Cabinet Care

Like any fine furniture your new cabinets require some routine cleaning. Whether the finish is a melamine, UV lacquer, acrylic, laminate, or our catalyzed conversion varnish finishes, all products have excellent resistance to foods, beverages and household agents found in a typical kitchen or bathroom. Surfaces are scratch resistant, but not scratch proof.

Caring and preserving the natural beauty of your cabinets can be accomplished through regular routine cleaning following some simple care and maintenance guidelines.

Kitchen cabinets should be cleaned routinely or cleaned based on the amount of particulate that accumulates. Dry dusting, depending on build up, may scratch the finished surface. It is a good practice to follow the grain of wood when wiping your cabinets. Residues from smoke, cooking vapors, grease, hand or body oils can be cleaned with a cloth dampened with mild soap and warm water or a distilled white vinegar warm water solution. Remember to use a clean, soft cloth such as an old white cotton T-shirt or white micro-fiber cloth.

Common Cleaners for Kitchen Cabinets

Never use cleaning products containing silicones, waxes, polishes, abrasives, acids, strong alkaline, solvents, alcohol, ammonia, or bleach. These types of products can cause irreversible damage to surfaces. There is a significant variety of cabinet and wood furniture cleaning and care products available to consumers. The most common of which contain either silicones, waxes, or polishes which we do not recommend. Use these at your own risk.

Silicone cleaners are very common and offer a high degree of shine. A side effect of silicone is that it seeps into even the highest quality finishes creating a barrier that will not accept stain or finish. This makes it impossible to re-finish or touch up when it may be required.

Wax based cleaners are not needed on our finishes. Wax cleaners will provide a shine to your finish however regular use of wax cleaners will result in a build-up of wax film on the surface making refinish or repair difficult. This build–up will also attract other pollutants such as dirt, smoke and grease in the air that will cause streaks and smudges on the finish. Many waxes also contain particulates that may damage the finish as well.

Wood polishes contain detergents to remove dirt, emulsifiers give it body to clean and mineral oil is left behind as a barrier for dirt and moisture while leaving no wax or silicone residue. Polishes would be the best choice of these three options but is not recommended.

Distilled White Vinegar is a safe option. Vinegar & Warm Water: Mixing a 50/50 solution of distilled white vinegar and warm water makes a great cleaner. Vinegar is approximately five percent acetic acid, which helps it break down the structure of some dirt, oils, films, stains, and bacteria. The acidic agent can harm some surfaces, so test it in an inconspicuous area. (Not recommended on Melamine, UV Lacquer, Acrylic, and Laminate)

Dish Soap & Warm Water: (not dishwasher liquid) Dish Soap with warm water is our recommendation for cleaning your Decor cabinets. Dish Soaps degrease, break down solids, effectively remove bacteria, do not irritate the skin, and have a pleasant odor. Dish Soaps are one of the safest and most effective cleaning products. We recommend this method.

If you’re not sure about a cleaner or cloth always test it on a small inconspicuous area first.

How to Clean your Cabinets with Distilled White Vinegar and Warm Water.

1. Mix distilled white vinegar 1 to 1. Equal parts vinegar and warm water in a bowl. Dip the cloth and swish it around. Wring the cloth out so it is wet/damp but not dripping. Limit excess water.
2. Begin by testing on an inconspicuous corner before doing a full-fledged cleaning.
3. Wipe over the greasy surface back and forth with the cloth until the soil is removed. If applicable, follow the wood grain. Limit excess water.
4. For those stubborn messes, repeat the process. Limit excess water.
5. Use a bowl of clean warm water, soak a fresh cloth, and wring it out so it is wet/damp but not dripping. Wipe down the areas you just washed to remove any remaining grease and excess mixture left behind. Limit excess water.
6. Repeat if needed.
7. Immediately dry the surfaces with a clean dry cloth. Dry all surfaces thoroughly. This will prevent streaking.
8. Allow to air dry.

How to Clean your Cabinets with Dish Soap and Warm Water.

1. Apply a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of warm water as you would for washing dishes by hand.
2. Begin by testing on an inconspicuous corner before doing a full-fledged cleaning.
3. Wipe over the greasy surface back and forth with the soapy cloth until the soil is removed. If applicable, follow the wood grain.
4. Dip the cloth and swish it around. Squeeze the cloth in the mixture until suds form. Wring the cloth out so it is wet/damp but not dripping. Limit excess water.
5. Repeat if needed.
6. For those stubborn messes, apply a squirt of dish soap directly to the cloth under warm running water, then gently rub the greasy surface.
7. Use a bowl of clean warm water, soak a fresh clean cloth, and wring it out so it is wet/damp but not dripping. Wipe down the cabinets and remove any remaining residue. Limit excess water.
8. Immediately dry the surfaces with a clean dry cloth. Dry all surfaces thoroughly. This will prevent streaking.
9. Allow to air dry.

Wear and Tear around Knobs and Handles:

Frequent use of cabinet doors and drawers can cause wear around knobs and handles. No matter how often we wash our hands, human skin always contains natural oils that keep our skin protected from drying out. Most of the time you don’t even notice it unless you rub your hands onto glass or another similar surface. (I.e., fingerprints on windows, stainless steel etc.) Oil from your skin, food oils, hand lotions, hand creams and some detergents can break down a finish. Constant transfer of these to wooden furniture can also gradually leave a stain or break down the finish over time. This will occur around cabinet door handles and knobs or any area of the finished surface that is touched the most especially on the cabinets used most frequently. Trying to wipe these areas on a flat finish to remove what may appear to be a greasy spot will only result in polishing the area more especially on lower gloss finishes whether it is a clear, opaque or paint. The finish may start by showing a polished or glossy area where the wood surface is repeatedly in contact with fingers rubbing against the finish from opening or closing the cabinet door. This is normal “wear & tear” and is not considered a defect. This is not as evident on a higher gloss finish. The best thing to do is clean with mild dish soap and warm water regularly.

