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Countertop
Cleaining and Maintenance |
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| Cleaning
and maintenance of Solid Surface Countertops (Corian,
Hi Macs) |
| Routine
Care of Your Corian® Countertop
There are three
types of Corian® countertop finishes: matte/satin,
semi-gloss and high-gloss*. Most countertops are finished
with a matte/satin finish. All Corian® sinks have
a matte/satin finish. (*Contact your local Corian®
sales expert if you are uncertain what type of finish
is on your countertop.)
Soapy water, ammonia
based cleaners (not window cleaners as they can leave
a waxy build up that may dull the surface) or commercially
available solid surface cleaners will remove most dirt
and residue from all types of finishes. Stubborn residue
will require a little stronger cleaner.
Follow the recommendations
below to properly clean your countertop and sink.
Experience has
shown that a film builds up on the surface if water
is left to dry on the countertop. This film will dull
the look of the countertop making the finish appear
blotchy and uneven. To prevent build up of the film,
it is very important to wipe the countertop completely
dry after spills and cleaning.
Some colors of
Corian® may require more frequent cleaning to maintain
a uniform finish. Darker colors tend to require more
attention than lighter colors. Over time, even with
proper care, your countertop will acquire a patina,
changing the appearance of the finish. You may restore
the look of the original finish by following the refurbishing
guidelines below.
A KEY TO KEEPING
YOUR COUNTERTOPS LOOKING GOOD IS TO THOROUGHLY RINSE
AND WIPE COMPLETELY DRY AFTER CLEANING
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| Cleaning
All Finishes
| Most
dirt & residue |
Use
soapy water, ammonia based cleaner (not window cleaner),
rinse and wipe completely dry. Commercially available
solid surface cleaners, such as Clean EnCounters®
will also work well. |
| Preventing
hard water marks |
Rinse and
wipe completely dry after cleaning; clean up spills
before they dry. |
| Removing
hard water marks |
Use a cleaner
formulated for removing hard water marks such as
CLR or Lime-A-Way. |
| Difficult
residue |
Spray residue
with Deep Cleaner for DuPont Corian® from Stone
Care International. Follow instructions on the bottle.
Wash area with soapy water, rinse and wipe completely
dry. If residue persists, follow steps below for
removing dulling film. |
| Disinfecting |
Occasionally,
wipe surface with diluted household bleach (1 part
water/1 part bleach). Rinse top thoroughly with
water and wipe completely dry. |
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| Sinks
& Lavatories |
| Cleaning |
Follow
procedures above or use Soft Scrub® and a
green Scotch-Brite® pad to remove residue.
Rub green Scotch-Brite® pad over entire sink
to blend in finish. NOTE: Do Not use Scotch-Brite®
on the countertop surface. |
| Disinfecting |
Fill your
sink 1/4 full with diluted household bleach (1 part
water/1 part bleach). Be sure to get some of the
solution into the overflow opening to disinfect.
Let the solution stay in the sink for 15 minutes;
then wash sides and bottom as solution drains. Rinse
out the sink with water. |
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* Avoid getting
the bleach solution in your eyes or bare skin. Always
follow the bleach manufacturer's safety instructions
when working with bleach. |
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* To enhance
the gloss level on semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes,
use a countertop polish such as Countertop Magic®,
Hope's Countertop Polish® or Enhance Countertop
Polish®. |
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Scotch Brite® is a registered trademark of 3M
Company
Soft Scrub® is a registered trademark of The
Dial Corporation
Countertop Magic® is a registered trademark
of The Hope Co.
Enhance Countertop Polish® is a registered of
Eastern Marble Co. |
Preventing
Heat Damage
While Corian®
is heat resistant, as with all countertop materials,
it is important to minimize direct heat exposure
to protect your surface and investment.
DO NOT PLACE HOT POTS, PANS, ETC. DIRECTLY ON
THE COUNTERTOP SURFACE.
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 a toaster oven.
Allow cookware to cool before placing it into
a Corian® sink.
