Kitchen Care page

Having invested in your new fitted kitchen in Cyprus, the last thing you want to do is ruin it. Yet, that is exactly what people do!

A spill. Out comes the scouring pad. Oh dear!

Your sink has a stain. Out comes the bleach. Oh dear again. All you did was 'bleach' the stain. You didn't remove it.

I'll slice up this tomato. But you didn't use a chopping board. Oh dear again. Either your worktop or knife will suffer here.

So that you don't make these mistakes, here are a few tips about caring for your new fitted kitchen.

KITCHEN UNITS

1. The room must be ventilated, and the air vents should never be blocked.

2. Temperature and humidity should never be too high or too low. For example, avoid fitting before the plasterwork has dried properly, or letting the temperature drop below freezing during holidays or weekends. Items made of wood may change shape in damp conditions.

3. Avoid wetting the plinths when mopping the floor. If this occurs, wipe down with a dry cloth as stagnating water causes deterioration.

4. Treat your kitchen with the care it deserves – do not lean or hang on open door or drawer fronts.

5. Avoid using heat-source appliances (toaster, coffeemaker etc.) directly under wall units as vapour and heat will cause damage.

6. Do not leave tea-towels or hand-towels to dry on the units – the units will swell and distort if they are in regular contact with damp items.

WORKTOPS

1. Whatever the materials used, worktops will withstand ordinary household activities. However this does not make them indestructible. Cutting directly on the worktop should be avoided at all costs. Always use a board!!!

2. Hot saucepans or dishes directly removed from the oven regularly cause damage to worktops. Use heat resistant mats to protect the surface.

3. Also avoid leaving the corners of your worktop, sink unit or hot plate damp. Mould will develop and this will attack the damp proof seal.

DRAWERS

1. Provided you open and close your drawers normally and avoid continual banging, they will provide you with years of trouble-free use.

2. Do not overload your drawers as they cannot generally hold a weight exceeding 25 kg. Check with your supplier for specific details.

3. Hinges are constantly used and are hard wearing components. Though no maintenance or lubrication is required, they are sensitive to abnormal movements and if they become loose, simply tighten them with a screwdriver, usually with a crosshead screwdriver. Most high quality hinges can be adjusted.

4. Do not lean or hang on your doors. This may sound obvious, but children do develop habits like this. For small children, fit catches that prevent them gaining access to the cupboard contents. This is particularly important where cleaning chemicals are kept.