BASIC CARE TIPS – DOS and DON’TS

DOS

• Do wipe up spills, spatters, and splatters promptly and dry completely, especially in areas near the sink, stove, dishwasher, on joints and around any cut outs.
• Do clean one cabinet at a time.
• Do clean routinely to avoid long term damage from water, food, smoke, grease, and oils build up.
• Do wipe up mustard spatters immediately as mustard will stain some finishes very quickly.
• Do keep the finish dry.
• Do clean with a white lint free cloth or microfiber towel (Microfiber towels are not recommended on Acrylic or UV Lacquer material).
• Do use a mild detergent or soap and warm water. (Not dishwasher liquid)
• Do follow up with clean water after cleaning with any type of cleaning solution.
• Do dry surfaces immediately after washing with a dry clean, white lint free cloth or microfiber towel.
• Do wipe gently when cleaning with a damp cloth or dry cloth.
• Do use the pulls or knobs to open and close cabinet doors and drawers. This will prevent long term damage and/or gloss areas forming around the pulls and knobs.

DON’TS

• Do not soak the surfaces when cleaning.
• Do not use coloured cloths or microfiber towels.
• Do not wipe cabinets with a dishcloth or sponge. These can contain harsh soaps, grease, soils that damage the finish.
• Do not scrub or rub excessively in one location. This will cause the finish to be polished creating a shinier surface in that one place. This is especially important with low sheen finishes.
• Do not use products with bleach, ammonia, silicone, waxes, polishes or abrasive additives.
• Do not allow water or other liquids to be in contact with finished surfaces for prolonged periods of time.
• Do not use abrasive cleaning pads (Scotch-Brite), sponges, magic erasers, steel wool etc.
• Do not allow oven cleaners to contact the finish.
• Do not place kitchen appliances where heat is directed onto finished surfaces.
• Avoid steam from kettles, etc., being directed at the underside of cabinets or bottom edge of doors. This can damage the finish and affect the adhesion of the edge banding over time.
• Do not drape damp clothes over cabinet doors. This moisture will cause permanent damage over time.
• Do not use steam cleaning machines.

Repair your Decor Cabinets

Small scratches, scuffs, and dents are inevitable but don’t worry. Follow these simple steps and your Decor Cabinets will be looking like nothing happened.

• Touch Up Kit – Stain Application
  Important Notice: Touch-up kits are made for repairing minor damages only.
• Touch Up Kit – Paint Application
  Important Notice: Touch-up kits are made for repairing minor damages only.

Adjust your Decor Cabinets

Drawer Front Adjustment (Standard Box)

• Remove handle (if installed).
• Use Phillips screwdriver to slightly loosen visible screws located at washers on the backside of the drawer front.
• Move drawer front left or right
• Move drawer front up or down tapping by hand or rubber mallet.
• Tighten screws.
• Refit Handle.

Drawer Fine-tuning Adjustment – Up/Down

• Open Drawer
• Push up and hold the handle of wedge located near the orange lever at the bottom of the drawer front.
• Slide wedge away from the drawer front to lift drawer front.
• Slide Wedge towards drawer front to lower drawer front.

Drawer Fine-tuning Adjustment -Tilt

• Open Drawer.
• Turn the two cams located on the left and right drawer track on the back of the drawer to tilt the drawer front.

False Front Removal & Adjustment

To remove false front:

• Open the door or remove the drawer below the false front.
• Remove false front by tapping it from the inside by hand or rubber mallet.

To adjust the false front:

• Move false front up/down or left/right by tapping it by hand or rubber mallet.

Hinges

• Move false front up/down or left/right by tapping it by hand or rubber mallet.
• Move false front up/down or left/right by tapping it by hand or rubber mallet

To Remove Frame

• Use 4 mm Allen wrench to unhook each connector biscuit.
• Remove the frame.

To install frame:

• Place the frame onto the cabinet.
• Pay attention to reveals.
• Ensure that all biscuits line up.
• Use 4 mm Allen wrench to tighten all the connector biscuits.

Place the frame onto the cabinet.

• Pay attention to reveals.
• Ensure that all biscuits line up.
• Use 4 mm Allen wrench to tighten all the connector biscuits.

Wall-Mount Vanity Hardware Adjustments

Vanity Base Wall Mount cabinets come with the Libra H7 hanger system installed. During installation, this hardware can easily be adjusted to attain the desired height and depth and to lock it in place. Below are diagrams of how to perform these simple adjustment

Vertical Adjustment

• 33/64″ (13 mm) vertical adjustment
• The range of motion may be limited by the countertop.
• Use to raise, lower, or level the cabinet left to right

Horizontal adjustment

• 33/64″ (13 mm) vertical adjustment
• The range of motion may be limited by the countertop.
• Use to raise, lower, or level the cabinet left to right

Anti-turnover Locking

• 33/64″ (13 mm) vertical adjustment
• The range of motion may be limited by the countertop.
• Use to raise, lower, or level the cabinet left to right