Are your beautiful white quartz countertop suffering from yellow stains? Well, you’ve come to the right place because in this post, we’ll be revealing why your quartz has yellowed and how to fix it.
Why is there yellow staining on my quartz?
Although quartz is tough and resistant to stains, it is not stain-proof. Yellow stains on quartz are common and there can be many causes, such as interaction with certain liquids like tea, coffee, and wine, high pH cleaners, hot pans and pots making contact with the surface.
Quartz is stain resistant, meaning they don’t stain easily, but they’re not stain-proof. There are certain liquids and compounds which when they come into contact with quartz can stain and discolour quartz permanently if not cleaned off quickly. Coffee, tea, wine, and high pH cleaners are common culprits for yellow staining on quartz.
Resins and time
It’s common for white quartz to yellow over time with regular use. The most common reason is because of the resins in the quartz from manufacturing and how they interact with certain compounds such as salts and surfactants.
The best way to prevent yellow stains over time in this case is with proper preventative measures. Regular, daily cleaning, cleaning up spills as soon as possible, and using cleaners specifically designed for quartz are the best ways to prevent yellow staining of quartz.
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Fake quartz
In some unfortunate instances, yellow stains may appear even when looked after extremely well, which can be down to fake, low-quality quartz. Because quartz is popular and expensive, more and more fakes and low-quality quartz are appearing on the market.
Especially online, where people try to get a bargain. Fake quartz will stain and discolour quickly and easily. This is down to the fact that fake quartz either has no quartz or low amounts of quartz in them.
In some cases, there can be as little as 5% natural quartz stone in fake home equipment such as kitchen countertops. Instead of authentic quartz, more resins, binders, and other filling agents are used. Quartz itself is highly stain resistant, but the resin and other compounds are not, leaving it vulnerable to yellow stains.
Sealer may have been applied
Generally, quartz doesn’t need sealing, there may have been some kind of sealer applied on the countertop which has now caused it to yellow.
Extremely hot items on the countertop
Extremely hot items such as boiling liquids and pots and pans can cause damage that may cause discolouration like yellow stains on quartz countertops. The reason for this is that the heat can penetrate and damage the resin binding, causing it to melt and discolour.
We recommend always using preventions such as trivets for hot pans and coasters for hot mugs whenever you want to seat hot items on top of your quartz countertops.
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How to remove yellow stains from quartz countertops
To remove yellow stains from quartz countertops apply either rubbing alcohol or acetone to a cloth and rub the stain vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Next use water and soap to clean off the alcohol or acetone.
Not all stains are permanent. And it’s possible to get rid of yellow stains from quartz countertops. To do so will require some powerful cleaning agents and need to be handled with care. One of the most effective ways of removing yellow stains from quartz countertops is to use rubbing alcohol or acetone.
Apply either rubbing alcohol or acetone, or both, one after the other if the first doesn’t work, to a cloth. Rub the yellow stains vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Then, wash the stain and rinse away any residue with warm water and a mild soap or a cleaner specifically designed for quartz.
What if the yellow stain does not go away?
If cleaning methods such as rubbing alcohol or acetone do not remove the yellow stains, you should check to see if it is covered by your manufacturer’s warranty. Quartz homewares often have many years of warranty, and yellow stains may be eligible for a return or refund.
Yellow stains on quartz can be particularly aggravating and difficult to remove, especially if they’ve been deep inset for a long period. If using methods to remove the stains such as rubbing alcohol or acetone as we directed above, you should check the warranty from the manufacturer of your quartz homeware.
Quality manufacturers supply years of warranty, sometimes as much as 25 years and sometimes even a lifetime because quartz is extremely strong and durable. So, check your warranty to see if you’re in-date and whether the manufacturer will accept returns for yellow stains. In some cases, it may be possible to get a refund.
You should also check to see what voids the warranty, such as applying sealer. This can be problematic because many people apply sealer during the lifetime of their quartz to keep it stain-resistant and strong.
Every manufacturer will have a different process and guidelines for types of damages and stains that are accepted under their manufacturer’s warranty.
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