Remove dust from cabinets frequently with a soft lint-free cloth. The cloth may be slightly dampened with water or a spray type dust remover. Wood and laminate cabinet surfaces may be polished once every few months with a high quality, non-oil based cabinet polish. Smart Cabinetry recommends the use of Guardsmens cabinet polish. Do not use a paste wax type material. Wax build-up is difficult to remove and will leave a residue that attracts dust and moisture.

Polishes containing silicon should not be used. Clean spills immediately. Use a clean cloth and mild soap if necessary. Wipe dry with a clean soft cloth. Do not use detergents, citrus or ammonia based cleaners, steel wool, soap pads or abrasive cleaners on your cabinets.

Care should be taken that cabinet finishes are not exposed to heat in excess of 174 Fahrenheit. Do not place or mount small appliances beneath your wall cabinets. These appliances (such as coffee makers, toasters, steamed heat or microwave ovens) can produce excessive heat, which can damage the finish of your cabinets.

Do not expose doors or drawer fronts to heat created from self-cleaning ovens or ranges. The HSK (Heat Shield Kit) should be used when cabinets are installed or mounted directly next to ovens or ranges.

The inside of your cabinets are made with a paper melamine and coated with a urethane topcoat. To maintain the melamine appearance and performance, Smart Cabinetry recommends that all oils, food, liquids and other substances be promptly removed from the surface with a soft, moist cloth. Cleaners like Formula 409, PineSol and similar products, which contain oils or chemicals, may damage the product and should be avoided.

A soft dry cloth may be used to remove dust particles. Any abrasive type products should not be used. The following list of common kitchen household substances will affect the inside of your cabinet differently:

• Water No appreciable discoloration or stain No appreciable discoloration or stain
• Lemon Juice No appreciable discoloration or stain No appreciable discoloration or stain
• Grape Juice No appreciable discoloration or stain No appreciable discoloration or stain
• Ketchup No appreciable discoloration or stain No appreciable discoloration or stain
• Coffee No appreciable discoloration or stain No appreciable discoloration or stain
• Vinegar Appreciable discoloration or stain Appreciable discoloration or stain May show stain after 1 hour
• Mustard Appreciable discoloration or stain Appreciable discoloration or stain Slight effect after 1 hour
• Olive Oil Appreciable discoloration or stain Appreciable discoloration or stain

Our cabinets represent the careful selection of woods. While every effort is made to match wood grain as closely as possible, no two pieces of wood are exactly alike, even from the same tree. These differences in natural color and grain mean that each piece will respond differently to the finishing materials used. For example, close-grained woods absorb less and will vary in color from more open-grained pieces from the very same tree.

It's these variations that contribute to the beauty and distinction of quality wood products. However, exposure to sunlight, smoke and chemicals may cause some materials to fade or vary from their original color over time. This is why cabinets, doors, drawer fronts and accessories added at a later date may not exactly match cabinets installed now. For the same reasons, door samples or displays may not represent the exact color of cabinets received at the time of shipment. You should also read all cleaning agent instructions carefully before application.

Due to changes that occur from natural and environmental factors a cabinet is exposed to over its lifetime, we cannot be responsible for variations that occur in the finish of your wood. So, enjoy the character of your cabinets. They are truly unique and with proper care will age beautifully for years to come.