Care for your Formica bench top
Formica Chemtop is a durable work surface. Normal maintenance consists of a wipe over with a damp cloth and detergent. Stubborn stains may be removed by the use of an organic solvent or hypochlorite bleach, followed by wiping with a damp cloth. Good laboratory practices dictate that all chemical spills should be wiped up promptly. The use of abrasive cleaners,
Powders, scouring pads, steel wool, sandpaper, etc…, will damage the finish and permanently reduce the stain and chemical resistance of the laminate.
IMPORTANT! Never use any of the following abrasive cleaners on Laminex® or Formica® Melteca®:
Jif™, Vim™, Ajax™, Chemico™, Brasso™, Oven Cleaners, neat Janola™, Wire Wool, scourer pads or sandpaper.
Stain and Mark Removal Procedure
- For smearing, finger marks, marking from cold or hot dishes, stickiness caused by other cleaning agents apply 1 or 2 applications of acetone, mentholated spirits or Mineral Turpentine and wipe over with a dry cloth, then wipe down with streak-free glass cleaner
- Stubborn marks or stains Apply Handy Andy™ or diluted Janola™ (1 part to 3 parts water), then wipe down with a warm damp cloth followed with streak-free glass cleaner
- Newsprint apply Mentholated Spirits or Mineral Turpentine and wipe over with a dry cloth, then wipe down with streak-free glass cleaner
- Pencil Use water and a damp cloth
- Felt Pen or Dry Marker Apply Acetone or Mentholated Spirits and wipe over with a dry cloth, then wipe down with streak-free glass cleaner
- Paint Apply Acetone or duco Lacquer thinners (from a paint shop)
Care for your composite stone bench top
Although Engineered Composite Quartz is very durable and hard wearing, they are also natural products of the earth.
Please find below some advice in maintaining the condition of your bench top:
- Take care when using any acidic liquids. These include lemon juice, vinegars and red wine. These acids can eat into the sealants if not wiped off immediately and can stain your bench top.
- Care must also be taken when using refined oils such as olive oil or aromatherapy oils.
- Some commercial cleaners contain harsh, abrasive chemicals and are not suitable to clean your bench top. These include Jif and the sprays which contain the lemon and orange scents.
- We recommend cleaning your bench top with warm soapy water or a specialized cleaning product. We will supply you with a bottle of a specialized cleaner when the bench top is installed and further supplies can be purchased at Tile Warehouse stores.
- Placing very hot pans or dishes straight on to the bench top could cause thermal shock to the stone .This is due to the rapid change in temperature to the surface of the stone. It can then cause cracks or heat damage to the stone.
Care for your Granite bench top
Your granite bench top may require sealing. Otherwise, cleaning the bench top with soap and water should suffice. Don’t use acidic or abrasive cleaners that will dull the finish over time. A sealer is applied by our workmen in the factory and when installing the granite. However, the following care should be taken:
Wipe with a soft wet cloth, with or without a mild washing up detergent – e.g. after washing the dishes. However, always finish with clear water, and, if wished could use a chamois.
PLEASE NOTE: Anti-bacterial detergents may leave marks even if utensils are rinsed with clear water.
DO NOT USE: harsh abrasive cleaners or scrubbers or furniture polish or oil.
If a little grease or other build-up occurs, use a soft cleaning pad or cloth which you would normally use on non-stick pans.
Granite bench tops are extremely hard wearing and tolerate of usual use in a kitchen. For maximum performance of your bench tops we ask you to avoid the following:-
DO NOT wipe bench tops for 24 hours after installation, especially near join areas.
DO NOT plumb or use an under mount sink for 24 hours after installation.
DO NOT place hot pots directly on your granite bench tops. A heat pad is recommended.
DO NOT leave oil on granite surface.
DO NOT chop vegetables on granite bench tops, a chopping board is recommended.
DO NOT stand, sit or granite bench tops.
- Preventing Damage
With just a little care, you can ensure your Real Granite Bench Top retains its beauty permanently.
