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7. Maintenance instructions
7.1 KITCHEN FITTINGS
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW VEDUM KITCHEN!
By maintaining your new kitchen correctly, you will keep it looking new
and fresh for longer. The surfaces have different coatings and react
differently in contact with cleaning agents and chemicals. Here are some
pointers to help you look after your new Vedum kitchen.
CABINET FRAMES
The cabinet frames are generally made from melamine-coated particle
board. The melamine layer is hard, and very easy to clean. It is also highly
resistant to various chemicals. For cleaning, we recommend the following:
•
Wipe with a damp cloth and dishwasher soap solution. Concentrated
washing-up liquid can also be used.
•
If the surface is very dirty, a mixture of one part acetone and three parts
methylated spirit may be used.
•
Never use cleaning agents containing ammonia, steel wool or similar,
which have an abrasive effect.
•
Always finish by washing with clean water and wiping dry so that no
standing water is not left, as it gets into existing joints, particularly at the
edges of the doors.
•
NB: do not position coffee makers or kettles in such a way that steam rises
into the light bar or the undersides of cabinets or doors.
•
Always wipe away water that has ended up
on doors or other surfaces such as counter tops.
PAINTED, FOILED AND MELAMINE-COATED SURFACES
Clean with a mild household cleaning agent. Use a cloth dampened with
cleaning agent. Wipe down with a cloth dampened with water only so
that the cleaning agent is removed. Then dry with a dry cloth. Never use
cleaning agents containing ammonia, steel wool or similar, which have
an abrasive effect. White spirit or benzine can be used to remove tough
stains. Remember always to wipe under sink cabinets and the edges
of the doors. They are not designed to cope with standing water. Also
wipe the doors on each side of the dishwasher as well as the integrated
dishwasher door where applicable. Paint over impact marks/damage
immediately on painted doors to prevent moisture damage. Remember
that stains and scratches are more visible on black and dark colours.
LACQUERED AND GLAZED VENEER SURFACES
These are best cleaned with a damp cloth only. Never use cleaning
agents containing ammonia, steel wool or similar, which have an abrasive
effect. Thinner must not be used.
WHY DOESN’T MY KITCHEN LOOK LIKE THE ONE IN THE
DISPLAY/CATALOGUE?
Remember that wood is a living material, which does not have the
same structure/appearance throughout the entire tree. This can also
affect colours that are applied, so that they are not identical every time.
Light incidence and lighting can affect appearance; colours may take
on different shades depending on bulb types and the level of natural
light. However, the charm of a wooden kitchen is that not every part
is identical, but rather that there are certain visible variations. This is
therefore not normally covered by the warranty.
WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IN COLOUR BETWEEN SOLID AND
VENEERED DETAILS OR LAMINATE DETAILS?
This is the case because certain materials are not suitable for certain
details. For example, a veneered plinth has superior shape retention
properties compared to a homogeneous plinth. Homogeneous wood has a
tendency to “warp” and “twist”, which is not a desirable property.
WHY DOES THE KITCHEN HAVE A “CHEQUERED” LOOK?
Wood is a living material, and ages for some time after installation. Certain
types of wood have an aging period of over six months. When buying
wooden doors, it should be borne in mind that they need to be allowed to
age; this is not normally covered by the warranty.
WHY ARE MY DOORS “YELLOWING”?
Light painted doors have a certain tendency to “yellow” with age
depending on the effect of light, among other things. Heavy smoking and
white painted kitchens do not belong together. Nicotine turns the doors
yellow; no white pigment can withstand it.
WHY IS MY DOOR “WARPING”?
A newly built house that has not fully dried out contains a certain amount
of moisture. Even in an old house, moisture can vary greatly over the
seasons. This can cause wooden doors, particularly “larger” ones, to
become warped as they dry more from one side than the other. This can
sometimes be corrected with magnets on the door and in the frame. This
phenomenon can occur in food cabinets where there is a fresh air vent.
This air is normally more humid than indoor air. Solid wood doors are
always living material and are exposed to different humidity ratios in the
air all the time, which means that the doors will always move a little. This
is not normally covered by the warranty.
WHY CAN’T THE DOORS BE ADJUSTED?
This is probably because the cabinets are not fitted correctly. Use a spirit
level to check that they are straight, both vertically and horizontally. If the
walls are not even, place something between the cabinet and the wall so
that the cabinet is not pulled to a different angle when it is screwed into
the wall.