Corian Care & Maintenance

Source: www.dupont.com

Caring for DuPont™ Corian®

Tips for Caring for DuPont™ Corian®

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 mild 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 professional 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 area 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.