Thank you once again for choosing Academy of Design, we trust you will enjoy the benefits of your new kitchen for many years to come. To enable you to prolong the life and efficiency of your kitchen, we have put together the following Care information which is a summary of the Customer Care advice provided by our manufacturers.
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Kitchen Units
- The temperature and humidity in a kitchen should never be too high or low.
- Avoid using heat-source appliances (kettles, toasters etc.) directly under wall units. Excessive vapour and heat will cause damage, move appliances slightly forward so the heat source passes in front of the cabinet.
- Do not leave dishwasher doors open, any excess heat will cause damage to adjoining doors and worksurfaces.
- Do not lean or apply excessive weight to open doors and drawers.
- Avoid wetting plinths when mopping floors. If this occurs, wipe down with a dry cloth as stagnating water causes deterioration.
- Do not leave tea towels or hand towels to dry over doors as they will swell.
Please Note: In the event that any of the units prove defective as a result of faulty design, materials or workmanship during a 5 year period from the date of purchase, the manufacturer will repair or replace (at their option) any unit that may be defective, providing that proof of purchase is available. No responsibility for the colour match or fade is accepted. Installation and Care requirements must be conformed to.
Cleaning & General Maintenance
Most of the products and components in your kitchen can be cleaned with a sponge moistened with soapy water. Avoid using abrasive sponges or scouring creams, as you could permenantly damage the units. A large number of cleaning products containing solvents are not recommended.
Laminate & Melamine Doors – Dust, encrusted dirt and finger marks can be removed by clean, soapy water. When used, rinse quickly with clean water and wipe dry with a soft duster. Do not use any Acetone based products.
Solid Wood – Do not let water penetrate the varnish, wipe with a dry cloth immediately. Varnished solid wood is particularly sensitive to ink, alkaline cleaning products and solvents. Avoid wax and other polishes, as they will encrust the doors. The solvents in household polish may cause wax to migrate into the coating and damage it.
Please Note: As wood is a natural living material with an endless variety of grains and textures, some natural colour and grain variation evident on installation will change over a few months as the wood is exposed to light, establishing it’s own character.
Gloss Doors – A Gloss Door is the most delicate of surfaces and should be cleaned with care. Only use soapy water and a dry with a clean, smooth cloth. Avoid any household cleaning agents. Do not use any Acetone based products, as they will damage the surface of the doors. Avoid rubbing when dry as this will cause static, attract more dust and possibly result in scratching.
Polymeric Wrap (Vinyl Wrapped Doors) – Polymer is a Thermoplastic film of PVC or ABS Coating on an MDF or chipboard panel. As with many other plastics, solvents such as alcohol, acetone or trichloreothylene must not be used. Avoid rubbing when dry as this will cause static, attract more dust and possibly result in scratching.
Caution: Polymer fronts risk degredation when close to a heated oven with the door open. Most polymer fronts are designed to withstand high temperatures; however, care should be taken. Always ensure the seal on the oven door is functioning correctly, as faulty seals can cause heat leakage, which can affect adjoining doors or fascias.
Metal *- Fingerprints show up on brushed steel and can be cleaned with an E cloth or Stainless Steel cleaning fluid and a dry cloth. Stainless Steel is particularly sensitive to scratches so avoid scouring powders or abrasive sponges. *Please also see Stainless Steel Sinks
Glass – Is cleaned with alcohol based window cleaning products. Some have specific instructions which should be carefully followed.
Worktops
Whatever the material used, worktops will withstand ordinary household activities. However, this does not make them indestructible.
- Avoid cuttuing anything directly on the worktop – always use a worktop protector
- Hot pans or dishes directly from the oven or hob can cause damage to work surfaces – always use heat protective mats.
Water must not be allowed to lie on laminated worktops especially in the sink area and near to joints. Still water should be cleared with a dry cloth. If water is allowed to ingress into joints, it will damage the chipboard base of the surface.
Most marks can be removed just by wiping with a damp sponge and drying off with a cloth. More resistant marks can be removed with a little washing-up liquid or soapy water.
The same care should be taken with Granite work surface. Please see seperate Care Sheet for Granite Work Surfaces.
Sinks
Synthetic Sinks – Are made from materials which resist staining, provided they are cleaned in the correct manner with an appropiate cleaning agent. Research indicates that staining on synthetic sinks is much more common in hard water areas because lime scale tends to cling to the sink surface unless it is wiped off properly it becomes stained with tea and coffee etc. It is therefore lime scale which stains the sink, not the sink material itself. Bleach is not recommended and is not effective, as all it does is bleach the stain rather than remove it.
