CABINET CARE and MAINTENANCE

 

Dusting:

Dust cabinets frequently with a soft lint-free cloth. You can dampen the cloth slightly with water or a spray-type dust remover.

 

Spills:

Clean spills immediately. Use a clean cloth and mild soap if necessary; wipe dry with a clean soft cloth. Apply a light coat of high quality furniture polish. Buff the polish with a soft cloth to maintain the furniture quality finish. Do not use a polish that contains silicone – silicones smudge and highlight fingerprints. Wax builds up on the surface and causes yellowing.

 

Glass Doors:

You can use any commercial glass cleaner to clean the glass. Be careful not to damage the finish of the door and cabinet parts while cleaning. Do not spray glass cleaner directly onto glass or cabinet parts. Glass cleaner seeping into areas behind the mullions may discolor the wood. Instead, spray a small amount of cleaner onto a lint-free cloth or paper towel, then wipe the glass.

 

Laminate (Melamine & Vinyl):

Periodically clean the interior and exterior surfaces of the door using a damp, soft cloth. Tough stains may be cleaned using a soft cloth dampened with a “Formula 409” type cleaner.

 

DO use a soft cloth. DO NOT use detergents, soap pads, or steel wool on your cabinetry. These harsh abrasives will mar the wood finish.

 

Periodically check to make sure that you are not placing too heavy a load on shelves and drawer bottoms. This is especially important with sliding trays, slide out drawers, lazy susans, and any place where heavy or unbalanced loads can shorten the life expectancy of the moving or mechanical parts.

 

Preserving the Finish:

Preston Woodworking stocks a variety of products to maintain and preserve your cabinet finish. We recommend Howard Products Feed-N-Was® to enhance the natural beauty and depth of grain on all woods. It contains no silicone or linseed oils. It is also great for furniture and antiques.

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Minor Repairs

 

Minor scratches or dents in your cabinetry can be treated with a touchup kit. You can purchase a kit from Preston Woodworking.

 

If over time screws become loose on hinges or drawer pulls, you can achieve a temporary fix by gluing a small diameter dowel rod into the hole using high quality wood glue. Cut the dowel rod flush with the top of the screw hole and place into the hole. Let the glue dry and then replace the screw. Do not over torque the screw, or you will risk stripping it out again.

 

Minor door alignment can be corrected by adjusting the hinges. Generally, when you open the cabinet door, you will find the side-to-side adjustment slot on the door part of the hinge and the up and down adjustment on the frame portion of the hinge.

 

Please Note:

• If you have a self-cleaning oven: Self-cleaning ovens are cleaned through the use of intense heat. If the heat gasket does not seal properly, heat may escape from the oven. Cabinets installed near a self-cleaning oven can suffer finish or surface damage. To minimize the risk of damage during cleaning cycles, we recommend that you remove doors and drawers from cabinets that are above and adjacent to a self-cleaning oven.
• Placement of heat-producing appliances: We recommend that you do not mount heat-producing appliances, such as coffee makers and toaster ovens, beneath cabinets. Excess heat and moisture from these appliances can damage cabinets.
• UV Effects: Over time, Ultra Violet rays in natural sunlight may affect the appearance of your cabinets. Although the finish on your cabinets may contain UV inhibitors, the wood may still be affected. Please be aware to note the amount and direction of light exposure to your cabinets. Consider window treatments that block direct sunlight exposure on your cabinetry.
• Periodically check to make sure that you are not placing too heavy a load on shelves and drawer bottoms. This is especially important with sliding trays, slide out drawers, lazy susans, and any place where heavy or unbalanced loads can shorten the life expectancy of the moving or mechanical parts.

 

Preston Woodworking recommends and stocks Howard® products for the maintenance and preservation of your cabinet finishes. It’s also great for furniture and antiques!   Please visit our showroom or shop online