Kitchen and Flooring Maintenance
Congratulations on your beautiful new home! Since the kitchen and floors in your home get a lot of wear from day to day living, it’s crucial that you perform proper maintenance on them to keep them looking beautiful and maintain their integrity.
Cabinets
Keep in mind that your cabinets are a wood product, so excessive water can cause damage to them. A slightly damp rag with mild soap is recommended when cleaning.
If your cabinets need to be adjusted, most cabinet door hinges are adjustable to account for any minor warping or sagging. There are three separate adjustment screws that move the hinge in one of three directions to allow for these simple adjustments.
Dishwasher
Due to energy conservation features on some dishwashers, the diswasher may not completely dry the dishes depending on the model you choose. To remedy this, simply leave the dishwasher door cracked open after the cycle is finished for a thorough dry.
Garbage Disposal Do's and Dont's
To be maintain your garbage disposal, use cold water. Keep a steady flow of cold water during and after every use. Keep the flow going for approximately 15 seconds after grinding has ceased to ensure that food washes through. Hot water can cause fat to congeal and stick to the blades and interior. Also, cold water helps keep the unit from overheating.
Clean with ice. Occasionally put a small amount of ice into the garbage disposal and run it to keep the unit clean. Make sure you put the rubber stopper over the opening before you run it to keep pieces of ice from flying out.
Clean with de-greaser. Use a disposal cleaner or generic de-greaser occasionally to keep fat from building up. This will help with the unit’s efficiency and in eliminating odors. Avoid hot water during grinding. It’s perfectly fine to run hot water in your sink after you’re done using the garbage disposal, but always use cold water during the grinding process. Don’t run grease, fat, pasta or fibrous waste through the disposal. These materials will clog the drain. This includes tough plant fibers such as celery and potato skins.
Don’t fill or cram the disposal. If you have a lot of food waste to grind up, do it gradually. Don’t use harsh cleaning chemicals. These can cause harm to you, the plumbing system, and the environment as they flow through. Only grind food. Don’t expect the garbage disposal to be able to handle paper towels, rags, plastic, or other non-edible materials.
Countertop Maintenance
Always use cutting boards and hot pads to avoid scraping the counter or heat from hot pans dispersing on counter top surfaces.This will also help prevent discoloration or potential cracks from forming. Granite countertops will require sealing at least once per year. Some of the lighter colored stones tend to be more porous and require sealing more frequently. Quartz countertops don’t need to be sealed- simply maintain them by cleaning with a soft cloth and mild soap.
Your counter top is sealed at installation. Depending on the stone you have selected, it will need to be sealed again every 4 months (for lighter colors) to 6 months (for darker colors). Polished quartz countertops do not need to be sealed, however you may want to seal a honed quartz to provide extra protection every 6 months.
Keep your countertops looking nice by cleaning them after meals or food preparation. This will help minimize the chance of stains. Both natural stone & quartz countertops should be cleaned with a pH neutral cleaner that won’t harm the stone or sealer. If you have a substance that is sticky or hard to remove, a green scotch bright pad should do the trick. Avoid using other chemicals to clean your countertop as they can break down the sealer and diminish its effectiveness.
Flooring
Vacuum your carpet frequently for soil removal. Spills should be wiped up and stains should be spot-cleaned promptly. Always dab at the stain, never rub it. Use a manufacturer-approved carpet cleaning product as needed, and test spray first to make sure it doesn’t alter the color. Use mats or rugs near outside doors to reduce soil tracking. Always lift furniture when moving it around instead of dragging it. Have your carpets professionally cleaned annually.
Laminate flooring has a surface that makes it more resistant to dust and dirt, so be sure to sweep and vacuum to maintain it. Hard surface vacuums are also recommended. If needed, you can occasionally clean with a cloth or micro-fiber hooded mop. When you do this, make sure the mop is slightly moistened with an ammonia based cleaner. For vinyl plank, simply use a damp mop with a mild cleaner.
For more home maintenance, check out tips for keeping up your bathroom, as well as our blog on how scents can be used to enhance your home.