant only, not stain proof. All care must be taken to protect the stone from potentially damaging substances. For a long lasting finish, natural stone and terrazzo should be treated or sealed with appropriate sealants at regular intervals, recommended every 6 – 12 months. Sealing can be done easily yourself at home by following the respective bands directions, sealant products can be purchase at most Granite/Marble wholesalers (such as CDK Stone Australia) or stone care product distributors.
Quantum Zero is a durable material but you should avoid:
• Sitting, standing or climbing on your bench top
• Direct exposure to hot pots, pans or other hot items
• Cutting food directly on the surface
• Knocking, dropping or bumping the Product with heavy items
• Exposure to strong chemicals and solvents
Matte finish products are as durable as our polished range however they are prone to oil marks from
‘oily’ based products and even our own natural skin. These are not permanent stains however extra
care is required in order to maintain your matte finish product.
Note: all silicon or similar based products may leave a shiny film on the surface, causing a shiny
appearance which cannot be removed. This is an unavoidable part of the installation and should be
restricted to the necessary (splashback and joint sealing) areas of the benchtop.
Quantum Zero is low maintenance.
• For every day cleaning use a neutral pH stone safe cleaner or our Spray Cleaner*
• Absorb spills immediately and wipe with a soft cloth or sponge. Ensure you remove all cleaner
residue with damp cloth or sponge.
• For stubborn stains use our Cream Cleanser*
• Quantum Zero is virtually non-porous and does not require sealing or polishing to maintain its
semi-gloss, smooth finish.
NOTE: When cleaning with our Cream Cleanser (or similar), please dilute with water first, then apply
with a non-scratch scourer or soft cloth. When unsure, test the Cream Cleanser on a small piece of
your bench that is out of view. Quantum Zero is not a full gloss finish, it is a semi-gloss. If your bench
top looks too shiny or blotchy please review your cleaning methods.
*Cream Cleanser is available at select kitchen companies and fabricators as well as online at wkstone.com.au
TO VIEW THE QUANTUM ZERO CARE & MAINTENANCE VIDEO VISIT wkstone.com.au
ROUTINE CARE & MAINTANENCE OF YOUR QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS
DAILY ROUTINE
Just use water, dish soap, and paper towel, or a damp sponge to absorb any spills after food preparation.
If needed, use any non-abrasive cleaner such as Formula 409, Lysol,Windex, and Fantastic to wipe away
any excess. Be sure to rinse with water and dry the area thoroughly with a clean cloth.
TOUGH SPOTS
● Leave any of the above cleaners to sit on the affected area for a few minutes;
● Soak the affected area with pads of paper towels for 5 to 10 minutes;
● Scrub the area gently with a non-scratch pad such as Scotch Brite pad in circular
movement;
● Rinse with clean water thoroughly;
● Dry thoroughly.
For even tougher spots, use Soft Scrub Liquid Gel (with or without bleach). Leave the gel to siton
the affected area for a longer time and follow the same steps above. If needed, apply Windex streak-free
as the final step to clean any gel residue.
BOTH Scotch Brite Non Scratch Sponges (Blue and/or Pink) and Soft Scrub with bleach are
available at Cost u Less, Extra Supermarket (also under the Dawn brand), and New World IGA. JIF
brand also has a similar Gel cleanser with bleach
These two should only be used to remove stubborn stains or marks (using a circular LIGHT
scrubbing motion) and should NOT be your everyday solution to cleaning.
Everyday cleaning use dish soap (liquid is best) warm water & cloth or sponge.
REMOVING ADHERED MATERIALS
(gums, nail polish, paint, etc.)
● Scrape the surface with a plastic putty knife or a razor. Colorquartz Surfaces are very
hard and will not be harmed by razor edges.
● Rinse with clean water thoroughly;
● Dry thoroughly.
● Any gray marks left by the blade can be removed with Soft Scrub Liquid Gel.
● If necessary, use Windex streak free to clean any gel residue.
HONED, LEATHER FINISH
Honed and leather finish surfaces require more daily maintenance than polished surfaces. Finger prints,
wet spots, metal marks, and other signs of daily living showmore on these types of surfaces. Apply the
same cleaning guidelines with morefrequency and gentler cleaning movement. If necessary, use
Soft Scrub Liquid Gel to remove any difficult spots. Honed and leather finishes are not recommended
for high traffic areas.
CAUTION
• Do not apply any sealer. Colorquartz does not need to be sealed.
• Do not use abrasive scrubs. Always use non-scratch pads such as Scotch Bride
pad.
• Do not use harsh chemicals, or abrasive oven and plumbing cleaners (Drano,
Easy OFF, and Liquid Plumber). These chemicals will dull the surface finish.
• Do not use products containing oils or powders because they leave a residue.
• Do not use knives directly on the quartz surface. Always use a cutting board.
• Do not place hot pots, pans, or electric skillet directly on the quartz surface.
Always use trivets or hot pads. Extreme heat may cause thermal shock and crack
the surface in long term.
• Minimize direct sun exposure to Colorquartz. Long-term exposure to direct
sunlight may discolor the surface finish.
• Colorquartz is only for interior applications.
Colorquartz is made to be a carefree surface, but as with any product, excessive abuse, and
undue harm can damage Colorquartz finish. With alittle amount of dedication and care, your
surfaces will last for years to come!
** When leaving your home for extended periods of time, thoroughly clean & dry your countertops,
remove countertop appliances, baskets, vases, trivets & chopping boards.
Its wise to close curtains to minimize sunlight and even cover your countertops withsheets to avoid
insect droppings and Gecko poop from forming stains on your countertops.
Care and Maintenance of
Reconstituted Stone
(Caesarstone, Quantum Zero, Stone Ambassador, YDL & Lavistone)
Daily Care
Reconstituted stone surfaces require very little maintenance and care to keep them looking fresh and new. For everyday cleaning we recommend wiping your bench with warm soapy water (using pH neutral substances) and a clean microfiber cloth. Most brands carry their own everyday spray cleaner, which can be purchased online or in our showroom. Otherwise we recommend Glitz Stone & Benchtop Cleaner that can be purchased from Bunnings or The Stone Doctor Stone Cleaner from Woolworths. Do not use the cloth you use to wash dishes on your bench, as it may transfer oils and other contaminants and potentially damage your surface.
As with any surface, your benchtop can be permanently damaged by exposing strong chemicals and solvents that undermine its physical properties. Avoid all contact with highly aggressive cleaning agents like oven cleaners that have high alkaline/pH levels. Should your surface be accidentally exposed to any of these damaging products, rinse immediately with water to neutralize the effect. This will not remove the damage caused however will stop further damage or etching.
For tough stains and marks we recommend using a stone cream cleanser, which can be purchased in our showroom or online at the respective brands websites. Cream cleanser in addition to warm water and a microfiber cloth helps lift any stubborn marks you may have. Avoid prolonged rubbing in one spot when using the cream cleanser, as persistent use may alter the surface. Some stains may have resulted in permanent damage, however you can always contact us for more specific advice or for a service call to reduce or remove the damage.
Heat Resistance
While reconstituted stone is heat resistant to a degree, it is not resistant to high or sudden heat. A good rule of thumb is if it is too hot to touch then it is too hot to place on your benchtop. We recommend always using wooden chopping boards or heat mats before placing hot items onto your bench, to be safe.
Sealing
As your reconstituted stone is virtually non-porous, it does not require polishing or sealing. Never attempt to polish or seal the surface as doing so will void the manufactures warranty.