Preventing
Other Damage
In most
cases Corian® can be repaired if damaged.
Be sure to follow these guidelines to help you
prevent any permanent damage to your Corian®.
* Avoid
getting strong chemicals, such as paint removers,
oven cleaners, etc., on your Corian® countertop.
If a spill does occur, promptly flush the surface
with water to fully rinse off the chemical.
* Do not cut directly on Corian® countertops.
Use a cutting board.
* Boiling water alone will not damage your Corian®
sink, however it is a recommended practice to
run cold water from the faucet while pouring boiling
water into the sink.
Removing
fine scratches or a blotchy appearance
You may
notice that the surface of your countertop begins
to look blotchy. Typically, this is caused by
leaving hard water to dry on the surface which
will leave a film of minerals. To remove this
film:
* Pour
some mild abrasive liquid cleanser, such as Soft
Scrub®, on a damp sponge or cloth and rub
over area using small circular motions, from the
front to the back, then side to side, overlapping
the circles until the entire area has been cleaned.
* Thoroughly rinse the top with clean water and
WIPE SURFACE COMPLETELY DRY.
* Check to see if blotchiness is gone. If not,
repeat procedure applying more pressure on the
sponge or rag.
* Continue over all affected areas until all film
is removed.
* NOTE: While this procedure may remove or minimize
the look of very fine scratches, other deeper
scratches may remain. They may be removed by following
the procedure below or you may with to hire a
professional refinisher to refinish your countertop.
Contact your Corian® Retailer or DuPont to
arrange for professional refinishing.
Removing
minor cuts and scratches*
Because
the solid beauty of Corian® goes all the way
through, Corian® surfaces are renewable. You
can remove minor cuts and scratches yourself by
following these instructions.
* First,
wash the area where the scratch is located, following
the instructions found in this guide, to remove
any film on the surface as this film may clog
the abrasive pads. With this surface still wet,
start rubbing with the Peach colored side of the
cleaning pad. Use a light touch. Pressing too
hard may actually leave deeper scratches. Rub
over the scratch using a straight line motion.
Periodically switch rubbing direction ninety degrees.
Rinse pad periodically during this process to
remove any built up residue. Be sure all of the
scratch is removed.
* Clean top with water and dry thoroughly. Check
to see if sanded area blends with rest of top.
Please note that sanded area may not perfectly
match remainder of top. If necessary, turn pad
over and repeat process. Rub over large area to
blend in sanding.
* If needed, continue the sanding process using
the Aqua colored pad and if necessary, the Gray
colored pad until the desired gloss level is achieved.
* Rinse out all pads used and allow them to air
dry before putting them away.
* An alternative to your refinishing your countertop,
is to contact your Corian® retailer or DuPont
to arrange for professional refinishing. |
| Sources for
materials mentioned above: |
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| Abrasive
pads |
Micro-Surface
Finishing Products, Inc. (800) 225-3006 |
| Countertop
Magic® |
Magic America
Corp. (800) 321-6330 |
| Clean EnCounters® |
SCI (800)
839-1654 |
| Deep Cleaner
for DuPont Corian® |
SCI (800)
839-1654 |
| Enhance Countertop
Polish |
EMS –
(800) 643-8818 |
| Green Scotch-Brite® |
Local supermarket
or hardware store |
| Hope’s
Countertop Polish |
The Hope
Co. (800) 325-4026 |
| SoftScrub® |
Local supermarket |
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| Cleaning
and maintenance of Quartz Countertops (Zodiaq, Caesarstone) |
| DuPont
Zodiaq® quartz surfaces are very easy to maintain.
The quartz used in Zodiaq® - coupled with high-performance,
stain-resistant polymers - results in a durable, nonporous,
chemical-resistant surface. Zodiaq® is also heat-
and scratch-resistant, but not heat- and scratch-proof.
Therefore, the use of trivets or hot pads are recommended
with hot pots and a cutting board is recommended when
using a knife.
