Maintaining Your Kitchen
Your new kitchen offers a clean beginning from a maintenance viewpoint. Your contractors should have left you with a clean, dust free environment as part of their completion of the job. There are steps you can take now that will help keep your kitchen pristine and easy to maintain in the future.
Start by taking a few minutes to read over the instructions that came with your new appliances. There have been many changes in appliance technology in recent years and you shouldn’t assume that they work the same as your old ones. Learn their quirks now and save the manuals for repairs and reference. The manuals will also make recommendations for maintenance and cleaning including what chemicals should and should not be used to avoid marring or scratching of surfaces.
Before turning on ovens, microwaves and range burners make sure all packaging and tape have been removed. There may be a ‘burn-in’ period or special instructions for first time use so read those manuals before firing them up. After first use of waste disposals, faucets and dishwashers check to make sure all plumbing connection are dry and leak-free.
There are often situations where an initial cleaning or polishing is recommended to add an extra layer of protection on new surfaces. Waxing floors before heavy use protects them right from day one. Again check manufacturer’s recommendations before proceeding. As we mentioned earlier, don’t automatically clean the way you used to. There are many new non-abrasive cleaners and their use will extend the life of your work surfaces. Areas exposed to hot oils, grease, or acidic liquids like vinegars and lemon juice should be wiped clean immediately as these can harden and become difficult to remove.
