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"How do I keep my new Visioneer® Countertops looking showroom new for years to come?" Quite honestly the most important ingredient in the answer to that question is common sense. Sure, we're going to tell you how to safely clean your new Visioneer® countertop and, we'll even show you how to "renew the surface" should you have one of life's little accidents. But, the true secret here is common sense. Solid surface countertops feature a renewable surface . . . not an indestructible one. Remembering that, following the Care & Maintenance tips below, and using a little common sense will assure you of years of enjoyment with your Visioneer® Solid Surface Countertops.
REMOVAL OF LABELS: Your new Visioneer®countertops may have labels applied to the surface. Most labels can be easily removed by soaking with common household vegetable oil for a few hours. For stubborn labels, use a solvent such as lacquer thinner or acetone. DO NOT USE RAZOR BLADES OR KNIVES as they could gouge the surface of the Visioneer®. TOP
HEAT: All solid surface countertops are much more heat resistant than laminate countertops. However, they are not heat proof. Protect surface from hot items such as frying pans, griddles, or ovenware as excessive heat (above 275 degrees) could damage the surface. DO NOT SET HOT ITEMS DIRECTLY ON COUNTERTOP. Use hot pads or ceramic pot holders. Caution should also be taken when using countertop appliances (such as electric crock pots) that could transmit heat from their bottom heating coils. TOP
CLEANING: Clean with mild soap or detergent and warm water. After cleaning, rinse with a clean wet towel. Dry with a soft cloth to prevent water spots and streaking. For the occasional abusive stain, scrub with scouring powder or a scouring pad. Abrasive cleansers will not harm the rich, silky feel of the countertops surface, because Visioneer® is a solid, permanent, and consistent material throughout. TOP
POLISHING / WAXING: Visioneer® countertops leave our manufacturing facilities with a buffed matte finish which gives the surface that natural stone look and the feel of expensive silk.. The surface is not treated with a surface dressing (polish or wax) and, there is no need for you to apply one. However like an automobile or fine piece of furniture, polishes &/or waxes can bring out more luster and depth to the surface. Hope's Countertop Polish, Magic American Corporation's Countertop Magic®, and Northwoods™ Lemon Lite are just a few of the popular polishes used on countertops and, they work well on Visioneer®. TOP
Two cautions if you're thinking about using a polish or a wax on any countertop: (1) A polished or waxed countertop will show water spots and finger prints more readily. As a result, they will require much more attention (cleaning and wiping down) to keep them looking bright and clean. (2) Over a period of time, the wax or polish may build up on the surface. For Visioneer® countertops, the surface can be easily stripped with Dow Chemicals' Scrubbing Bubbles® or Lysol's Tub & Tile Cleaner® (we do not necessarily recommend the use of these cleaners on other brands of countertops). After stripping, rinse the surface thoroughly with clear water and a soft cloth then, dry completely with a cotton towel to prevent spotting or streaking. This will bring the surface back to its' original natural matte finish.
SCRATCHES: Most light, everyday scratches can be scrubbed smooth with an abrasive cleaner and/or a "Gray" Scotch Brite® pad. Deeper scratches, knife cuts, and gouges can be sanded smooth with a fine grade (320 grit) sand paper, followed with a buffing using a "gray" Scotch Brite® pad. (Click on "Repair Tips" for more detailed information on how to repair damage created by "one of life's little accidents".)
Dark Visioneer® colors require more maintenance and effort by the homeowner to keep them looking new. This situation is not unique to Visioneer® - dark colors offered by most solid surface manufacturers have the same characteristics. In fact, this situation is not even unique to countertops; dark cars show dust terribly and require more frequent wash jobs, lint stands out on dark clothing like a neon sign, and dark flooring? . . . well, that shows everything!
Even so, dark colors have a rich, luxurious look that conveys a perception of mystery and class. And, if you are thinking about choosing this look for your kitchen, you need to know how to keep it looking new. TOP
CLOUDINESS: A cloudy or milky appearance on the surface is most commonly caused by chemicals in dish soap or other common household cleaners that "dry out" the surface. Should you notice a deterioration in the deep, rich look of your countertop, you can polish the surface with North WoodsÔ Lemon Lite, Magic American Corporation's Countertop Magic®, or Hope's Countertop Polish. Wipe down using a circular motion with a soft cloth, and buff to a nice shine. A thorough weekly to biweekly cleaning/polishing with one of these products is highly recommended with dark Visioneer® colors. For those cloudy areas that are a little more stubborn, strip the surface with Lysol® Tub & Tile Cleaner or Dow® Chemical's Scrubbing Bubbles as described above. Polish can be reapplied if desired. TOP
SCRATCHES & DARK COLORS: Darker colors do not scratch any easier than lighter colors . . . scratches are simply easier to see on darker colors. And yes, they will show "life's little accidents" more frequently than lighter colors. Is that bad? Depends. Sure, it does mean more work by the homeowner to remove the "little accident". But on the other hand, isn't that the beauty of Visioneer® Solid Surface? Isn't one of the biggest advantages Visioneer® Solid Surface countertops can bring to you is the ability to renew the surface . . . yourself? Seems to us that if you really have your heart set on a dark, rich, luxurious color for your new kitchen . . . Visioneer® Solid Surface Countertops would be the intelligent choice. TOP
PRECAUTIONS: Stay away from earthenware or pottery type crockery and dishware. Burrs on the bottoms of these types of dishes are the main culprits when it comes to scratches. And, use a cutting board whenever cutting on the countertop. In closing, darker Visioneer® colors do require more effort from you to keep them looking showroom new. However, elbow grease is not the only answer . . . a little extra maintenance, as well as common sense, will keep your dark color Visioneer® Countertops looking rich and luxurious for years to come. TOP