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Countertop Care & Maintenance
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DuPont™ Corian®
Care & Maintenance

DuPont™ Corian® was created for a lifetime of easy care. Just follow the simple guidelines listed here to help you keep your Corian® surfaces looking fresh. Your Welcome Kit will provide you with the tips to help you maintain your new Corian® installation for years to come.


Routine Care of Your Corian® Countertop

There are three types of Corian® countertop finishes: matte/satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss*. Most countertops are finished with a matte/satin finish. All Corian® sinks have a matte/satin finish. (*Contact your local Corian® sales expert if you are uncertain what type of finish is on your countertop.)

Soapy water, ammonia based cleaners (not window cleaners as they can leave a waxy build up that may dull the surface) or commercially available solid surface cleaners will remove most dirt and residue from all types of finishes. Stubborn residue will require a little stronger cleaner.

Follow the recommendations below to properly clean your countertop and sink.

Experience has shown that a film builds up on the surface if water is left to dry on the countertop. This film will dull the look of the countertop making the finish appear blotchy and uneven. To prevent build up of the film, it is very important to wipe the countertop completely dry after spills and cleaning.

Some colors of Corian® may require more frequent cleaning to maintain a uniform finish. Darker colors tend to require more attention than lighter colors. Over time, even with proper care, your countertop will acquire a patina, changing the appearance of the finish. You may restore the look of the original finish by following the refurbishing guidelines below.

A KEY TO KEEPING YOUR COUNTERTOPS LOOKING GOOD IS TO THOROUGHLY RINSE AND WIPE COMPLETELY DRY AFTER CLEANING

Routine Care
Typically, three types of countertop finishes are used: matte/satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss*. Most countertops are finished with a matte/satin finish. All sinks have a matte finish. However, routine cleaning may raise the gloss level of the countertop over time. Soapy water, ammonia-based cleaners (Not window cleaners) or commercially available solid surface cleaners will remove most dirt and residue from all types of finishes. Stubborn residue will require a little stronger cleaner. Follow the recommendations below to properly clean your countertop and sink.

With over 100 colors and varying hues, some colors may appear to require more frequent cleaning to maintain their beauty. Darker colors tend to show fine scratches more easily and will require more attention than lighter colors. Over time through care and use your countertop will acquire a patina, changing the appearance of the finish. You may restore the look of the original finish by following the refurbishing guidelines on the next page.

*Contact your local Corian® sales expert if you are unsure of your finish.

Countertops

Cleaning All Finishes

Most dirt & residue

Use soapy water, ammonia based cleaner(not window cleaner), rinse and wipe completely dry. Commercially available solid surface cleaners, such as Clean EnCounters® will also work well.

Preventing hard water marks

Rinse and wipe completely dry after cleaning; clean up spills before they dry.

Removing hard water marks

Use a cleaner formulated for removing hard water marks such as CLR or Lime-A-Way.

Difficult residue

Spray residue with Deep Cleaner for DuPont Corian® from Stone Care International. Follow instructions on the bottle. Wash area with soapy water, rinse and wipe completely dry. If residue persists, follow steps below for removing dulling film.

Disinfecting

Occasionally, wipe surface with diluted household bleach (1 part water/1 part bleach). Rinse top thoroughly with water and wipe completely dry.

Sinks & Lavatories

Cleaning

Follow procedures above or use Soft Scrub® and a green Scotch-Brite® pad to remove residue. Rub green Scotch-Brite® pad over entire sink to blend in finish. NOTE: Do Not use Scotch-Brite® on the countertop surface.

Disinfecting

Fill your sink 1/4 full with diluted household bleach (1 part water/1 part bleach). Be sure to get some of the solution into the overflow opening to disinfect. Let the solution stay in the sink for 15 minutes; then wash sides and bottom as solution drains. Rinse out the sink with water.

