We have tile counter tops right now. Keep in mind that the grout will get dirty even if it doesn't really get used. Dust will settle and when it gets sprayed down and/or wiped, it will settle in a bit, building up over time. Once a month or so, I have to take a small brush and scrub everything down, changing rinse water so its fully clean. It's an off-white epoxy grout.

My UC lights are wired so they don't have switches on them. Because the UC light is so great I always turn them on when I'm going to be working in the kitchen. I stupidly put the switches for them on the wall space between the uppers and lowers so now when I turn on the lights in the kitchen I have to make 3 stops - one for the overheads and one each on each of the cabinet walls. I really wish I had put them by the main light switches.

I'm sure you are all aware of the danger of copper residue ingestion, but just in case... As a historic reenactor specializing in Gt. Lakes fur trade, I encounter a lot of copper, esp. nested kettles. Our club makes a point of using copper and brass containers for cooking only if they are tinned inside. We can use them for water holding, even drinking water, but if any acid food or similar substance gets to eating at the copper, it can create something that can poison us. Having once drunk cider from a container of silverplate on copper that must have had some verdegris along a scratch in the silver, all I can tell you is plan to be sick to your stomach, very sick. And that's if you are lucky. If this had gone on a lot longer before I drank, am not sure what I would have done. Water in copper pipes is safe to drink and candy or popcorn made in a brass or copper kettle is standard practice. I know a lot of people cook eggs and sauces in copper containers. Just be cautioned about chemical reeactions. On another note, am very curious as to whether anyone knows much about zinc sinks and countertops. These were common a century ago, I believe.

I have Cambria Torquay and use Clorox wipes on them all the time. I use them to wipe down my counters, then follow it up with Method granite polish from Target (LOVE that stuff!) There is absolutely no streaking, haze, residue, discoloration, etc. I frequently put hot items straight onto the countertop, but try to use a trivet or pot holder most of the time. I'm not super worried about it, but I figure it doesn't hurt to use a little extra caution. I was given the option of having the sink cut-out finished into a cutting board, so I used that for a long time as a tester of sorts. It has held up to all stains and temperatures I've subjected it to. I was advised by the installer to use a it of straight acetone for any stains that couldn't be removed with regular cleaner or by scraping with a razor blade. That was four years ago, and I have yet to find anything that didn't wipe right off. And that's saying something, because I have young children. I absolutely love my quartz counters and would buy them again in a heartbeat.