Product Care and Maintenance
Contents
Quartz
Maintaining quartz is easy. Simply wash with a soft cotton cloth and warm water and mild soap if desired. You may also use a 50/50 combination of white vinegar and water for shine. Anything else will leave a film and make your quartz look dull.
Do not use or expose Cambria Quartz to products such as bleach, oven cleaners, Comet, Soft Scrub, S.O.S. pads, products with pumice, batteries, paint removers, furniture strippers, tarnish or silver cleaners or the like. Do not use abrasive or harsh scrub pads. Do not apply any sealers, penetrants or topical treatment to Cambria under any circumstances. Such products will wear off and cause the gloss to appear dull or inconsistent.
Granite
Granite is a natural stone, and to keep it beautiful, you should avoid putting certain cleaners on it. Ammonia, bleach, vinegar, lemon or other citrus should never be used because they have a low pH, and their acidic properties will weaken the seal and etch the stone over time.
There are commercial cleaners available like Weimen Granite Cleaner that are safe but you can also make your own (neutral pH) granite cleaner for pennies.
- Mix 2 cups water with ¼ cups rubbing alcohol and 3 to 4 drops dish soap.
- Mix all ingredients in a 16 oz plastic spray bottle.
- Wipe all crumbs and spills from counters first.
- Then spray mixture on granite and wipe with a soft cloth or paper towel.
Wellborn Cabinets
Stained Wood Cabinets
Polish stained wood cabinets monthly with wax free and silicone free polish. Apply polish to a clean, soft lint-free cotton cloth and wipe in the direction of the wood grain.
Never apply polish directly to the surface you are cleaning. Work on a small area at a time and wipe completely dry before moving to the next area. Wellborn recommends the use of Guardsman Furniture Polish.
Clean spill and splatters immediately; prolonged exposure to spills, food or fluids may discolor your cabinet finish.
Wellborn recommends Guardsman Cabinet Cleaner to remove kitchen grease, cooking oil, smoke film and several kinds of stains.
Never use a dishcloth to wipe your cabinets, since it may contain remnants of grease and detergents.
Painted Wood, Laminate and Thermofoil Cabinets
Dust weekly
Do not wax thermofoil cabinetry.
Use a clean soft lint-free cotton cloth to clean. Never use a dishcloth to wipe your cabinets, since it may contain remnants of grease and detergents.
Never use abrasive sponges, abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, harsh detergents, ammonia solutions, glass cleaner or powdered cleaners on wood surfaces. Wellborn recommends Guardsman Cabinet Cleaner to remove kitchen grease, cooking oil, smoke film and several kinds of stains.
Florida Tile
Florida Tile recommends the use of low VOC (volatile organic compound), neutral pH, non-hazardous, and non-polluting products. If cleaner is used, be sure the surface is rinsed thoroughly with clean water and dried. For textured or uneven tile or stone surfaces, substituting a soft scrub brush or white nylon scrub pad for the mop or sponge will quicken the cleaning process.
Tiled surfaces in your bathroom may require a more thorough routine cleaning because of build-up of soap scum, body oils or hard-water stains. Use a clean, damp cloth, or sponge with a neutral pH cleaner, allowing it to stand about five minutes before rinsing and drying. Specialty bathroom cleaners may also be used (always test first). Clean shower regularly with the appropriate tile and stone cleaner. Dry with a towel after each use and leave curtain or door open between showers to allow for maximum ventilation and moisture escape. You may also use neutral pH vinegar & water cleaner recipe on previous page.
Never use a product containing ammonia or bleach (or any type of acid-based cleanser). Never use oil-based detergents or wax cleaners.
On unglazed porcelain, never use any cleaners that contain dye or coloring.
Never use steel wool to clean porcelain tile. Small particles of steel can become embedded in grout causing rust stains. Never use hard bristles or scrub brushes, as they can scratch the tile surface.
*Please note, the above information is based on the recommendations of the manufacturers. Jim Carver and Sons does not assume any liability or responsibility for damage caused by use or misuse of the above products. It is recommended to test all products in an inconspicuous area prior to use.
Kohler Faucets
Always test your cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area before applying to the entire surface.
Wipe surfaces clean and rinse completely with water immediately after applying cleaner. Rinse and dry any overspray that lands on nearby surfaces.
Do not allow cleaner to soak.
Use a soft, dampened sponge or cloth. Never use an abrasive material such as a brush or scouring pad to clean surfaces.
Cultured Marble
Because of mineral deposits and soap scum, it is important to clean your cultured marble parts regularly.
For normal cleaning of marble surfaces, do not use abrasive cleaners, steel wool, scouring pads, scrapers, or sandpaper on any part of the surfaces.
Use nail polish remover to dissolve adhesives.
