Care of Cabinets and Countertops
We know how proud you are of your new cabinetry. With a little care, you can keep your cabinetry looking beautiful for many years.
Clean your cabinets as needed with a lint-free cloth dampened with mild detergent or soap and water. Dry immediately with a lint-free cloth. Use an emulsion non-solvent cleaner and polish designed for kitchen cabinets, such as Murphy's Oil Soap, Old English and lemon oil, on all clean surfaces as needed. Products containing wax or silicone polishes are not recommended.
Use of these products can build up on the furniture, attract dirt, smoke and other pollutants, and can cause the finish to soften and fail. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaners or abrasive pads. Avoid using scouring pads or powdered cleansers, as these may scratch and penetrate the surface, allowing food or moisture to enter and cause deterioration of the finish.
Wipe up spills, splatters and water marks as they occur, keeping the surface dry. Avoid extremes in room humidity and temperature. Too high or too low humidity or temperature can cause wood to warp and panels to loosen.
Remove the doors and drawers of all cabinets adjacent to and above the oven during the cleaning cycle of self-cleaning models. The cleaning cycle generates heat that could affect the finish and surface of the cabinets.
Counter Care
Granite is a natural solid formation of one or many minerals. Each slab of granite has its own unique characteristics, highlighting the natural beauty and making it an excellent choice for kitchen counter tops, floors and other heavily used surfaces.
Granite is made up primarily of varying compositions of quartz, feldspar, mica, and potassium. It is always recommended that you visit the stone yard and select the particular slab to be used for your counter top.
Due to the variations in composition and the ways that the minerals react to the crystallization process during formation, small cracks (microcracks) or pitting will often be seen on the surface. This is a normal characteristic of stone and is not considered to be defective.
Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, such as a mild dishwashing liquid and warm water, or a stone cleaner available at some hardware and tile stores. Use a clean, soft cloth for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Rinse after washing and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.
Use coasters under glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface. Oil and foods or beverages containing oil can leave oil in the surface of the counter top. Be sure to blot up and clean any spills immediately.