- Avoid exposing stone counters to strong chemicals
Oven cleaners, oils, paint removers, fruit juices (particularly citrus juices), or any other acidic liquid. If spills do occur, wash quickly with clean water.
Try not using your counter top as a cutting board. This will destroy your good knives, and might cause damage to your bench top with some especially hardened knives.
There are NO bench top materials available that are totally scratchproof, although natural granite is about the closest you will find.
- Avoid dropping heavy or sharp objects on the counter
Granite is one of the hardest natural materials known to man, but if you try hard enough you will damage it… Avoid leaving hot cooking utensils on your counter tops for long periods, the granite is okay, however there might be hot oil under the utensil and this can damage the sealant.
- Heat
Generally exposure to hot pans will not cause any damage at all to your bench top, but we recommend you use a cutting board or something similar just to further protect your bench top. It is worth noting that the only bench top material that is almost entirely impervious to heat is Stainless Steel. Other “Solid Surface” products are only heat resistant, not heat proof.
- Cleaning Recommendations
As with any other product, clean regularly. Once you’re stone counter has been sealed (if required), it is easy to keep clean. Ask us for most appropriate form of cleaning for your particular bench top. You can also buy our specially developed stone cleaner.
Do not use abrasive cleaners. Wash with clean water after cleaning if spills occur. Wipe the surface dry with a soft cloth after cleaning. There are many commercially available stone care products if you choose to use them.
Care for your Laminate bench top
Laminate surfaced products are hardwearing materials, but like all materials can be damaged if used without some care and maintenance. The following information should help in assisting you to maintain the surface of your laminate products with minimum time and effort.
- Avoid scourers and abrasives as they will damage the surface
- Do not place hot objects, electrical appliances or pots straight from the oven or cooker onto your Laminex laminate surface
- Do not cut on the Laminex laminate surface
- Keep waxes and polishes well away as they dull the natural shine
- Do not use strongly acidic, alkaline cleaners or bleach for normal cleaning as these might etch the surface.
Spills of any nature should be wiped up as soon as they occur. Laminate surfaces are resistant to most household products, but not absolutely stain proof. Laminates are unaffected by normal household reagents such as detergents, non-bleach washing powders, nail polish remover, petrol, mentholated spirits, mineral turpentine, fly spray and shoe polish.
Care for your Lacquered Kitchen
Lacquer surfaces are of high value.
Use of dirty cloths or strong washing liquids can cause damage to the surface.
Mild washing liquid diluted in warm water is recommended to clean lacquer surface.
It is safe to use a slightly damp, soft and clean cloth to clean lacquer and remove dust. However, always remember to clean without applying pressure.
Care for your Seratone Bench tops
Recommended cleaning products:
- Jif Power spray
- Sunlight liquid
- Ajax spray ‘n’ wipe – multipurpose lemon citrus, multipurpose ocean fresh, kitchen antibacterial, bathroom antibacterial,
- Handy Andy
- Bleach
Adhere to cleaner manufacturer’s instructions, a soft cloth is recommended, do not use scouring pads or abrasive cloths or cleaners (e.g. steel wool) as these may damage the surface. The removal of dust from the surface can be easily achieved by the use of an electrostatic dusting cloth (e.g. Johnson’s Pledge Grab-it)
Care for your Corian bench top
Clean you’re corian bench top with hot water, a dishcloth, or a sponge this is all you need for everyday cleaning. Soapy water or an ammonia-based cleaner is fine on corian too. To avoid watermarks, towel dry after cleaning
Unlike stone, corian does not need to be sealed. Rubbing the surface with a Scotch-Brite pad restores corian from wear and tear but is only recommended for matte or satin finishes. Occasionally disinfect with a mixture of equal parts water and bleach. Wipe down after using bleach.
Treat your corian surface as you would a fine timber. To avoid unnecessary marks, corian should not be used directly as a cutting surface. Although corian has a high heat resistance you should not place direct heat appliances directly on the surface such as, electric frying pan, excess heat damage is not covered in your warranty. Be careful of what your corian surface is exposed to, tough cleaners will damage the surface, such as oven cleaners.