CABINET CLEANING & CARE
Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., knows just how proud you are of your new cabinetry. You can maintain your cabinetry's brand-new appearance for many years with a little work and some simple safety measures.
The following advice will assist in preserving the original finish's beauty and shine and extending the life of the furniture.
Stained Wood, Painted Wood and MDF Cabinetry
Wood furniture of all types requires routine cabinet care and attention.
Dust frequently using our dusting cloth, item B8021, that is available for purchase on our Cleaning Supplies Page or from your local Wellborn Dealer. The dusting cloth can be washed numerous times and still retain its effectiveness. It is more efficient and convenient than spray dusting products. The feather dusters scatter the dust particles into the air, only to resettle them back onto your cabinetry.
It is approved by our finish supplier, Axalta. The dusting cloth can be washed numerous and still retain its effectiveness. It is more efficient and convenient than spray dusting products. Feather dusters scatter the dust particles into the air only to resettle back on your furniture.
Polish approximately once per month with our recommended aerosol clean and polish product, item B8020, that is available on our website or from your Authorized Wellborn Dealer. Wellborn Cabinet polish contains a blend of natural and organic oils with cleaning emulsifiers. The oils nourish and revitalize the finish, while the emulsifiers dissolve dirt, dulling films, and sticky fingerprints. This polish preserves the natural sheen intended by the manufacturer and can be used on finishes ranging from low to high gloss.
Wellborn Cabinet recommends applying polish indirectly with an applicator cloth, B8022PK3, that is available on our website or from your Authorized Wellborn Dealer. Do not spray the polish directly onto the cabinetry.
Never apply water to your cabinetry.
Special Precautions for Wellborn's Midnight and Onyx Finishes:
The finish should be cleaned with a damp cloth and no cleaning materials. The flat sheen will dull quickly.
No polish materials.
Touch up markers can be used for any light touch up.
Protect Your Wood Cabinets
Clean spills and splatters immediately; prolonged exposure to spilled food or liquids may discolor your cabinet finish.
Never wipe your cabinetry with a used dishcloth since it could contain traces of grease or detergent.
Never use abrasive sponges, abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, harsh detergents, ammonia solutions, glass cleaners, water, or powder cleaners on wood surfaces. Wellborn recommends Guardsman® Cabinet Cleaners to remove kitchen grease, cooking oil, smoke film, and several kinds of stains.
Use your cooktop or oven hood fan when cooking. These fans draw steam and grease away from your cabinets. Open a window if an exhaust fan isn't available in your bathroom.
Treat your cabinetry as if it were furniture. The cabinets are constructed with the same grade of wood as your furniture. They require the same care in order to reward you with long-lasting beauty.
Never apply excessive weight, nor excessively pull down on the doors as this may cause them to split at the hinge area and sag.
Never place more than 75 pounds of weight into any drawer as this may cause the bottom to sag or the drawer slides to work improperly.
Order Wellborn recommended Guardsman® cleaning products.
Glass Doors and Mirrors
Use a glass cleaner applied directly to the cleaning towel.
Never spray directly on glass area since drips and overspray may reach and harm the wood surfaces of the door and/or surrounding cabinets.
Avoid glass cleaners that contain sodium hydrochloride, phosphoric acid or sulfur.
Open a window or use your exhaust fan to help control steam buildup and moisture in bathrooms.
Use caution when using hair spray and mousse around mirrors. These products generally contain chemicals that are caustic to silver, which could damage the mirror backing.
Door and Drawer Hardware
Door and drawer hardware should be cleaned only with mild soap and water
How to clean sticky wood cabinets?
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets can become sticky from oil when cooking or from children with sticky tiny fingers. Maintain the life of your wood cabinets by wiping up sticky or greasy residue using a soft cloth and a 50/50 combination of vinegar and warm water. Dampen the soft cloth in the solution and wring it out thoroughly before patting on your wood cabinetry. After cleaning the affected areas, dry the areas with a soft dry towel to avoid water damage to your cabinets. Wellborn Cabinet offers Aerosol Clean & Polish to also clean and polish your cabinets. Purchase your cabinet cleaner today.
Laminate Cabinetry
Matte Laminate and High Gloss Laminate Surfaces
The protective film of the panels must be removed once the installation is complete or a maximum of 6 months after delivery, in order to ensure that no adhesive residue remains on the surface. We recommend waiting 24 hours after peeling off the protective film before cleaning your cabinets.
Avoid spraying products directly onto the surface, as it may leave stains and marks.
For cabinet cleaning, it is recommended to use a microfiber cloth moistened with soap and water (maximum 1% solution).
Dry the cabinets immediately with a clean, dry, soft cloth after cleaning. Failure to dry your cabinets may result in finish damage and possible damage to the underlying wood.
Under no circumstances must harsh chemicals be used, such as solvents, alcohol, ammonia, etc.
Laminate, Embossed Melamine, and Heavy Textured Melamine Surfaces
To clean the surface, use a damp microfiber cloth or sponge and a mild soap or detergent.
Acidic or abrasive cleaners can damage laminate surfaces; do not use them.
Steel wool and other abrasive pads will damage plastic laminate. Don't use them for cleaning.
