First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Rewet a dried spill with water before you wipe it.
- Use warm water, a soft cloth and mild soap first.
- Keep bleach, solvents and abrasive cleansers away from the surface.
- If the stain stays, contact the fabricator or the manufacturer's customer care.
Dried spills are the usual trouble on quartz, and the surface doesn't tolerate harsh chemicals, so the approach stays gentle. Rewet the spot with water for several minutes before you clean it, since that softens what has hardened. Permanent markers, inks and dyes may not come out at all, so expect a faint mark in those cases.
Wipe up residue with a stone-safe cleaner, and steer clear of anything acidic or abrasive. On a white quartz countertop, test a hidden corner first so the finish doesn't dull. If a ring or cast iron mark still hasn't moved after a poultice, that's the point to call a professional.
Before you start
What this material can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care2
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
Avoid5
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
6 items
What you'll need
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- Warm waterThe base of every cleaning step.
- Soft clothWipes the surface without scratching it. (opens Amazon)
- Mild dish soapLifts everyday grime and light grease. (opens Amazon)
- No-scratch padWorks soap into a spot without abrading the finish. (opens Amazon)
- Grease cleaner made for quartzFor oily marks that need more than soap.
- Oxalic acid cleanerFor rust and metal marks only, used on a damp cloth. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Rewet any dried spill
If the spill has dried, rewet it with water and let it sit for several minutes so the residue softens. Wiping a dry mark only smears it across the surface, so don't skip this part.
Tip. A damp paper towel laid over the mark keeps it wet while you wait.
Step 2 of 6
Wipe with warm water and mild soap
Dip a soft cloth in warm water with a little mild soap and wipe the stain. Clean a larger area than the stain itself, rubbing in a circular motion so you don't leave a visible edge.
Step 3 of 6
Scrub stubborn spots gently
If the mark is still there, put a little mild dish soap on a no-scratch pad and rub the spot. Keep the pressure light, because harder pressure doesn't lift the mark any faster.
Step 4 of 6
Treat grease with a quartz cleaner
For oily marks, use a grease cleaner made for quartz or a dish-soap product, worked in with the no-scratch pad. Repeat if the mark is still there, then move on to rinsing.
Step 5 of 6
Lift rust with oxalic acid
Rust or metal marks need an oxalic acid cleaner, used with care: work it onto the spot with a damp cloth after testing a hidden corner. Wipe it away once the mark starts to lift, and repeat only if a faint mark remains.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse well and dry
Rinse the whole area with plenty of water so no soap or cleaner film is left behind. Dry it with a clean soft cloth, then check the spot from an angle in good light.
Tip. A faint film only shows when the light hits the surface at an angle.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best stain removers for quartz
Pick a grease cleaner labeled for quartz or engineered stone, and a no-scratch pad rather than a scouring pad. Check the label for bleach, solvents and abrasives before you buy.
Granite Gold® Daily Cleaner
Aqua Mix® Poultice Stain Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on quartz, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Know the stain? Use its own guide
Every stain on quartz
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
A clean spot looks the same as the rest of the countertop, with no haze, shadow or dull patch. Check it once the surface has dried, because a film or ring often shows only then. If you see one, rewet and wipe the area again.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your quartz
Engineered quartz from any manufacturer
Brand names don't change the method, because most manufacturers give the same core rules for everyday cleaning. The steps above work on any engineered quartz, so you don't need a special product for your brand.
The one thing that varies is the product a manufacturer names for grease. If your countertop came with a care sheet, check it for the grease cleaner they recommend, and otherwise use the grease step as written.
White quartz countertops
White quartz shows dried spills, oily marks and dust more clearly, so catch a mark early and rewet it as soon as you see it. Check the surface in daylight once it's dry, since a faint film is easiest to spot there.
You don't need anything stronger to keep it bright. Warm water, mild soap and a clean soft cloth are enough for most white tops, and the steps above cover most marks.
Rust, ink and acid marks
Rust and metal marks, such as the mark left by a wet tool, respond to the oxalic acid step on a damp cloth. Dried drink rings usually lift during the rewet and wipe steps, so start there before you try anything else.
Acetone and vinegar are off the list for this surface, so the steps here are the only option you need. A small mark lifts faster than an old one, so act on it before it spreads.
Quartz worktops
Worktops are the same material as countertops, so the steps and rules above apply in full. Because worktops take more daily spills, wipe up anything oily as soon as it happens so it doesn't dry into a mark.
