While quartz is scratch-resistant, materials harder than quartz can scratch it. For example, the bottom of some ceramic dishes may be abrasive enough to inflict minor damage to the surface.
Quartz is scratch-resistant, but not scratch-proof. Remember that although your quartz countertops are incredibly durable, they are not cutting boards. Never cut directly on your countertops to avoid scratching the finish and making the stone more vulnerable to staining.
The materials are ranked from 1 to 10 from the lowest to the highest resistance, and quartz is ranked 7th. This means that quartz is highly resistant to scratching, but it is not entirely scratch proof. In everyday use, knives and sharp objects will not scratch your countertops easily.
Avoid using both alkaline and acidic cleaner because they will break down the bonds between quartz and resin and cause long-term damage to the surface. Harsh and acidic cleaning agents such as vinegar, lime, lemon are going to erode the sealant of the countertops' surface over time.
Avoid Using Abrasive Pads or Cleaners
Yes, you want to clean your quartz and leave it in good condition. However, doing this with abrasive pads will only cause more harm than good. Like you can guess, the pads come with rough edges. In turn, scrubbing or applying it to your countertop surface can cause scratches.
Mohs Hardness Scale
Quartz is a 7. It can be scratched by topaz, corundum, and diamond. Quartz will scratch minerals that have a lower number on the scale. Fluorite is one.
While it is unlikely that tea and coffee mugs will burn through your quartz countertop, you do not want to risk it. Using coasters will protect your countertops from any burn and will help maintain them over time.
Scrubbing too hard can leave a dull surface or cause superficial scratches. Oven cleansers, grill cleaners, paint removers, dishwashing detergent, and other high pH cleaners should not be used on quartz surfaces.
If you were to put a hot pan or pot on a quartz countertop, the countertop could become very damaged. Quartz is made up of mostly quartz mixed with resin. The resin in the quartz is highly affected by heat, and this is why placing a hot pan on quartz is so strongly discouraged.
Common household accidents such as a dropped knife, a fallen piece of glass or errant scissors will not scratch quartz because only materials as hard as, or harder than, quartz will scratch it.
An accidental slip of the knife, especially if it's just a butter knife, will most likely not result in a scratch (it will just dull the knife). Also, when you have hot pans or any hot material, do not place it on the surface. Use a trivet or potholder, because the surface is not heat resistant.
The answer to this question is yes. Not unlike many other hard surfaces such as metal, quartz is a material that if enough force is applied to the surface of it using a hard object, most likely this will leave a scratch.
Durability: Quartz is one the hardest materials on the planet. This means it has a higher scratch resistance than granite and won't chip or crack easily. Great for applying to different surfaces including floors and stairs.
The polymer resins (about 5% to 10% in volume) bind the quartz particles. But under certain conditions, polymers may undergo slight chemical transformations. This may occur, for instance, if you leave a harsh chemical on the quartz countertop for an extended time. Slow reactions may result in staining.
Quartz is one of the most durable stone countertops withstanding heat, stains, and cleaning products better than comparable materials. The safest daily cleaner for your quartz is dish soap. But you can use any mild PH-neutral cleaner without issue.
Avoid Harsh Cleaners/Chemicals
While most agents can be diluted and used to clean quartz, it is still advisable to stick to mild soap and/or the cleaning methods and ingredients mentioned earlier in this article.
Unfortunately, the polyester resin in quartz can be easily damaged by heat from the toaster oven, electric frying pan, oven, crock pot, or any other appliance that produces a lot of heat.
The low threshold makes quartz more likely to burn or break when in contact with heat. Therefore, you can put a hot mug of coffee on your countertop, but a searing hot pan or boiling pot of water could leave a burn mark.
Coffee and Tea The natural pigments that give tea and coffee their dark coloration can create surface stains on quartz surfaces. Similar to wine, you shouldn't leave coffee and tea spills to dry on quartz, but you also don't have to panic each time there's a spill.
Placing Hot Appliances on Your Countertop. While quartz may be highly heat-resistant, prolonged exposure will damage the resin causing it to discolor. Temperatures above 300° F can spell bad news for your countertop.
Glass ranks around 5.5 on the Mohs scale. Quartz crystals rank as 7 on the Mohs scale. Therefore, a piece of quartz crystal will scratch a piece of glass.
Don't cut on quartz: Quartz is scratch resistant, one of the toughest countertop materials out there. The natural quartz stone in it is fortified with man-made polymers, making a tough material even tougher. That said, do not use your quartz as a cutting board. Sharp knives can scratch the surface.
Bottom Line: If you have a rock that bites into glass and makes a scratch mark like the two at the top of the photo above, then it contains quartz and it is not a meteorite. If your rock does not make a scratch, then the rock is still probably not a meteorite because many terrestrial rocks do not contain quartz.