No, you should not use ammonia on quartz countertops. Ammonia-based cleaners can damage quartz countertops by breaking down the bonds. This can cause discolouration, damage the counter, and make it easier to stain the counter. There are better alternatives for cleaning, such as water and mild soap.
While some other natural stone countertops can take ammonia-based cleaners, quartz cannot. Strong abrasive cleaners, acids, and chemicals such as ammonia or bleach aren’t suitable for quartz surfaces and can damage them and cause discolouration.
The high pH of such harsh cleaners and chemicals can decrease the resin bond in quartz countertops and make them more permeable to staining and damage over time.
Although quartz is naturally stain-resistant and non-porous, chemicals like ammonia can seep in through these bonds, breaking them down, and causing reactions that can cause discolouration. This will often show up as yellowing or browning on a quartz worktop.
This lessening of the bonding will also make quartz countertops less resistant to staining over time. This means that it will be more easily stained by things that would otherwise not stain quartz, such as a light spill of tea or a mild soapy cleanser.
Also, it’s important to consider the manufacturer’s warranty. Using ammonia-based products might cause damage that will render a quartz counter void of the warranty.
There are plenty of suitable alternatives to ammonia-based cleaners to clean your quartz. For regular cleaning and regular spills and light stains, we recommend a specifically designed quartz cleaner. They should be your go-to cleaner.
If you currently don’t have any, you can temporarily use a mild dish soap and warm water to wipe with a microfiber cloth. For harsher or deeper stains and discolouration, such as that from coffee and red wine, you can try stronger solutions such as baking soda.
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