Keeping your Bespoke Kitchen Sparkling!
Hello everyone!
It’s all ‘go’ here at Collins Bespoke. We’ve lots of new and exciting projects, and our Old Surrenden Manor Showroom is so very nearly finished. Hooray!
So, whilst we’ve all been spending more time at home and less time dining out, our kitchens are probably feeling a little more lived-in than usual. We thought it might be helpful to put together a few tips for keeping your kitchen sparkling – or, as much as it can when it has been the go-to room of the house for the past few months. Plus, we’ve included some information about our guarantees and touch-up services, which is always useful to know – the joy of a bespoke kitchen – it is designed to last and to always look truly beautiful.
Gem & Crisi :)
Cabinetry
A bespoke kitchen is a beautiful feature in any home. But, it is also one you will want to use. Being painted furniture and made of natural products, it does need care – ask Mrs CB about the fun she has with her 5 year old boy-child and his carefulness around her kitchen! We recommend using a soft cloth when cleaning your cupboard doors. Ensure this is clean and damp – and without any chemicals or harsh detergents. To dry, again, a soft clean cloth will work best and help to protect from marks. We advise using a solution of 95% lukewarm water with only 5% soap. It’s always best to wipe up any cooking marks or spillages straight away, especially where there are joins and especially where red wine may have been involved! Or, is that just Mrs CB’s take, again? Hmmmm.
It’s best to avoid strong or harsh products because our materials are very organic and can be affected by them.
Appliances
Appliance maintenance and regular care will help prevent malfunctioning, saving you time, money and effort. Right now, whose dishwasher is constantly on the go? Those with children will understand – the continuous plight of food and more food. They really don’t eat this much at school! Anyway, Siemens have put together a really good guide for looking after your dishwasher which we think you’ll find helpful:
Siemens also offer a range of cleaning and care products to help keep your appliances performing at their best. Descalers, cleaners and machine care products will keep your appliances in top condition while degreasers, cleaning gels, ceramic cleaning agents and scrapers remove tough grime. Siemens stainless steel oils, powders, conditioners and cloths keep surfaces shiny. If like the Collins household, the coffee machine is probably used more than the dishwasher, ovens and microwave combined. Oh, if it were to need a service right now!
https://www.siemens-home.bsh-group.com/uk/shop/cleaning-care
And, what about cleaning an AGA? Check out the link below for some handy tips:
Worktops - Quartz and Granite
Quartz and Granite worktops are virtually maintenance free and simple to clean - which is why our customers love them. As well as them looking so so pretty.
In most cases, soap and water or a mild detergent is enough to keep your surfaces looking like new. If necessary, you can use a non-abrasive soft soap along with a non-scratch or delicate scrub pad. Afterwards, thoroughly rinse with clean water to remove residue. To remove tougher materials, we suggest gently scraping away excess with a non-scratch pad or plastic putty knife, and then wiping with warm water. We advise avoiding strong chemicals, solvents or highly abrasive cleaning products on your worktops as this may cause permanent damage.
Whilst Quartz is more heat resistant and durable than other stone surfaces, your worktop will still need protection from very high temperatures or sudden extreme temperature changes. So, it is our recommendation that hot pots and pans should not be directly placed on the worktop. And, red wine, again? It shouldn’t stain – but if not cleared up soon enough, it could. As could Ribena! Who knew that! (Mrs CB’s household – coffee, red wine and Ribena – always cleaning!)
Worktops - Wood
Being such gorgeous features, it’s really important to know the best ways to clean and care for your oak worktops to ensure they remain in good condition. Being natural and porous, they can change with temperatures, swell with moisture and stain easily. However, with the right care, they will always look stunning. Your worktop would have already been finished with Danish oil – which is great, but there are other ways of keeping it beautiful.
We advise not placing hot pans or trays directly on to the worktop as this can burn or stain the surface. Also, avoid chopping food directly on to your wooden worktop as this will create marks. It’s best to always mop up any spillages immediately to prevent water marks forming on the wood. And, it is very porous so will lap up any rich colours. Finally, we recommend not using traditional kitchen cleaning products on your work surfaces as this can stain the wood. Simply use soap and water, and – wipe off any remaining liquid with a dry cloth once clean. But not too much water – wood is spongey. For stubborn stains, you may want to add a little vinegar or lemon to the solution.
Sinks & Taps - Ceramics
Ceramics have a smooth, dense and virtually scratch-proof surface that is resistant to all common household acids and alkalis. Clean water and a damp cloth are often all you need for everyday care. Water marks, residual grease or soap can be removed easily using a bathroom cleaner or vinegar-based cleaning product. Make sure you wipe off substances containing high amounts of fluorine, immediately. For heavier contamination, we recommend a non-abrasive liquid or cream cleaner.
Remember to always clean using a soft, non-scratch sponge, and avoid harsh and aggressive products.
Do be careful not to leave dirty dishes, coffee grounds, tea bags or other staining materials in contact with the enamel surface for extended periods of time. Perhaps consider sink accessories such as bottom basin racks and rinse baskets to help protect the surface from scratches.
Sinks & Taps - Stainless Steel
If you’ve been using your stainless steel sink a lot, then you may have noticed a build-up of water marks. Highly likely having had the weather we have had – until now …
To clean a stainless-steel sink effectively, use a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge with a stainless steel cleaner. Never use a metal scrub brush as this can leave scratch marks. Just pop a small amount of cleaner on to a sponge and wipe the sink in the direction of the polish marks. When finished, wash the cleanser off and use a clean towel or cloth to dry the sink. If you prefer to use natural cleaners, there are plenty of inexpensive natural alternatives. Vinegar and baking soda are very effective. We suggest doing this a few times a week.
Sinks & Taps - Taps and The Quooker
It’s always best to dry your taps with a soft cloth after each use and clean regularly. Only clean with warm water or a mild pH-neutral liquid soap. Remember to then polish with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth. Always completely rinse to prevent a build-up of blemishes. And avoid getting household bleach or harsh cleaning agents on to your taps. Cover with a towel when cleaning tiles, mirrors, countertops etc.
We advise that you head over to Quooker’s website and look at the maintenance recommendations – which can be found in ‘Frequently Asked Questions’. This will be helpful if you have any limescale or servicing queries.
A Collins Bespoke Kitchen
The beauty of a painted kitchen is that it can be maintained. So, if your kitchen is a Collins Bespoke kitchen, we offer a free ‘touch-up’ visit before your kitchen’s first birthday. And, if you’d rather our painters take charge of this, annually, for you, we only charge our standard hourly rate.
As for guaranteeing our cabinetry, we never feel the need to offer a warranty on our work. We trust our kitchens last. Being made from wood, we also know that things can move and settle, and all adjustment call outs are covered for free in the first six months after installation. Any adjustments or repairs caused by use, cuisine, children – generally always children – or animals – we can also fix. Again, even if in years to come, we’ll never charge more than an hourly rate to do so.
Collins Bespoke Touch-up Rate Guide
In most cases, the typical rate is £36 per hour + materials from £18.00.
Please note: £108.00 + materials is our minimum call out charge within a 45 mile radius of TN26 3DL. Of course, this is just a guide, but we find that with most of our customers, the typical call out charge based on a 24-month period is £288.00 + materials. This is only for Collins Bespoke designed and installed kitchens. But, it also means your bespoke painted kitchen can always look fresh from daily life.
And, for those of you still considering a Collins Bespoke kitchen, our showroom is now back open, so do get in contact if you’d like to book in a design consultation. We look forward to seeing you!