If a mark has already dried, rewet it first and then use the wipe step. The sooner a mark is caught, the fewer steps it takes to clear.
Quartz sinks
Sinks stay wet for long stretches, so rinse the basin after use and wipe it dry before water has a chance to sit. The steps above work on the basin and the drain edge alike, and the same grease and rust treatments apply.
For a stubborn mark in the sink, start with the wipe step and move to the scrub step only if it stays. Keep the drain area dry between uses, since standing water is what gives marks time to set.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old stain that has been sitting for days is harder, so start with the same steps but give them more time. Rewet the spot for several minutes, then let a grease cleaner made for quartz sit on it for 2 minutes before you scrub with the no-scratch pad.
A stain that has dried hard will often need a second round rather than a stronger product. Repeat the rewet and the light scrub, and rinse well before you judge the result.
If it still shows after that, the stain is set in and may not come out completely. At that point, the professional route below is the right next step.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on quartz?
Most home remedies aren't safe on quartz, so stick to the cleaners this surface can take. Skip any remedy that could damage quartz.
Works1Skip1Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use bleach or chlorine on quartz.
Bleach and chlorine-based products are not safe for this surface, and they should never be left on it. Check the label of any cleaner before you buy it, since a product can contain them without saying so in its name.
Don't clean with solvents.
Acetone, nail polish remover, paint strippers and similar solvents are not cleaners for this surface. Stick to warm water, mild soap and the dish soap steps instead.
Don't scrub with abrasive cleansers or pads.
Scouring powders, harsh scrub pads and any cleaner with grit in it can damage the surface. A no-scratch pad with light pressure is the most you need.
Don't reach for harsh chemicals.
Oven and grill cleaners, dishwasher detergent, floor strippers, paint removers and caustic soda all damage this surface. Keep hydrofluoric acid, methylene chloride and products with a pH above 10 away from it too.
Don't set hot pans on the surface.
Sudden temperature change can damage quartz, so set hot pans and heat-producing appliances on a trivet or hot pad. Never put them straight onto the stone.
Don't apply sealers or polishes.
Sealers, polishes and water repellents are not for this surface, so don't use them to make it shine. A clean surface washed with warm water and mild soap is the finish it is meant to have.
Don't skip the test spot.
Test any cleaner on an inconspicuous area first, even one the steps recommend. Permanent markers, inks and dyes may not be removable, so keep them off the surface while you work.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
A dried spill won't budge
Rewet it for several minutes under a damp cloth, then wipe again with warm soapy water.
A clean ring appears around the spot
Clean a wider area in circles with mild soap so the whole section matches.
The counter feels slightly greasy after cleaning
Switch to a fresh cloth that isn't your dishcloth, wash with dish soap, then rinse with plenty of water and dry.
When to call a professional
Contact the fabricator or studio that supplied the countertop when a stain persists after these methods, or reach out to the manufacturer's customer care. Impact damage and use of prohibited products may void the warranty, so check that before you try anything stronger.
Questions
Will a spill mark my quartz top?
Yes, quartz can stain, mainly from dried spills, grease, and rust or metal marks. Most of them lift with warm water, mild soap and a no-scratch pad when you catch them early.
Why does quartz stain?
Quartz stains when something is left on it long enough to dry, and metal left on it can leave rust-type marks. Harsh products can also damage the surface, which makes later marks harder to clear.
How do I prevent stains on quartz countertops?
Wipe up oily spills as soon as they happen, and rewet any dried mark before you clean it. Keep hot pans on a trivet and don't let metal objects sit on the surface.
Can cast iron stain quartz?
Yes, a cast iron pan can leave a rust-type mark, usually where it sat on a wet spot. Treat it with the oxalic acid step on a damp cloth, then rinse and dry the area.
How do I get tough stains out of quartz?
Start with the same steps, give them more time, and repeat them before you try anything else. If the mark is still there after a couple of rounds, it's set in and may not come out completely.
Can I use baking soda on quartz?
It's better to leave it out, because baking soda is a gritty powder and this surface doesn't take abrasive cleansers. The dish soap and no-scratch pad handle the same marks more safely.
What stain remover works best on quartz?
Warm water and mild dish soap handle most marks, so a special product is rarely needed. If a mark is oily, a grease cleaner made for quartz is the one product worth buying.
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.