Natural quartz is a very strong, resilient material making it perfect for countertops and flooring in homes and businesses. Silestone is a countertop and flooring product made of natural quartz. Silestone Quartz is the only countertop made of quartz with bacteriostatic protection. This protection gives it hygienic properties found in no other countertop product. It is an excellent surface for kitchen countertops, bathrooms and floors.
Caring and maintaining Silestone is very simple. The Silestone website states that you can clean Silestone with a mild household cleaner, such as 409®, Fantastik®, Lysol®, or Windex®. Using mild soap and water on a regular basis also helps in cleaning and maintaining the surface.
For more difficult spills and stains, soak the area for up to 10 minutes with a mild household cleaner (as listed above) and scrub the stain away with a non scratch pad, such as Scotch Brite®.
While Silestone is strong and resilient, there are still elements that can damage the surface. Follow these precautions with your Silestone Quartz surfaces to ensure they last as long as possible:
- Use trivets when placing hot items on the counter. While Silestone can withstand heat, periods of prolonged heat, such as a hot pot, can cause cracks and other damage. We recommend using a padded pot holder or a trivet to protect the surface.
- Keep harsh chemicals away from the surface. Products and chemicals such as Drano, Liquid Plummer, floor cleaners, strippers, etc. can cause damage to the surface. The Silestone website states the following:
- Do not use chlorine-based products like dichloromethane (present in paint stripper)
- The surface of the material should not be re-polished – either on floors or on a countertop.
- Do not use degreasing agents such as those used in oven cleaners.
- Keep Silestone separate from sources of heat (deep-fat fryers, etc.).
- Continue to use a cutting board. While Sielstone is strong and resilient, it is still prone to scratches and can dull your knives if they come into contact with each other.
- Sunlight can also affect Silestone and therefore, it is recommended to not use Silestone outdoors or anywhere with UV lighting.
For more information on Silestone, please visit their website at http://www.silestoneusa.com.