  • Avoid getting the bleach solution in your eyes or bare skin. Always follow the bleach manufacturer's safety instructions when working with bleach.
  • To enhance the gloss level on semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes, use a countertop polish such as Countertop Magic®, Hope's Countertop Polish® or Enhance Countertop Polish®.


Scotch Brite® is a registered trademark of 3M Company
Soft Scrub® is a registered trademark of The Dial Corporation
Countertop Magic® is a registered trademark of The Hope Co.
Enhance Countertop Polish® is a registered of Eastern Marble Co.

Preventing Heat Damage

While Corian® is heat resistant, as with all countertop materials, it is important to minimize direct heat exposure to protect your surface and investment.

DO NOT PLACE HOT POTS, PANS, ETC. DIRECTLY ON THE COUNTERTOP SURFACE.

Always use heat trivets or hot pads when placing hot objects on any surface. Always use a trivet under portable heat generating appliances such as a toaster oven. Allow cookware to cool before placing it into a Corian® sink.

Preventing Other Damage

In most cases Corian® can be repaired if damaged. Be sure to follow these guidelines to help you prevent any permanent damage to your Corian®.

  • Avoid getting strong chemicals, such as paint removers, oven cleaners, etc., on your Corian® countertop. If a spill does occur, promptly flush the surface with water to fully rinse off the chemical.
  • Do not cut directly on Corian® countertops. Use a cutting board.
  • Boiling water alone will not damage your Corian® sink, however it is a recommended practice to run cold water from the faucet while pouring boiling water into the sink.

Removing fine scratches or a blotchy appearance

You may notice that the surface of your countertop begins to look blotchy. Typically, this is caused by leaving hard water to dry on the surface which will leave a film of minerals. To remove this film:

  • Pour some milde abrasive liquid cleanser, such as Soft Scrub®, on a damp sponge or cloth and rub over area using small circular motions, from the front to the back, then side to side, overlapping the circles until the entire area has been cleaned.
  • Thoroughly rinse the top with clean water and WIPE SURFACE COMPLETELY DRY.
  • Check to see if blotchiness is gone. If not, repeat procedure applying more pressure on the sponge or rag.
  • Continue over all affected areas until all film is removed.
  • NOTE: While this procedure may remove or minimize the look of very fine scratches, other deeper scratches may remain. They may be removed by following the procedure below or you may with to hire a proessional refinisher to refinish your countertop. Contact your Corian® Retailer or DuPont to arrange for professional refinishing.

Removing minor cuts and scratches*

Because the solid beauty of Corian® goes all the way through, Corian® surfaces are renewable. You can remove minor cuts and scratches yourself by following these instructions.

  • First, wash the area where the scratch is located, following the instructions found in this guide, to remove any film on the surface as this film may clog the abrasive pads. With this surface still wet, start rubbing with the Peach colored side of the cleaning pad. Use a light touch. Pressing too hard may actually leave deeper scratches. Rub over the scratch using a straight line motion. Periodically switch rubbing direction ninety degrees. Rinse pad periodically during this process to remove any built up residue. Be sure all of the scratch is removed.
  • Clean top with water and dry thoroughly. Check to see if sanded are blends with rest of top. Please note that sanded area may not perfectly match remainder of top. If necessary, turn pad over and repeat process. Rub over large area to blend in sanding.
  • If needed, continue the sanding process using the Aqua colored pad and if necessary, the Gray colored pad until the desired gloss level is achieved.
  • Rinse out all pads used and allow them to air dry before putting them away.
  • An alternative to your refinishing your countertop, is to contact your Corian® retailer or DuPont to arrange for professional refinishing.

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DuPont Zodiaq®
Care & Maintenance

DuPont Zodiaq® quartz surfaces are very easy to maintain. The quartz used in Zodiaq® - coupled with high-performance, stain-resistant polymers - results in a durable, nonporous, chemical-resistant surface. Zodiaq® is also heat- and scratch-resistant, but not heat- and scratch-proof. Therefore, the use of a cutting board is recommended when using a knife.

