• Use vinegar, bleach, ammonia, other general purpose cleaners, bathroom cleaners or tub and it cannot stop the chemical reaction that may leave a dull mark. Etching is not covered in the warranty.

• General cleaners not specifically designed for natural stone are not recommended. These may etch away the polish, discolor the surface, and scratch the stone or tile cleaners.

• Use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.

• Use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for stone.

• Use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices.

• Use trivets or mats under hot dishes or cookware.

• Dust countertops, islands, vanities and floors frequently.

• Blot up spills immediately to minimize permanent damage to the stone.

• Clean surfaces regularly with neutral cleaners designed for stone.

Maintenance Cleaning in Common Stone Locations

Countertops and Vanities

Use DuPont® StoneTech Professional® Revitalizer® Cleaner & Protector on a regular basis to remove residues from cooking oils and everyday food spills, as well as hairspray or other cosmetics. Be careful with common foods and drinks that contain acids that may etch or dull the stone surface. Be aware that some common toiletries (i.e., perfume, toothpaste, mouthwash) contain acids and other ingredients that may damage the stone surface or degrade the sealer.

Bath, other wet areas, floors and walls

Periodic use of a neutral stone cleaner will remove any dirt and residue, or help prevent any soap scum or hard water deposits that may have formed. In the bath, or other wet areas, using a squeegee after each use can minimize soap scum and hard water deposit buildup.

What to do when a spill occurs
No matter how careful you are, spills are going to happen. A quick response and the right solutions can keep spills from damaging your stone or degrading the sealer.

Highly acidic substances such as orange juice, coffee, vinegar, wine, tomato products, mustard and many soft drinks can etch marble, limestone, travertine, and granite. Sealing allows you time to wipe up a spill, but it cannot stop the chemical reaction that may leave a dull mark. Etching is not covered in the warranty.

General cleaners not specifically designed for natural stone are not recommended. These may etch away the polish, discolor the surface, scratch the stone or degrade the sealer. Professional refinishing is the best way to permanently remove etch marks and restore your natural stone’s even finish.

Food Spills

Scoop up the food with a plastic spoon. Blot with dry, white cloth. Spray the area with a neutral stone clean and wipe off excess with a clean cloth.

Liquid Spills

Blot away the excess with a clean, dry, white cloth while turning the cloth frequently. Spray the area with a neutral stone cleaner and wipe off excess with a clean cloth.

Mud
Let the mud stain dry completely. Remove dried mud with a soft plastic or nylon brush. Spray affected area with a neutral stone cleaner. Wipe dry with a clean cloth. If the stain remains, contact a professional cleaner.

Oily Stains
If you identify the stain as having an oil base (from foods like salad, cooking oils, butter or some

Silestone’s Maintenance

Another advantage of Silestone quartz surfaces is that it is easy to keep clean and maintain. In most cases it just needs to be wiped over with a dry cloth to remove the dirt. Instructions are given below for enjoying your Silestone quartz countertop in optimum conditions.

For Silestone Quartz with a polished finish, we recommend you use a mild household cleaner, such as 409®, Fantastik®, Lysol®, or Windex®. In case of stubborn spills or stains, soak the area for up to 10 minutes with one of the above cleaners and vigorously wipe away with a non scratch Scotch Brite® pad.

Silestone® Leather™ does show daily living more frequently and therefore requires more daily maintenance than other Silestone Quartz products. For your daily cleaning routine we recommend Countertop Magic™ follow instructions on bottle of cleaner.

The natural quartz in Silestone makes it the toughest interior surface available on the market. It resists scratching, staining and scorching better than any other natural stone or solid surface. Do avoid excessive force or pressure because that may mar or chip the surface. Don’t worry about spills from coffee, wine, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, makeup, and many other common household products; just avoid harsh chemicals. And don’t worry about dropping a lit match onto your Silestone countertop; it won’t scorch. But, use trivets when placing any hot items to avoid thermal shock.

Silestone’s Advanced Cleaning

Details are given below of how to remove specific stains from your Silestone countertop. The precautions to take to keep your Silestone countertop in perfect condition can also be consulted, along with details of its resistance to chemicals.

Advanced Cleaning and Precautions

Grease stains and routine cleaning.

For grease stains apply a small amount of 409, Windex, or a common house-hold cleaner to the stain and rub with a scouring pad (e.g. Scotch-Brite) until it disappears. Rinse immediately with water.

Limescale stains (marks left by glasses, etc).

Sprinkle hydrochloric acid on the countertop surface and leave to work for one minute. Rinse with water. Follow the recommendations for use given by the hydrochloric acid manufacturer. Do not use on any products (taps, sink, etc) other than the countertop itself since it might damage their finish.

Silicon stains.

Use a knife and a drop of solvent (without any dichloromethane, methylene dichloride, dichloramine in its composition). Rinse with water. Difficult Stains.

Difficult stains
For difficult stains, sprinkle 409, Windex, or a common house-hold cleaner on the affected area of the Silestone product for two minutes and then rub vigorously with a scouring pad (like Scotch-Brite). Then rinse generously with water.

Loss of sheen.

