Cleaning & Caring for your Cabinetry

With just a little extra effort on your part, your cabinetry can last for many years. The everyday wear and tear on your cabinets don’t have to reduce their beauty. You can get the most from your cabinets by following this list of simple care suggestions.

Everyday Care

It is important to wipe up spills and water marks as they occur. Be sure to pay special attention to areas around the sink and dishwasher. Avoid draping damp or wet dish towels over the door of the sink base cabinet. Over time, this moisture can cause permanent water damage to the door.

Cleaning your Cabinetry

After your cabinets have been installed, wipe down all exteriors with a damp cloth to remove dust.

Over time, Ultra Violet light rays in natural sunlight may affect the appearance of your cabinets. UV inhibitors have been applied to all wood cabinetry as part of the finishing process.

Avoid spray-type polishes containing petroleum solvents, as they are flammable and toxic if swallowed. Use a damp cloth when cleaning normal household spills, and after wiping thoroughly, dry the surface with a lint-free cotton cloth. For stubborn stains, it may be necessary to use a mild detergent with warm water. Be sure to always dry the surfaces that were wiped down immediately.

Never use abrasive cleaners, scouring pads or powdered cleansers. Do not allow oven cleaner to come into contact with any part of your cabinets. Do not use a dish cloth to wipe your cabinet exterior, since it may contain remnants of grease or detergents.

Important Notes on Wood Cabinets

All wood is a product of nature. While each wood type grows best in specific conditions, nature provides differences which are critical to the growing soil and weather conditions will have their effect on grain patterns and color. The beauty of real wood is created by the infinite variation of grain, texture, and color. This is especially true of hardwood and hardwood veneers; hardwoods are particularly noted for their variety in graining. It is the nature of hardwoods to have mineral streaks (dark brown to black areas in the wood) and great variation in graining. Since the number of mineral streaks varies from board to board, you may notice differences between cabinets, doors, drawers, or even on the same panel. Mineral streaks or unusual graining are considered to be characteristic of natural wood and will not be considered to be a defect or reason for replacement. No special emphasis is made to select materials to match each other. All color characteristics of wood will change as it ages. This will gradually change the color of the wood and stain. The amount and rate of the change will depend on many factors, including wood type, stain color, and the amount of direct sunlight. In addition, exposure to smoke, chemicals, and man-made light may, over time, cause some materials to vary from their original color. While this softening of the color is not noticeable day to day, it will make a difference over an extended period of time. This is why cabinets or accessories added at a later date may not exactly match previously installed cabinetry. For the same reason, door samples or displays may not represent the exact color of cabinets you receive. Due to these natural and environmental factors, you will understand why we cannot be responsible for naturally occurring changes experienced by the wood in your cabinets. Please be aware that wood expands and contracts. This natural process will create open joints in the finish. An open joint line is not considered a defect and it is widely accepted in the kitchen cabinetry industry. The finish will still protect the surface, and the structural integrity of the joint will not be affected. These issues are shared by every manufacturer of painted all wood cabinets and are not unique to us. Wood may expand and contract differently from cabinet to cabinet. Even joints within the same cabinet may behave differently. Some joined wood may not show any joint lines, others may be slightly visible, while others may display easily visible joint lines.

Important Notes on Painted Wood Cabinets

Please be aware that wood expands and contracts. This natural process, occurring on painted cabinetry – such as the Presidential White and Bistro Antique White lines will create open joints in the painted finish. An open joint line is not considered a defect and it is widely accepted in the kitchen cabinetry industry. The finish will still protect the surface, and the structural integrity of the joint will not be affected. These issues are shared by every manufacturer of painted all wood cabinets, and are not unique to our company. Wood may expand and contract differently from cabinet to cabinet. Even joints within the same cabinet may behave differently. Some joined wood may not show any joint lines, others may be slightly visible, while others may display easily visible joint lines. To avoid expansion and contraction of cabinets, homeowners should monitor humidity and temperature changes in their home. Timeless Kitchen Outlet is not responsible for inadequate climate control by homeowners. As with any product, it is possible for paint to take differently to different pieces of wood, creating slight color differences. This is accepted throughout the industry, and is not a defect.