Of course, Zodiaq® keeps its lustrous gloss and ultra-smooth surface without polishing. Because it is nonporous, Zodiaq® does not require sealants or waxes.

Zodiaq® also gives you peace of mind. In the unlikely event that you do experience any problems due to a manufacturer's defect, you can rest assured that DuPont backs Zodiaq® with a 10-year limited warranty.

Routine Care

With simple care, Zodiaq® will retain its radiant, lustrous appearance for many years. For routine cleaning, use a damp cloth or paper towel and, if necessary, a small amount of non-bleach, nonabrasive cleanser.

Even though Zodiaq® resists permanent staining when exposed to liquids (such as wine, vinegar, tea, lemon juice and soda) or fruits and vegetables, wipe up food and liquid spills as soon as possible.

For stubborn or dried spills, use a nonabrasive cleaning pad such as a white 3M Scotch-Brite®* scrub pad coupled with Formula 409® Glass & Surface Cleaner** or a comparable cleaning product.

Avoid using cleansers that contain bleach. Always follow the cleaner manufacturer's use instructions and exercise proper care when handling and storing any cleaning products.

* Scotch-Brite® is a registered trademark of the 3M Company.

**Formula 409® Glass & Surface Cleaner is a registered trademark of the Clorox Company.

Preventing Heat and Other Damage

Zodiaq® can withstand exposure to normal cooking temperatures from pots, pans and dishes without being damaged. To maintain the beauty of Zodiaq®, do not place hot skillets or roasting pans directly onto the surface. DuPont recommends the use of trivets and hot pads.

Removing Difficult Spills

Sometimes spills occur and dry on the countertop. For materials that harden as they dry (such as gum, food, grease, nail polish or paint), remove by gently scraping away the excess with a plastic putty knife.

Permanent markers and inks may adhere to the surface and should be avoided. Should these agents come into contact with the surface, clean first as outlined in Routine Care.

If the stain persists, moisten a cloth with Greased LightningT**, or a comparable product and rub it into the stain. Let the cleaning agent sit for 15 minutes and wipe the surface clean with a cotton cloth. Rinse thoroughly to remove any cleaner residue.

Avoid exposing Zodiaq® quartz surfaces to strong chemicals and solvents, especially paint removers or furniture strippers containing trichlorethane or methylene chloride. Keep nail polish remover, bleach, bluing, permanent markers or inks, and oil soaps away from Zodiaq®.

While casual exposure to alkaline materials will not damage Zodiaq®, highly alkaline (high-pH) cleansers are not recommended when cleaning Zodiaq®.

If any of the substances listed above come into Zodiaq®, rinse the exposed surface immediately and thoroughly with water.

**Greased Lightning is available through major department and hardware stores. For more information, visit www.greased-lightning.com

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DuPont™ Granite
Care & Maintenance

Natural stone is very porous. Granite Certified by DuPont is treated with DuPont Proprietary Penetrating Sealant that fills in the natural pores to help repel spills on the surface. We recommend that you use care and maintenance products from StoneTech™ Professional, a DuPont company, that are specially formulated to protect and enhance the beauty of your granite. Since your stone is sealed, clean up is usually easy. We recommend that you use StoneTech™ Professional Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector . Revitalizer™ cleans with a gentle, ph-neutral formula that removes soils while reinforcing the original protective seal to help prevent future staining. Learn more about our care products.

 What are the DO's and DON'Ts of Granite?

  • DO use StoneTech™ Professional BulletProof™ Sealer to protect your stone.
  • DO clean up spills immediately to minimize damage to your stone.
  • DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes and cookware.
  • DO use place mats under china, ceramics, silver and other objects that can scratch your stone's surface.
  • DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices.
  • DO clean surfaces regularly with StoneTech™ Professional Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector .
  • DO call our DuPont Care Center for assistance.
  • DON'T wait to clean up spills on stone.
  • DON'T use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub cleaners.
  • DON'T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners.
  • DON'T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
  • DON'T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for stone.
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