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How to Care for your Washroom. A Complete Guide
It’s a well-known fact that, the better you take care of something, the longer that something will last. Your washroom is no different. This article focusses on best practise care and maintenance for each material option in the marketplace and how best to ensure you and your washroom have a long and happy future together… (because #washroomsdeservelovetoo.) When choosing the correct product for your new washroom, it is always advisable to speak with your cubicle provider about which material type is best suited to your washroom area. Is it going to be a wet area? Will there be heavy footfall? Is it likely to be subject to any vandalism? There are many options, with many price points – so, ensure you are getting the best advice to make the most of your budget. Once you have made your decision, purchased your goods and your washroom has been installed, although, having had those detailed conversations with your provider, your washroom should work hard in its designated environment, there are things you need to ensure you do and don’t do when it comes to aftercare and maintenance. 1.1 Laminate, Lacquered and Veneered panels. Melamine Face Chipboard (MFC), High Pressure Laminate (HPL) & Solid Grade Laminate (HPL) The largest cause of damage to MFC, HPL and SGL, is cleaning solution residue. So, when cleaning your panels, always be sure to rinse thoroughly after you have finished cleaning. But what should you use to clean them in the first place? In the event of a stubborn stain, use only the following products, in this order – Mild soap or detergent Mild household cleaner Non-abrasive cleaner Cream cleaner containing mild abrasive. All cleaning products should be rinsed and dried upon completion of the cleaning stage and any spill should be cleaned up immediately. You should never use anything more abrasive than a soft bristled brush on your panels and excess scrubbing is a definite “no, no”, particularly when it comes to gloss finishes. If your products are subject to more severe damage such as a scratch or chip, then polyurethane resin-based car fillers can be used to repair small areas and then painted with a touch up paint. Most washroom providers will be able to put you in touch with a ‘magic man’ who can carry out this process if it is not something you feel comfortable doing in-house. Lacquered Paint Lacquered paint is a stunning choice for your washroom; it is classy, elegant and looks very high end. However, it is only suited to environments which are going to be dry, low footfall and treated with respect. If you can be sure of all those things, then your washroom will look luxurious for years to come. Of course, you can never be completely risk free from and scuffs, marks or damages and so below is a guide to the aftercare of your washroom to protect against general wear and tear. Firstly, before you make your purchase, ensure that your washroom cubicles will not be exposed to strong light, polluted air or water. If you are happy that this is the case, once your cubicles are installed, be sure not to over clean them with excessive use of furniture polish. Instead, use a damp cloth and mild detergent (be sure to do a test patch first though before cleaning the entire panel.) Never use bleach solutions on your lacquered panels or abrasive cleaning materials such as scouring pads. Lacquered panels need to be treated extremely delicately so please ensure the utmost TLC is applied, always. Real Wood Veneer As with lacquered paint, the finished result of a real wood veneer product is prestigious and luxurious, however, it also requires careful handling and maintenance. Exposure to strong light, water, polluted air, mucky fingers and excess furniture polish can all cause degradation of the panels. When cleaning a veneered product, you may be tempted to use a furniture oil, however some oils contain solvents which can soften and change the surface of your veneer, so be sure to check with your provider first before you purchase/use anything like this. Polish and wax are also products associated with the care of a real wood veneer, however they should not be used interchangeably. Liquid polish will evaporate from the panel’s surface whilst the wax will leave a thin solid film. Again, as with a lacquered paint finish, use only a damp cloth and mild detergent to clean and be sure to do a test patch first. Always be sure to dry any moisture immediately after cleaning and do not allow water or moisture to gather or pool. If the stain persists, use a soft dry duster or chamois leather moistened with tepid water and wipe at regular intervals. Again, always be sure to dry the area afterwards. To help increase the life expectancy of your panels, waxing a panel once a year may extend the life of the lacquered finish. If marks cannot be removed by the suggestions above however, or you are not comfortable to try, then a professional French Polisher may be able to remove the marks for you and make good your veneered surface. 