Element Designs' Aluminum Cabinet Door Cleaning Instructions
To insure proper cleaning and care of your product, please follow these simple suggestions for our materials:
Glass Doors
Use 99% isopropyl alcohol, citrus, or vinegar-based cleaners on a clean, non-abrasive cloth or paper towel to clean.
If a heavy stain is present and does not come clean using the suggestions above, use isopropyl alcohol with a Magic Eraser by gently scrubbing until the mark is removed.
Never use abrasive cleaning pads such as a metallic sponge, solvents, strong detergents, or other chemical agents when cleaning glass doors.
Backpainted Glass Doors
Follow instructions for Glass Doors for the gloss and/or satin surface of the glass, opposite the painted side.
For the back painted water-based coating, we recommend using a mildly damp (water only) on a nonabrasive cloth to gently clean the coated side of the glass.
Never use abrasive cleaning pads such as a metallic sponge, solvents, strong detergents, or other chemical agents when cleaning back-painted glass doors.
Aluminum Doors
Use a clean cloth with a mild detergent to clean
Never use abrasive cleaning pads such as a metallic sponge, solvents, strong detergents, or other chemical agents when cleaning aluminum doors.
Cleaning Accessory Kits
Plastic and wire kits can be cleaned with mild soap and water.
Never use abrasive cleaning pads such as a metallic sponge, solvents, strong detergents, or other chemical agents when cleaning accessory kits.
Things That Can Damage Your Cabinets
Sunlight
To limit the fading effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays, furniture should not be placed in direct sunlight. Blinds, curtains, and UV furniture polish help protect wood furniture from UV rays.
Humidity & temperature
Wood cabinetry and furniture should be placed in moderate temperatures (60-80 degrees F) and moderate humidity (30%-60% RH). Why?
All woods are subject to temperature & humidity changes in that they will expand and contract with changes in weather conditions. Joints in the face frames, doors, and in certain accessories have a tendency to open up or form fine cracks due to the natural expansion and contraction in wood items. This tendency is more noticeable in painted finishes than in stained finishes but can be noticed in both.
High humidity levels cause wood to absorb moisture and swell or expand. This can prevent butt doors from closing properly and cause doors and drawers to stick, and door panels to expand, creating joint separations.
Low humidity levels cause wood to release moisture and shrink or contract causing joint separations.
Accessories
Heavy accessories may cause distortion to the top of the finish. Use cork or felt pads under accessories, not rubber or plastic. Lift objects rather than dragging them across the furniture surface. Rotate objects several times a year.
Place Settings
To limit damage to wood finishes, replace vinyl and plastic tablecloths or placemats with linen. Cloth placemats should not be left on furniture for extended periods of time.
Use pads, cloth or felt to protect surfaces from plastics, rubber, hot dishes, beverages, bookends, flowerpots, and vases.
Wood & Water Don't Mix
Always wipe up spills, splatters, water spots, and moisture from your cabinetry with a clean soft cloth as they occur, give special attention to areas around sink and dishwasher. Water left to puddle or stand can dull or mark the finish, create a water ring, and if the exposure is extreme, can even warp wood.
Open a window or your exhaust fan to help control steam buildup in bathrooms. Always wipe up water on your countertop, this is especially important around the edges and at the seams where your countertop joins.
Do not drape damp or wet towels over cabinet doors. Over time, this moisture can cause permanent damage to your door and its finish.
When mopping your floors, don't use mops dripping with water. Excess water could be absorbed by your toe kick or cause finish damage to cabinetry legs and/or feet.
Treat your cabinets as you would fine furniture, use coasters, pads, cloths or runners to protect against spills and water rings.
Excess moisture is an enemy of any finish.
Ovens, Ranges and Cabinetry
Do not allow the oven cleaner to touch any part of your cabinetry.
Self-cleaning ovens use intense heat as a cleaning agent, if the oven heat gasket is damaged or does not seal properly, this intense heat can cause damage to your cabinetry.
Wellborn recommends the use of heat shields to help minimize the risk of damage during cleaning cycles. We also recommend that you remove the doors and drawers from cabinets that are above or adjacent to a self-cleaning oven. Heat cycles may discolor cabinetry.
Coffee Makers and Toasters That Mount Beneath Cabinets
Heavy accessories may cause distortion to the top of the finish. Use cork or felt pads under accessories, not rubber or plastic. Lift objects rather than dragging them across the furniture surface. Rotate objects several times a year.
Dishwashers & Cabinets
Do not open your dishwasher during a cycle. Excess water falling out of the dishwasher could be absorbed by your cabinet's Toe Kick.
Wait until your dishwasher has finished cleaning and the heat and steam have dissipated before opening.
Drawers
Never place more than 75 pounds of weight into any drawer as this may cause the bottom to sag or the drawer slides to work improperly. Also, the weight of what is stored in each drawer should be evenly distributed for the best durability.
Never use a drawer as a step as this may cause the bottom of the drawer to sag or the slides to warp.
Never attempt to repair severely damaged surfaces without the proper materials or professional help. Consult your local Authorized Wellborn Dealer for badly damaged furniture.
