MAINTENANCE AND INFORMATION GUIDE
cabinet maintenance and information
kitchen cabinets require just as much maintenance and cleaning care as any other item in the household. The lifespan of the cabinet is based on how they are cleaned. Always use a clean soft cloth dampened with mild soap and warm water to clean residues from smoke, cooking vapours, grease and hand or body oils. A quick dry dusting may scratch the cabinet surfaces if done with a dry cloth.
Helpful Hint: If wood cabinetry is used, always wipe in the same direction as the wood grain for your regular cleaning.
Your best cleaning option is a mixture of warm water with a small amount of dish soap (not dishwasher liquid). Dish soaps are one of the safest and most effective options for cleaning various surfaces, such as wood surfaces, painted doors, and most other finishes. Dish soaps can degrease, break down solids, effectively remove bacteria and do not irritate the skin. Use a soft, damp cloth, such as cotton or white microfiber cloth. Do not use an abrasive sponge, dish towels/materials, or coloured microfiber cloth. Following shortly after the initial cleaning, dry with another soft cloth or absorbent paper towel. Avoid abrasive cleaners. These types of products may cause irreversible damage to the cabinet surface or finish. While some cleaning and cabinet care products are specifically for cabinet cleaning, most of them contain silicones, waxes, or polishes. We don’t recommend using these products.
DO:
• Wipe up spills promptly and dry completely. Especially in areas near the sink, stove, dishwasher, on joints, and around any cutouts. This includes kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
• Clean routinely to avoid long-term damage from water, food, smoke, grease, and oil buildup.
• Keep the finish dry, whether painted wood, laminate surfaces, solid wood, or melamine.
• Clean with a white lint-free cloth or microfiber. Use dish soap and warm water (not dishwasher liquid). Follow up with clean water and wipe dry.
DON’T:
• Do not soak the surfaces when cleaning.
• Do not use coloured cloths, sponges, coloured microfiber towels or any abrasive cleaners.
• Do not scrub or rub excessively in one location.
• Do not use products with bleach, ammonia, silicone, waxes, polishes, or abrasive additives
• Do not use abrasive cleaning pads, sponges, magic erasers, steel wool, etc., on cabinet surfaces.
• Do not allow oven cleaners to contact the finish.
• Do not place kitchen appliances where heat is directed onto the finished surfaces.
• Avoid steam from kettles, boiling pots, etc., to be directed at the underside or bottom of the cabinets.
• Do not drape the damp cloth or anything else that is damp or wet over cabinet doors. The moisture will cause permanent damage over time.
• Do not use steam cleaning machines.
countertop care
Laminate countertop
DO:
• Clean regularly with mild soap and water
• Use enough water to properly clean and rinse without saturating the countertop for a long period of time.
• For tough, dried food or grease, gently scrub using a sponge/fiber pad and mild soap.
DON’T:
• Don’t set hot appliances or pans directly on the laminate. You can burn and scar the surface. Instead, have a handy supply of trivets or hot pads to create a barrier between your pan/appliance and the laminate countertop.
• Don’t use harsh abrasive cleansers. These will dull the laminate finish.
• Don’t use steel wool or scrubbing tools containing steel wool, they too will scratch and dull the finish.
• Don’t use a laminate countertop as a cutting board.
• Always use heat trivets or hot pads when placing hot objects on any surface
Corian countertop
DO:
• Use warm soapy water, ammonia based cleaner, (not window cleaners) rinse and wipe dry completely.
• Wipe countertop dry after spills or cleaning.
• While Corian solid surface is heat resistant, it is important to minimize direct heat exposure. To prevent heat damage, always use heat trivets or hot pads when placing hot objects on any surface.
• Always use a trivet under portable heat-generating appliances such as toaster oven.
DON’T:
• Don’t expose Corian to strong chemicals, such as paint removers, oven cleaners, etc.
• Do not cut directly on Corian® countertops.
Quartz countertop
DO:
• Use warm soap and water or a mild detergent and rinse and wipe dry completely.
• Gently scrub using a sponge/fiber pad and mild soap for tough, dried food or grease.
DON’T:
• Don’t expose to strong chemicals, such as paint removers, oven cleaners, etc.
Granite countertop
DO:
• Always use heat trivets or hot pads when placing hot objects.
• Clean with a soft clean cloth, mild soap and warm water.
• Use enough water to properly clean and rinse without saturating the countertop for a long period of time.
DON’T:
• Do not use cleaning products with any kind of acid or abrasive.