Caring for your new kitchen
As the heart of the home, your kitchen will get plenty of use. Read on for our top tips to maintain your kitchen in excellent condition.
Doors and carcasses
Your cupboard doors and carcasses have been made to withstand the normal wear and tear associated with kitchen life. They are resistant to normal cleaning regimes, however any spillages should be wiped up and dried immediately to prevent damage. To ensure the longevity of your units please avoid placing electric kettles, steamers or pans giving off condensation under wall units or across work top joints to avoid condensation damage.
Laminate worktops
Laminate worktops are heat resistant up to 100°C for short periods, so it’s best to use protection – such as a trivet with rubber feet - when placing hot pans and oven dishes on the worktop. Pay special attention to worktop joints, as direct heat can soften the sealant, which could allow water ingress that will lead to irreparable damage of the joint.
We also recommend that you use a protective chopping board when using sharp cutlery, cookware or kitchen utensils on the surfaces. When cleaning, it’s best to use warm water and a mild detergent, while stubborn stains can be removed using a non-abrasive cleaner. Avoid abrasive cleaners, scouring powders, oven cleaners, bleach or wire wool pads as these could cause damage to your surfaces.
Earthstone worktops use a laminate worktop base construction, so will require similar care to a standard laminate worktop.
Quartz/Granite worktops
Although Quartz/Granite worktops are more robust than laminate worktops, we’d still recommend following the same advice as for the laminate worktops. Though formed differently to laminate ones, quartz and granite worktops still need to be treated with care and can fail through heat and water damage. And, if the join fails, it’s more likely to cause water damage to the unit below.
Quartz/granite worktops are the most resilient type we supply, but you should still take care when cleaning. Mild detergent and warm water will do the job, and stubborn marks are best cleaned using a non-abrasive cleaner or specialist product designed for the specific worktop you have – harsh cleaners could discolour or permanently damage the finish. Preparatory specialist cleaners can be used to rejuvenate your worktop, but please consult a specialist supplier.
Stainless steel sinks
Stainless steel sinks should ideally be cleaned using warm soapy water, wiped clean and buffed to restore lustre using a dry cloth. Avoid using abrasive cleaners, wire wool or scouring pads as these will cause scratches to form. Bleach can leave permanent marks on stainless steel so any spillage must be washed off immediately with plenty of water containing mild detergent.
Check out the rest of our guides on caring for your new home:
- Support after you move into your new home
- Staying safe in your new home
- Caring for your new utilities
- Caring for the outside of your home
- Caring for your lawn and driveway
- Caring for your doors and windows
- Caring for your loft space and garage
- Dealing with moisture in your new home
- Electrics in your new home
- External finishes on your new home
