As with any product constructed of wood, a few moments of care and a little common sense can go a long way in keeping your new cabinets looking their best. Here are a few simple suggestions to make your cabinet care easier.
Wood Finishes
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.
Cleaning:
There are a number of products available for your wood cleaning needs. Use a clean cloth and mild soap if necessary. Wipe dry with a clean soft cloth.
Polishing:
We recommend that you wash and polish cabinets once or twice each year. Use a light coat of quality furniture polish.
Dont's:
Never use detergents, soap pads, or steel wool on your cabinetry. These harsh abrasives will mar the wood finish. Additionally, we recommend that you avoid the use of paste wax and polishes that contain silicone; the wax build up is difficult to remove and will leave a residue that attracts dust.
3D Laminate - Melamine
Periodically clean the interior and exterior surfaces of the door using a damp, soft cloth. Wipe dry with a clean soft cloth if necessary.
Glass Doors & Mirrors
You can use any commercial glass cleaner to clean the glass. Additionally, the glass can be cleaned while mounted on the door, or can be removed for better access.
While cleaning mounted glass, be careful not to damage the finish of the door and cabinet parts while cleaning.
To remove the glass panel, carefully loosen the screws and lift panel out. However, all glass is fragile so handle carefully.
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.
Preventative Care
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.
Regarding 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, UV light rays in natural sunlight may affect the appearance of your cabinets. Bertch applies UV inhibitors to all its wood cabinetry as part of the finishing process. The finish on your cabinetry will not change, but the wood may, depending on its natural characteristics, the amount and direction of light exposure, and the portion of the cabinet that receives light.
Oasis Surface Care
Oasis Cultured Marble, Solid Marble and Faux Granite Tops:
Use a mild, non-abrasive liquid detergent when cleaning Oasis Marble. Minor scratches or cigarette burns may be removed by using 600 grit wet or dry sandpaper. The area should then be rubbed and buffed with standard auto body rubbing compound. Water temperature should not exceed 150 degrees.
Everyday Cleaning:
Use a few drops of a mild liquid antibacterial dishwashing detergent or stone soap. Always avoid cleaners with abrasives, ammonia, acid or other harsh chemicals (Windex, Ajax, vinegar) as they may scratch or etch the granite and marble. Wipe acidic spills such as red wine, lemon juice and tomato based sauces immediately and always clean oil based products from the surface. Soap "scum" can be removed using a non-abrasive, soap scum remover or stone cleaner. Always remove excess water, which may cause spotting on the stone surface.