One of the best ways to maintain the good looks of a synthetic sink is to clean it with Bar Keepers Friend: this is available from Lakeland, large supermarkets and other outlets. This should be sprinkled into the sink, add some water and then scrub to a paste with a nylon brush or a Scotchbrite pad. The paste should be left on the sink for 30 minutes (ensuring the paste stays moist and does not dry out) before rinsing off completely. If the sink is cleaned regularly like this it will help to keep it in good order. Cillit Bang and Grime Cleaner is proven to be the most effective against lime scale. Drying the sink after use is very good practise and is encouraged.
Fragranite Sinks – Astonish Paste is an effective cleaner for Fragranite and is available from Lakeland and large supermarkets. The instructions on the product should be followed.
Stainless Steel Sinks – The majority of Stainless Steel sinks supplied by us are made from 18/10 gauge chrome nickel steel, which comprises of chromium nickel. Whilst it is extremely hard wearing, certain points should be taken into consideration during use and also when cleaning.
The following substances should not be allowed to come into contact with a stainless steel surface:-
MORTAR – CEMENT – PLASTER – CONCRETE – TILE CEMENT – GROUT – ACIDS – SILVER DIP – UNDILUTED BLEACH
Stainless Steel sinks will scratch during normal use. However the appearance of the scratches can be made less noticeable using a proprietary stainless steel cleaner, followed by thorough rinsing and drying with a soft cloth.
Taps
Care needs to be taken not to damage the tap finish – cleaning should be gentle with a soft cloth rinsed in mild soapy water only. If lime scale is a problem, then the gentle use of a small brush with some lemon juice and water.
Do not use Bar Keepers Friend on the tap.
Appliances
Please refer to the manufacturers Manual for details on how to maintain and clean individual appliances.
Contact Details
All products supplied by The Academy of Design are guarenteed by the respective manufacturer.
In the unlikely event you need assistance with any product, in the first instance contact the manufacturer direct on the following corresponding Customer Service numbers.
Bosch Product Advice Line……………………………….0844 892 8979
Franke……………………………………………………………01782 599 258
Blanco……………………………………………………………0844 912 0100
Rangemaster…………………………………………………..0870 789 5107
Luxair……………………………………………………………..01765 641 888
New World………………………………………………………0871 222 2504
Astracast…………………………………………………………01274 475 160
Baumatic…………………………………………………………0118 933 6911
Insinkerator……………………………………………………..0800 389 3715
Essentials………………………………………………………..0845 600 1743
Kitchen Cabinets & Work Surface……..Contact The Academy of Design directly…………….01352 751 567
Thank you once again for choosing The Academy of Design.
GRANITE
Granite is a remarkably unique stone with a lustre and strong colouration. It can be cut and polished in the most intricate of shapes, yet is one of nature’s toughest and most durable materials.
Smooth and hard, cool to touch, there’s a certain magic about granite that just can’t be reproduced by any other material, and happily, because Granite is such a hard stone it can take the very roughest treatment without care. Granite is ideal because it resists most acid and alkalines. It is not affected by vinegar, alcohol, fruit juices or many other staining liquids. It is scratch and heat resistant.
Granite is an igneous magmatic rock, and was formed when the Earth’s molten masses or magmas slowly cooled down and solidified. Granites consist mostly of feldsoars and quartz besides containing smaller amounts of other minerals such as mica and hornblende. It is the quartz and feldspars in Granite that make it one of the most durable of natural stone, as they are highly resistant to weathering. The colour of Granite has a ‘salt and pepper’ look created by it’s minerals. The size of the feldspars crystals in the Granite decide whether is should be classified as fine grained or medium grained.
The true colour and shine of Granite is brought bout by burnishing the surface with varying grades of specially formulated grits. Fine grained Granites have an almost total closed surface where as medium grained Granites have a slightly open surface. By viewing a sample of the Granite at eye level into the light the surface of the medium grained Granites appear to have small dark pockets although to the touch the surface will feel completey smooth. This does not mean that it is second quality Granite but just the true charater of the stone. Some Granites are prone to pitting and all stone will have some sort of pit. Pits are usually very small and do not effect the performance of your worktop. We do not normally fill pits, but if you feel there is a need, this can be undertaken on request if the conditions are right e.g. if they are deep enough. A product of nature cannot be expected to look man-made.
The Use and Maintenance of Granite.
The more Granite is used and wiped, the more beautiful it’s appearance. To clean Granite wash with warm detergent water (washing-up liquid). Dry off then buff with a cotton tea towel or similar.
Granite is a natural stone and will therefore absorb liquids, it has been pre-sealed during manufacture, most liquids if wiped off immediately will not deface the surface.
The main enemy of Granite is cooking oil, but if wiped immediately will not stain the surface. One method which may remove a stubborn oil stain is to soak a cloth in neat detergent and leave as a poultice for up to 24 hours, occasionally rubbing the area and repeating the action again for stubborn oil stains. Or you can use Acetone and talcum powder.