Of course, Zodiaq®
keeps its lustrous gloss and ultra-smooth surface without
polishing. Because it is nonporous, Zodiaq® does
not require sealants or waxes.
Zodiaq® also
gives you peace of mind. In the unlikely event that
you do experience any problems due to a manufacturer's
defect, you can rest assured that DuPont backs Zodiaq®
with a 10-year limited warranty.
Routine
Care
With simple care,
Zodiaq® will retain its radiant, lustrous appearance
for many years. For routine cleaning, use a damp cloth
or paper towel and, if necessary, a small amount of
non-bleach, nonabrasive cleanser.
Even though Zodiaq®
resists permanent staining when exposed to liquids (such
as wine, vinegar, tea, lemon juice and soda) or fruits
and vegetables, wipe up food and liquid spills as soon
as possible.
For stubborn or
dried spills, use a nonabrasive cleaning pad such as
a white 3M Scotch-Brite®* scrub pad coupled with
Formula 409® Glass & Surface Cleaner** or a
comparable cleaning product.
Avoid using cleansers
that contain bleach. Always follow the cleaner manufacturer's
use instructions and exercise proper care when handling
and storing any cleaning products.
* Scotch-Brite®
is a registered trademark of the 3M Company.
**Formula 409®
Glass & Surface Cleaner is a registered trademark
of the Clorox Company.
Preventing
Heat and Other Damage
Zodiaq® can
withstand exposure to normal cooking temperatures from
pots, pans and dishes without being damaged. To maintain
the beauty of Zodiaq®, do not place hot skillets
or roasting pans directly onto the surface. DuPont recommends
the use of trivets and hot pads.
Removing
Difficult Spills
Sometimes spills
occur and dry on the countertop. For materials that
harden as they dry (such as gum, food, grease, nail
polish or paint), remove by gently scraping away the
excess with a plastic putty knife.
Permanent markers
and inks may adhere to the surface and should be avoided.
Should these agents come into contact with the surface,
clean first as outlined in Routine Care. If the stain
persists, moisten a cloth with Goo Gone®**, or a
comparable product and rub it into the stain. Rinse
thoroughly with warm water to remove any cleaner residue.
When grease from
cooking is an issue, use Greased Lightning™**
or a comparable degreasing product to help loosen and
remove the grease from the surface. Use the manufacturers
instructions for applying and removing the cleaner.
Avoid exposing
Zodiaq® quartz surfaces to strong chemicals and
solvents, especially paint removers or furniture strippers
containing trichlorethane or methylene chloride. Keep
nail polish remover, bleach, bluing, permanent markers
or inks, and oil soaps away from Zodiaq®.
While casual exposure
to alkaline materials will not damage Zodiaq®, highly
alkaline (high-pH) cleansers are not recommended when
cleaning Zodiaq®.
If any of the
substances listed above come into Zodiaq®, rinse
the exposed surface immediately and thoroughly with
water.
**Greased Lightning™
is available through major department, grocery, and
hardware stores.
For more information, visit www.greased-lightning.com.
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CaesarStone:
Its hard, nonporous surface makes CaesarStone simple to
clean. In most cases, soap and water or a mild detergent
is all that is required to maintain its luster. If necessary,
a non-abrasive cleanser such as Soft Scrub Liquid Gel
with Bleach or Comet Soft Cleanser Cream With Bleach can
be used along with a non-scratch or delicate scrub pad
such as blue Scotch-Brite sponge. Adhered materials like
food, gum, or nail polish can be scraped away with a plastic
putty knife; any marks left by the blade can be removed
with Soft Scrub Liquid Gel and a blue Scotch-Brite pad.
Thoroughly rinse the surface with clean water to remove
residue.
While CaesarStone does not require
sealants or waxes to maintain its luster, occasional
polishing with Soft Scrub Bleach Gel or Comet Gel will
keep the quartz surfacing looking its best.
