Cabinet Care and Cleaning Guidelines We take great pride in building quality products designed to last for many years under normal use. With proper care and cleaning, you will be able to enjoy your cabinets for years to come.  We have prepared these tips to help you maintain the beauty of your professionally finished cabinets. Wood Exteriors Color and grain variations are natural characteristics in authentic wood surfaces. Since no two trees are exactly alike, these variations are evident in every piece of real wood. Natural variations are blended somewhat by the application of toners and stains. These finish applications are not designed to eliminate, but to enhance the charm and unique characteristics of the natural wood. The following care suggestions will ensure the longest possible service and beauty of the high-quality finish applied to your cabinets. After installation Wipe down all interiors and exteriors of your cabinets with a lightly dampened cloth to remove dust. drying immediately with a dry cloth. Cleaning Exterior A soft cotton cloth dampened with warm water is usually sufficient to clean your cabinets. If more thorough cleaning is required, use a fresh solution of dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water or a mild all-purpose cleaner. Make sure it does not contain ammonia or silicone. Use only mildest cleaning solution. Stronger products may damage or discolor your cabinet finish and are not recommended. After cleaning, wipe all surfaces with a clean, damp cloth. Dry immediately, using another soft, clean cloth. Cleaning Interior Empty each cabinet, beginning with the top most one. Wash the interior of the cabinet with warm water and mild dish soap liquid. If the interior cabinets have a lot of crumbs and residue, it may be a good idea to vacuum the cabinet out after they've been emptied, before wiping them down. Rinse with another clean damp cloth. Wipe dry with additional cloth. Cleaning Glass Doors 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. Splatters and Spills Clean spills and splatters immediately. Use a clean cloth and mild soap if necessary. Wipe dry with a clean soft cloth . 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. Scratches, Gouges and Nicks A Touch-Up Kit is available to hide surface damage. Contact Best Stone and Kitchen, Inc. for the color-matched touch-up kit for your cabinets purchased from us. Use the kit’s touch-up marker to hide minor blemishes. Use the kit’s wax stick to fill deeper scratches, gouges or nicks. Detailed instructions are provided in each kit. Waxing or Polishing Waxing is not required or recommended. Over time, waxing 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. Polishing of cabinet surface is optional. If you elect to do so, use a high-quality furniture polish that does not contain silicone. Read instruction before use. Avoid Excessive Moisture Excessive moisture is one of the worst enemies of any wood finish and it can be harmful to the cabinet finish and overall cabinet stability. Areas next to sink, dishwasher and toe kick are most susceptible to the moisture damage. Avoid draping damp clothes or dishtowels over cabinet doors. Immediately dry off any areas where water has spilled. Keep all surfaces dry. Moisture and humidity levels in the home can play a major role in the life of your cabinets. A temperature level of 68-73 degrees and a relative humidity level of 40%-45% are recommended. Avoid Excessive Heat Self-cleaning Oven 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. We recommend carefully removing any doors and drawers from cabinets adjacent to or directly above or below the appliance before beginning clean cycle. While this type of damage is rare, removing the doors and drawers will help prevent any possible damage to the finish and surface of your cabinets. Heat Generating Appliances It is recommended not mounting or using heat-producing appliances such as coffe makers, kettles and toaster ovens beneath cabinets. These items can generate damaging levels of heat and moisture. Avoid These Cleaning Products Abrasive cleaning products will damage your cabinet's finish. - Harsh chemicals. - Steel wool, scouring pads, and abrasive powdered cleaning products. - Sponges or dishtowels. These items can contain remnants of food and grease residue that could scratch your cabinets. - Bleach or products containing bleach. - Ammonia or products containing ammonia. - Waxing or polishing products that are silicon-based. - Nail polish removers, paint thinners, mineral spirits or any other solvent-based or petroleum-based products. - Flammable and toxic spay polishes that contain petroleum-based products. may be used to clean and protect your cabinets; however, you should always read the label to be sure it can be used on the finish. Follow directions exactly. You should always test on the inside of a door to make sure it Commercial cleaning products will not harm your cabinet's finish. Avoid Excessive Sunlight Exposure to strong light sources will cause the color of natural wood products to darken over time. Excessive exposure to sunlight will also cause painted wood, laminated and thermofoil surfaces to fade. It is important to note that such changes are irreversible. You should consider draperies or blinds to shield your cabinets from direct sunlight. 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.