Loss of sheen on the surface of the Silestone countertop may be due to the use of products (waxes, sprays, sealants, etc.) to try to bring out its lustre, although these products lose their effect over time. This lack of sheen therefore has nothing to do with the original mechanical sheen of the product when it leaves the factory. To recover this non-natural sheen, a multi-purpose furniture spray that is suitable for the countertop can be used.

Do not place Silestone outdoors or in places with UV lighting.

• Over the years the color and shade of Silestone products may suffer from the effect of the sun’s rays.

• Once it has been installed, the sheen on Silestone is the natural lustre of the product itself.
• Sealants and water repellents provide an artificial, ephemeral shine.
• Do not use paint strippers, caustic soda, or products with a pH of more than 10.
• If bleach or solvent is used, it should be diluted with water and never left in permanent contact with the product.

• 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.).

Although Silestone can withstand high temperatures for short periods of time, its performance varies with respect to different factors like thickness, color, location, etc. For this reason, it is not recommended that the product be exposed to sustained contact with a heat source, nor should hot saucepans, frying pans, deep-fat fryers, etc., be placed on it. The use of a hot pad or trivet is recommended in such situations.

Resistance to Chemicals

High resistance: acids, oils, coffee, wine, soft drinks, etc.


Hydrofluoric acid, Dichloromethane, NaOH – caustic soda, paint strippers


Do not use for maintenance. When this product remains on the surface for more than 12 hours, it may lose its sheen.


Do not use for maintenance: when this product remains on the surface for more than 12 hours, it may lose its sheen.

Trichloroethylene: This may be used to remove a specific stain. After scrubbing, wipe off the product with clean water.

Acetone: This may be used to remove a specific stain. After scrubbing, wipe off the product with clean water.

Paint thinners: This may be used to remove a specific stain. After scrubbing, wipe off the product with clean water.


Keep Silestone®, sinks looking brand new by following these simple guidelines:

GENERAL ADVICE FOR DAILY USE

Maintaining a Silestone® sink is as simple as maintaining any other. Cleaning should be as frequent as for any kitchen sink.

Lime-scale and water marks can easily be removed using household cleansers. It is important to read the instructions carefully and rinse the surface thoroughly with water after use.

Please be careful not to knock Silestone® sinks with heavy cookware such as pressure-cookers, frying pans, saucepans, etc. To avoid damage, place heavy cookware onto the Silestone® with due care.

After removing heavy cookware from the heat, be sure to place them on a mat or a rubber based stand and allow them to cool. DO NOT PLACE ITEMS ONTO SILESTONE DIRECTLY FROM HEAT. As sudden and extreme temperature changes (hot-cold) could damage the surface.
Do not pour boiling liquids onto the sink surface.
The best method is to allow the liquid to cool within its container before pouring into the sink. If this is not possible, run some cold water whilst emptying.

As with any material, we recommend that you protect your Silestone® sink with a chopping board whenever using cutting objects (knives, etc.) directly onto the surface.

In the event of occasional spillage with chemical products, remove immediately. Please follow the recommendations below:

• Do not use paint strippers, caustic soda or very acidic products.
• If you use bleach or solvents, you should rinse the surface thoroughly with water and remove them as soon as possible.
• Do not use products that contain chlorine.
• Avoid contact with products that contain acetone.
• Avoid contact with hydrofluoric acid.

The following are examples of products which should not be used on Silestone®: paint strippers, metal or brush cleaners, oven cleaners, products containing methylene chloride, acids to clear blocked drains, and finally, nail polish remover with acetone.

In the event of accidental spillage, remove stains immediately with plenty of water and neutral soap.

Cosentino S.A. recommends the use of Q-Action for day-to-day cleaning. Silestone® has a low porosity and is therefore highly resistant to surface staining. However, sinks are exposed to many types of substance and in the event of not having Q-Action available, water and neutral soap is the best solution for regular cleaning.

Remove food remains regularly with detergent or neutral soap and rinse thoroughly with water and immediately wipe down with a wet cloth.

CLEANING STUBBORN MARKS

In the event of stubborn or long-standing marks, please, check the www.silestone.com webpage to view different solutions.

In general, the guidelines are as follows:

Products Tested After 3 Hours After 24 Hours
Whole milk No effect No effect
Cleaning product with ammonia No effect No effect
Anti-lime scale product No effect No effect
Wine vinegar No effect No effect
Rose wine No effect No effect
Cleaning floor product with lemon No effect No effect
Enriched orange juice No effect No effect
Coffee No effect No effect
Degreaser with hydrochloric acid or hydrochloric acid solution mixed at 50% (V7V) No effect Slightly affected
Degreaser with sodium hydroxide or caustic soda or sodium hydroxide solution mixed at 50% (V7V) No effect Slightly affected
Olive oil No effect No effect
Triple action dishwasher (detergent, salt, polish) Slightly affected Slightly affected
Beer No effect No effect
Multi-purpose cleaning product No effect No effect
Cola No effect No effect
Dishwasher detergent No effect No effect
Detergent with bleach No effect Slightly affected
Concentrated liquid dishwasher detergent No effect No effect
Lemon soft drinks No effect No effect
Orange soft drinks No effect No effect

Check the webpage www.silestone.com for any further information related to cleaning methods, general maintenance, and contact with chemical products.

In the event of exposure to a product not included here or listed on the webpage, the warranty is not applicable

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