Care Guide

The finish of your cabinets requires minimal care. A soft cotton cloth dampened with warm water is all that is required to clean the everyday spills and splatters. You can use a mild dish-washing liquid mixed with warm water to clean out tougher stains. Wipe all surfaces dry immediately after cleaning.

Clean spills immediately. Prolonged exposure to food, water, oil, or other liquids can permanently stain or damage the finish. Sponges or dish cloths used for regular dishes can contain food or oil residue which will result in a hazy film. Always use a clean cotton cloth. Solid colors will mellow somewhat in color over time.

Cleaning products to avoid includes harsh detergents or abrasive cleaners, solvent or petroleum based products, ammonia (or products containing bleach), and silicone based cleaning or polishing products. Cabinets do not require waxing or polishing. The wax build-up is difficult to remove and may give the surface of your cabinets a hazy or yellowed appearance over time. To clean the glass doors, use an ammonia-free glass cleaner on a clean soft cotton cloth or paper towel and do not spray cleaner directly on the glass.

The following cleaning products are to be avoided as damage may occur:

• Harsh detergents, strong soaps, abrasive cleaning products such as tub and sink cleansers, scouring powder, scouring pads, steel wool or self polishing waxes.
• Sponges or dish cloths. They may contain particles that could scratch your cabinets, or they may contain food and oil residue or remnants of harsh cleaning solutions.
• Solvent-based or petroleum-based products such as mineral spirits, nail-polish removers or paint thinners.
• Ammonia or cleaning products that include ammonia.
• Bleach or cleaning products that include bleach.
• Silicone-based cleaning, waxing, or polishing products.

Clean spills and splatters immediately. Prolonged exposure to spills, including food, water or other liquids, or to oil and grease splatters, can cause permanent discoloration or damage to your cabinet’s finish.

Use a clean, soft lint-free cotton cloth for regular dusting.

Packaged dusting sheets are not required or recommended. Do not use pre-moistened dusting sheets, and do not use aerosol products made for dusting.

Waxing is not required or recommended. Over time, waxing and polishing compounds may build up on the surface of your cabinets and cause a hazy, streaky or yellowed appearance. This wax build-up is very difficult to remove.

Extra care is required when cleaning glass doors. Spray an ammonia-free glass cleaner on a clean, soft, lint-free cloth or paper towel. Do not spray cleaner directly on the glass. It could seep behind the window dividers and cause damage.

A Touch-Up Kit is available to hide surface damage. Contact the place of business where you purchased your cabinetry to purchase the color-matched touch-up kit for your specific cabinets.

Use the kit’s touch-up pen to hide minor blemishes. Use the kit’s tinted putty stick to fill deeper scratches, gouges or nicks. Detailed instructions are provided in each kit.

Avoid draping damp clothes or dishtowels over cabinet doors. This moisture can cause permanent damage — such as peeling and discoloration — to the cabinet’s finish.

The heat generated when using an oven’s self-cleaning feature is much greater than during normal cooking. If this heat escapes from the oven, it can damage your cabinets. While this is a rare circumstance, you can minimize the risk of cabinet damage by removing cabinet doors and drawers nearest the oven before using its self-cleaning feature.

Exposure to direct sunlight tends to darken the color of natural wood products. Sunlight can also fade painted wood surfaces, laminated surfaces and thermofoil surfaces. You should consider draperies or blinds to shield your cabinets from direct sunlight.