Please understand that HONED finishes
will require more daily maintenance than our polished
finishes. Since there is more exposed surface area with
honed finishes, metal marks, finger prints and other
signs of daily living will show on honed material. Most
of these marks can be easily removed with little effort
and non-abrasive cleaning products such as Soft Scrub
Liquid Gel. For tough stains, work the area with a blue
Scotch Brite pad.
CaesarStone prides itself in providing
our customers a virtually care-free surface, but as
with any product, excessive abuse can harm its finish.
With a small amount of care, your CaesarStone surface
will look as great as the day you bought it for years
to come.
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| Cleaning
and maintenance of Natural Stone |
What are the DO's and DON'Ts of
Granite?
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DO
clean up spills immediately to minimize damage to
your stone. |
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DO use trivets
or mats under hot dishes and cookware. |
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DO use place
mats under china, ceramics, silver and other objects
that can scratch your stone's surface. |
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DO use coasters
under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol
or citrus juices. |
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DO clean
surfaces regularly with StoneTech™ Professional
Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector . |
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DON'T wait
to clean up spills on stone. |
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DON'T use
cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners,
grout cleaners or tub cleaners. |
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DON'T use
vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose
cleaners. |
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DON'T use
abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft
cleansers. |
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DON'T use
alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for
stone. |
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| When
does my granite need to be sealed?
Sealing natural stone is a way to protect
your stone from staining and to make your day to day
cleaning easier. Before sealing or selecting natural
stone and granite sealers, consider these things:
- Do I even need to seal it? How do
I know? Place several drops of water on the surface
of the stone and see how long it takes for the water
to completely disappear. If the water absorbs into the
stone under one minute, it is very porous; up to 3-4
minutes, still consider it porous. If the water beads
on the surface or if it is slowly absorbed into the
stone, it can be considered as having a lower porosity.
A polished surface finish will be less absorbent than
an honed finish.
- Where is my stone located and what
will it be exposed to? A kitchen countertop that is
used daily will need a sealer that is oil repellant.
A seldom used bathroom on the other hand, will be just
fine with a water repellant sealer.
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| Sealing
Granite and Natural Stone With Penetrating Sealers
Sealing granite
and natural stone with penetrating sealers, (also called
impregnators), protects the structure of a natural stone.
They protect the stone from within. When sealing natural
stone or granite with this type of sealer, it is applied
directly to the face of the stone with a soft cloth.
It's simple to do and does not require a stone specialist.
This type of sealer is recommended for sealing granite.
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| We
Recommend and Use:
511
Porous Plus
The Best Performing Penetrating Sealer
WATER, STAIN &
SLIP PROTECTION FOR:
• Sanded
Grout
• Terra Cotta
• Cantera/Adoquin
• Brick
• Limestone
• Sandstone
• Cement
• Slate • Saltillo Tile
• Flagstone
• Concrete Tile
• Pre-Cast Concrete • Flamed & Honed
Granite
• Honed/Textured Marble
• Polished Marble
• Polished Granite
511 Porous Plus
is a penetrating sealer designed for the protection
of the most porous surfaces. 511 Porous Plus forms an
invisible barrier that is resistant to moisture and
stains while allowing vapor to escape. 511 Porous Plus
is not a surface coating and will not alter the natural
look. All surfaces are harder and less slippery. INDEPENDENT
TESTS SHOW 511 POROUS PLUS OUT PERFORMS COMPETITIVE
PRODUCTS. (Test results are available upon request).
SPECIAL FEATURES:
• Interior
& Exterior Use
• Weather Resistant
• OK for Food Areas
• Superior Coverage
• Easy to Use
• U.V. Transparent
Coverage: 500
- 2,000 square feet per gallon (72 - 180 square meters
per 3.785 liters). 2,000 - 4,000 square feet per gallon
(288 - 360 square meters per 3.785 liters) on polished
surfaces.
Container sizes: Contractor Pak, quart, pint.
511 Porous Plus
is V.O.C. Compliant where applicable. Follow instruction
on package
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