Water temperatures exceeding 130 degrees may cause cracking or crazing.
Clean only with liquid cleaners of a non-abrasive type. Example: Windex, 409, Simple Green, etc.
Protect the surface of your cultured marble with regular applications of wax (Gel Gloss, car wax, etc.)
To remove surface scratches, try a very mild abrasive such as toothpaste. Deeper scratches may require wet sanding with appropriate sandpaper (220, 400, or 600). Then, bring the shine back by buffing with an automotive buffer and polishing compound. Do not use rubbing compound, as this is to coarse.
On shower walls and tub areas, a daily application of “Clean Shower” does a great job of eliminating water spots and soap scum buildup.
*Please note, the above information is based on the recommendations of the manufacturers. Jim Carver and Sons does not assume any liability or responsibility for damage caused by use or misuse of the above products. It is recommended to test all products in an inconspicuous area prior to use.
Alluring Glass
If silicone has been applied, please wait 24 hours prior to the use of your shower.
Squeegee the glass after each use (DO NOT squeegee tile and then glass; clients have permanently scratched glass by doing so).
Use a mild cleanser without bleach or vinegar for periodic cleansing.
A wall may flex over time if a door is hung from it. If you notice the glass touching or rubbing another surface, please refrain from using the door and call us for an adjustment immediately.
For specific care tips and warranty information, please visit the Alluring Glass website at www.alluringglass.com.
*Please note, the above information is based on the recommendations of the manufacturers. Jim Carver and Sons does not assume any liability or responsibility for damage caused by use or misuse of the above products. It is recommended to test all products in an inconspicuous area prior to use.
Tarkett Vinyl Flooring
Daily – Remove dust with a broom or vacuum cleaner. This avoids buildup of dust or dirt and makes it easier to maintain your floors.
Weekly – Do a once a week clean with a damp mop, warm water and a neutral detergent. This helps to remove dirt and keep the floor in top condition. Keep in mind that you don’t need a big amount of water to clean your floor and note that light colors often need more frequent cleaning.
Cleaning up stains – Treat stains immediately by spot cleaning by hand with a nylon pad and neutral detergent. Clean form the outside of the stain towards its center, then rinse and wipe with fresh water. Oil, vinegar or lemon stains should be removed right away as they may cause discoloration on the surface of your vinyl flooring. Rust should be cleaned with an anti-rust sponge and rinsed off with water.
5 cleaning and care tips
- Place protective pads (like felt) under heavy furniture, chair and table legs.
- Avoid rubber bottoms on objects resting on your vinyl floor, it may cause staining.
- Use doormats at entrance ways to prevent dirt or dust from being brought inside and make cleaning easier.
- Clean your floors with natural, soft or neutral detergents.
- Keep hot items like heaters, ashes or coals at a safe distance/height from your vinyl floor.
Don’t clean floors with…
- Abrasive powders
- Black soap
- Acetone or solvents
- Wax or varnish
- Oil based products
- Steam cleaners
*Please note, the above information is based on the recommendations of the manufacturers. Jim Carver and Sons does not assume any liability or responsibility for damage caused by use or misuse of the above products. It is recommended to test all products in an inconspicuous area prior to use.
TEC Power Grout
Regular Maintenance – TEC Power Grout Ultimate Performance Grout repels dirt and resists stains. However, routine cleaning using a PH neutral cleaner such as liquid dishwashing soap for everyday cleaning is recommended. For grease and soap scum, use an alkaline cleaner. For hard water deposits and other inorganic stains, use an acid based cleaner. Acidic cleaners are for infrequent use, to remove lime scale deposits or ground-in dirt. They should not be used on a regular basis. They should always be rinsed thoroughly. For everyday cleaning, use a neutral cleaner. Some floor cleaning processes such as damp mopping can deposit dirt residue in the grout joint. It is recommended that mop water is removed from the grout surface as well as the tile before it dries.
Stain Cleaning – Spills should be wiped up immediately upon occurrence with a paper towel or cloth. If a stain remains, scrub the grout surface with warm water and a white nylon scrubbing pad for at least 60 seconds.
For stubborn grout stains on ceramic and porcelain tile installations – For stubborn stains, dampen the grout and sprinkle household powdered cleanser on surface. Let is sit for 15 seconds, then scrub with a white nylon scrubbing pad for at least 60 seconds and rinse.
For stubborn grout stains on natural stone – Contact the technical support for TEC at 1-800-832-9023.
Note – Before using any cleaning product on tile or grout, always test clean a small inconspicuous area and allow to dry to ensure compatibility of the cleaner with the surface to be cleaned. Powdered cleanser is not recommended for cleaning unsealed or unglazed tile, and many types of stone.
