Granite
After we install your tops, we will seal the surface of the stone. This process not only adds an additional layer of protection, but also enhances the beauty of the stone. Daily maintenance of your countertops requires nothing more than simple mild soap and water. This will clean the surfaces, and studies show that soap and water will completely eliminate most of the harmful germs and bacteria on your countertops. Harsh disinfectants can damage the finish on your countertops and are also not needed when you thoroughly clean with simple soap and water. Any spots can be polished out with a soft, dry towel. We offer a great product Revitalizer by DuPont it is a cleaner and sealer. This product eliminates the need to seal on an annual basis. Homeowners can easily do this themselves. These sealants can be purchased at CSI ….
Quartz
Use hot pads or trivets when placing hot containers on a quartz countertop. While the countertops can handle moderate heat, prolonged heat can cause damage. Clean the countertops with a non-abrasive kitchen cleaner. A vinegar and water solution or hot soapy water works best. If you’re looking for a more thorough cleaning, most cleaners sold on the shelves of supermarkets will work fine, but stay away from cleaners containing bleach. Always wipe off the countertops with a soft sponge or washcloth. Prevent scratching the countertops by always using a cutting board when using a knife. Also, place glasses and bottles or cans of beverages on coasters. Another way to prevent scratching is to place all accessories or hairstyling equipment, bottles or lotions in a holding tray or shelf if you have quartz countertops in bathrooms.
Onyx
Glossy Finish
The surface is a tough clear layer of stain-resistant resin that is polished using high-speed buffers. For daily cleaning use a sponge or cloth with any non-abrasive household cleaner. To maintain the glossy finish, we recommend applying a polishing product like Gel-Gloss about once a month. If your water has a high mineral content, an automotive paste wax is best to keep minerals in the water from building up. Avoid using abrasive household cleaners which can dull the finish. If a cleaning product feels “gritty,” you should not use it.
Matte Finish
The surface of your vanity is lightly abraded to achieve a uniform matte finish and then sealed with our Matte Surface Sealer. For daily cleaning a damp cloth or sponge is normally all that is needed. Dishwashing soap or any other mild household cleaner can be used whenever a cleaning agent is required.
Onyx Showers
Onyx shower panels are easy to clean. A common household surface cleaner that we often recommend is just diluted white vinegar. This works well on all Onyx products. A Gel-Gloss product will help maintain the appearance and make cleaning easier.
Portofino
Portofino Shower Wall Surfaces
Routine Cleaning
Portofino shower walls should be cleaned thoroughly once every few weeks or as needed based on use. To clean, combine a small amount of neutral pH soap such as VMC-30 along with hot water into a bucket. Using a sponge or a very soft bristle brush, scrub the shower walls with the soapy water mixture. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to remove any haze residue that may diminish the shine and beauty of the shower wall. Buff dry the surface with a clean cotton towel. Repeat this process again, if needed. You can also use this same soap and water mixture to clean the glass surrounds.
Removing Hard Water Deposits, Soil, and Soap Build Up
To remove hard water deposits, soil, and soap build up you will need to use a soap scum remover specifically designed for use on marble surfaces. We recommend MUD Detergent available from VMC Technical Assistance Corporation. This unique formulation allows you to remove the unwanted contaminates while improving the look of the stone surface. MUD is a non toxic neutral compound that is extremely user friendly. MUD has been developed for the specific purpose of cleaning and removing hard water deposits, soil, and soap build up from marble, granite, terrazzo, glass, fiberglass, polished metal and other smooth surfaces. Surface residue may also be removed using warm water and a Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser®. Rinse thoroughly and buff dry the surface with a clean cotton towel.
Periodic Maintenance
Portofino engineered marble surfaces are very easy to maintain and with simple care, will retain their luster and beauty for many years. In effort to help minimize the potential for staining over time, we recommend that any Portofino marble surface that is used in the shower be sealed once a year using a good impregnating sealer such as KleerSeal Pro or Anti-Drop. For added protection you may also elect to apply Plus 10 to the shower walls. Plus 10 is a high quality, water based, silicone emulsion designed to clean, polish and protect non-floor stone surfaces without build-up. PLEASE NOTE: KEEP PLUS 10 OFF FLOOR SURFACES, IT CAN CREATE A SLIP HAZARD.
Portofino Shower Floor Surfaces
Care and Cleaning
Portofino shower floors should be cleaned thoroughly once a week or as needed based on use. You can use the same methods for routine cleaning and for removing hard water deposits, soil, and soap build up as outlined above for Portofino shower walls. We also we recommend that Portofino shower floors be sealed once a year as well. Using Plus 10 on the shower floor is not recommended.
Solid Surface
Solid surface products are known for their ease of maintenance and their ability to be resurfaced if needed. For general daily cleaning, simply use soapy water or an ammonia-based cleaner. For a more thorough cleaning, use a damp cloth and any household detergent, such as Soft Scrub® or Fantastik®. Sealing is not required for solid surface products. To remove most stains such as hard water deposits, minor burn marks, and minor scratches, use an abrasive cleanser or a 3M Scotch Brite® pad. For more stubborn stains and scratches, you may use fine sandpaper to eliminate the stain or mark. Be sure to refer to your manufacturer’s instructions for the correct sanding process for your counter’s finish.
As durable as solid surface products are, they are not indestructible. Do not use your new countertop as a cutting board; it will show marks if any cutting is done directly on the surface. Use hot pads or trivets when placing hot items on the countertop. Do not expose your countertop to nail polish remover, oven cleaners, drain cleaners, lacquer thinner, or paint remover, as they will damage the surface. If a spill does occur, quickly flush the surface with water and inspect the area.
Laminate
Wipe your laminate surfaces daily with a damp cloth or sponge covered with a small amount of mild soap or detergent, such as dish detergent. Use only a few drops of soap or detergent to avoid leaving suds on the countertop. Inspect the countertop for remaining stains. If you identify any tough stains, such as coffee or tea, create a paste by mixing a mild household cleaner, such as Formula 409 or Fantastik, with baking soda. Apply the paste to the stains and scrub gently with a nylon bristle brush. Soak a cotton ball with bleach or nail polish remover if stains persist. Gently rub the stain for as long as two minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, either by wiping the spot with a wet cloth or pouring a small amount of water over the area. Dry the surface with a soft cloth or paper towel. Dust your laminate countertops occasionally if they are in a high-dust area, rather than a kitchen or bathroom. Spray a non-oily dusting spray, like Pledge, onto a soft cloth or onto the surface itself. Rub the cloth across the countertop until the cleaning spray is thoroughly rubbed in. To prevent build-up of the furniture spray, clean the spray off several times a year with a damp cloth and mild household cleaner.
Stainless Steel
Clean frequently with a mild detergent and sponge, or spray with a glass cleaner and wipe with a cloth. Stainless steel tends to show finger marks more easily than most other surfaces, so take care to clean often. Rub abrasives in the direction of the “grain” of the stainless steel countertop. The “grain” is simply lines created when the steel is polished before it’s used as a countertop. Avoid allowing some foodstuffs, such as ketchup, mustard, lemon juice, mayonnaise, salad dressing, vinegar or salt, to sit for any length of time on the stainless steel countertops. These can create white stains on the surface. Remove small scratches with a nylon scouring pad. Move the pad slowly over the scratch, going with the grain. Call in a professional for repair of deeper, more noticeable scratches. Prevent burn marks by not placing hot pots or pans directly onto the surface of stainless steel countertops. Take care not to set down micro waved dishes on top of stainless steel countertops as well. Put down a cutting board or other barrier when cutting food. Stainless steel countertops can be scratched easily if you cut food directly on the surface of the countertop.