1.2 Glass, Quartz and Granite surfaces. Glass, quartz and granite are high-end materials and you need to ensure they maximise the investment made for such a prestigious looking finish. Glass Glass can create the most luxurious of interiors however, by its very nature, it is a super delicate material to work with. Even the toughened glass used for washroom installations needs to be treated with the upmost care to really maximise the style impact such a material can make. It is important to instate a regular cleaning routine for your glass products. This should begin even during the installation period to ensure that building material detritus does not interfere with gaskets. Cement based products such as concrete and mortar can severely damage glass and should be removed on immediate observation. To clean glass you should use a non-abrasive, non-toxic detergent and warm soapy water. Once cleaned, rinsing and drying is just as important, as well as a final buffing with a soft cloth. Next, a propriety glass cleaner can be used and removed with a squeegee. When cleaning glass, it is important to dry it very quickly. Therefore, it is advisable to clean one area at a time, rather than attempt to do the whole area at once. Do not let the glass air dry. This will form a film which is extremely difficult to get rid of. When cleaning, ensure that gaskets, fittings and extrusions are cleared of any water/cleaning materials immediately to protect the integrity of the fixing points. If being used for a vanity surface, glass should not be left to stand on the horizontal surface. This can lead to staining and should be removed with an absorbent cloth as soon as possible. Although toughened glass is strong and safe when installed correctly and in the appropriate environment, it should always be treated with utmost care and respect – you should not attempt to make any alterations to the product once produced and delivered to your site. It cannot be cut or modified once manufactured. For handling (including dismantling and reassembly), storage and health and safety instructions, please contact your provider. Quartz & Granite Quartz and granite are beautiful, natural materials with totally organic colours and patterns. They are supplied to site, polished and pre-sealed and from then on, care and maintenance is actually very simple. Be it quartz or granite, it is recommended that a water sealant should be applied to the surface every 1-2 years and in between that time, it can be cleaned with warm soapy water, a non-abrasive cloth and simply dried with a clean cloth. You can also use a diluted stone-cleaning product and for more stubborn stains a 50% (max) concentration of said solution can be used. Please always do a test patch first before applying to the entire area. Cleaning solutions should always be thoroughly rinsed off and then the area should be dried using a clean cloth. 1.3 Solid surface Solid surface is a fantastic material for any kind of washroom environment. It is hardwearing, easy to clean and maintain and gives a high-end finish, but without the high-end price tag. Although completely waterproof, it is advisable to clean up any surface water or spillages as they happen. To do so, avoid using abrasive scouring pads as they may scratch the surface of the solid surface material. If hard water limescale has built up, then the best way to remove this is a standard household limescale remover – (to be used as per the manufacturer’s recommendations). Any household chemical/cleaner should be washed off immediately with warm soapy water and then dried thoroughly. Do not use oven cleaners, drain cleaners, paint strippers, acetone nail varnish removers or toilet bowl cleaners. Acids, chlorinated solvents and ketones must be avoided too as contact with these can cause etching or discolouration of the solid surface material. Although very hardwearing, solid surface can be prone to small surface scratches which show up more visibly on darker colours. If one occurs, you should seek to employ an expert to carry out the following repair – Sand lightly with fine sandpaper (240 grit) then buff with a Scotch-Brite pad or similar. Alternatively, you can purchase a solid surface patch repair kit, ensuring that directions included in the kit, are followed precisely. If you feel your solid surface top needs a thorough once over to restore its “as-new” finish, then you can use a common abrasive cleaner and/or Scotch-Brite cleaning pad followed by a final polish with methylated spirits or other denatured alcohol. Solid surface sinks The same advice/steps above can be applied to the care and maintenance of solid surface sinks. Additionally, to keep the sink colour bright, you should clean occasionally with liquid bleach and water as follows – ➢ fill sink ¼ full with water ➢ add 1 to 2 cups of bleach ➢ wipe sides of sink and let stand for 15 minutes ➢ drain and rinse For more “T-IPS” on protecting your washroom products to ensure a long and happy future together ( ) be sure to get in touch with us here.

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