How to Clean and Protect Quartz Worktops in Thailand

Warm water, a drop of pH-neutral washing-up liquid and a soft cloth handle almost everything. Wipe spills as they happen rather than at the end of cooking, particularly turmeric, curry paste and red wine, which stain the resin binder rather than the stone.

Heat and strong alkalis. A pan straight off the hob can scorch the resin permanently, and oven cleaner or bleach-based products will dull the surface. Always use a trivet, and keep drain cleaner off the worktop around the sink.

For dried-on residue, a plastic scraper at a shallow angle lifts it without scratching. For stubborn stains, a non-abrasive cream cleaner left for a few minutes usually works. Never reach for a scouring pad, which will leave a permanently duller patch.

Quartz is non-porous, so it does not absorb moisture or harbour bacteria the way unsealed natural stone can in high humidity. It also needs no annual sealing, which is one less maintenance task in a tropical home.