Looking after your kitchen
Simple care for worktops, doors, drawers, sinks and appliances, so your kitchen stays as good as the day it was fitted. If anything needs adjusting, call us.
A little care goes a long way
Most of what a kitchen needs is a soft cloth, warm water and a mild washing up liquid. The rest is knowing what to avoid.
This is the everyday care we talk through when we hand a kitchen over. Appliance makers and worktop suppliers publish their own guidance too, which comes first for their products, so keep the paperwork we leave with you.
If a door drops, a drawer catches or something does not seem right, call the studio and we will come and put it right.
- Call us
- 01903 357090
- info@arunkitchenstudio.co.uk
- Showroom
- 17 West Street, Storrington RH20 4DZ
Worktops, material by material
Whatever the surface, wipe spills up as they happen and never cut straight onto it. Not sure what you have? It will be on your paperwork, or ask us.
| Worktop | Everyday cleaning | Avoid | Good habits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz | Warm water, a little washing up liquid, a soft cloth | Bleach, oven cleaner, scouring pads, very hot pans | Use a trivet by the hob and a board for chopping |
| Sintered stone | A damp cloth with washing up liquid. Most household cleaners are fine | Hard knocks to edges and corners | Wipe limescale from round the tap so it does not build up |
| Granite | A pH neutral stone cleaner or soapy water | Vinegar, lemon and acidic sprays | Wipe oil and wine promptly and reseal when water stops beading |
| Solid surface | Soapy water or a mild cream cleaner | Hot pans, harsh solvents | Light marks can be buffed out following the maker’s guide |
| Timber | A barely damp cloth, then dry it off | Standing water, wet cloths, hot pans | Oil it whenever water stops beading, more often by the sink |
| Laminate | A damp cloth and a mild cleaner | Water sitting on joins, hot pans, cutting on the surface | Keep the sealant around the sink in good order |
For more on how each surface behaves, read our worktop guide or our page on solid surface and quartz worktops.
Doors, hinges and drawers
Painted doors
Painted doors, whether on our Classic or Handleless ranges, only need a gentle clean. Wipe them with a soft, damp microfibre cloth and dry them off. Near the hob, a drop of washing up liquid lifts grease. Avoid abrasive pads, cream cleaners, solvents and steam cleaners, which can dull or soften the paint.
Steam is hard on any finish, so keep the kettle out from under wall units and do not hang damp tea towels over doors. A small chip can be touched in, so call us rather than reaching for a tin of paint.
In-frame doors
In-frame doors sit inside a timber frame with a small, even gap all round. Timber moves a little with the seasons, so in a damp spell a door may feel slightly tighter, and in a dry, heated winter the gaps can open a touch. That is normal.
Keep the room ventilated and use the extractor when you cook. If a door starts to catch the frame, call us and we will adjust it. You can see the kitchen pictured in our Steyning project.
Hinges and drawers
Hinges can settle a little in the first few months, and a door that has dropped or sits out of line is usually a two minute job.
- Open the door and find the screws on the hinge arm inside the cabinet.
- One screw moves the door left and right and another moves it in and out. On most hinges a third screw, or the plate the hinge clips onto, sets the height.
- Use a cross-head screwdriver and turn a quarter turn at a time, closing the door to check after each one.
- Drawer fronts have their own adjusters behind the front or under the runner.
Do not oil soft close mechanisms, and spread the weight evenly in deep pan drawers. If you would rather not touch it, call us and we will come and do it.
Sinks and taps
Stainless steel sinks look best cleaned along the grain and dried off, which stops water spots. Quartz composite sinks such as Schock need a rinse and a mild cleaner, with a limescale remover approved by the maker now and then. Fireclay and ceramic sinks prefer a non-abrasive cream.
Wipe taps dry after use, and check that any limescale spray is safe for the finish before you use it, as some will mark brushed and coloured taps. Unscrew and rinse the aerator if the flow starts to spit.
A Quooker needs very little. The tank has filters that are changed at the intervals set out in the Quooker guide, and the tap only needs a wipe. Quooker’s own advice is on quooker.co.uk, and our sinks and taps page shows what we fit.
Appliances
Register them
Register each appliance with its maker soon after fitting. Our terms ask for this within 14 days of installation, and it keeps the manufacturer warranty straightforward.
Keep filters clean
Extractor grease filters can usually go through the dishwasher. Clean the dishwasher filter regularly, and keep fridge and oven vents clear.
Who to call
Appliance faults are covered by the manufacturer, so their service line is the quickest route. Not sure who that is? Call us and we will point you the right way.
We fit appliances from Neff, Siemens, Bosch, Smeg, LG and Samsung, among others, and each maker has care guides on its own website.
Guarantees
Your kitchen is covered twice over: by the maker of the furniture, and by us for the fitting.
- Caledonia furniture. In line with our chosen manufacturer’s guarantee, cabinets, drawers, hinges, doors and storage units are covered for 10 years.
- Our fitting. Our workmanship and installation are guaranteed for 12 months from completion.
- Appliances. These are covered by their makers’ own warranties, so register each one within 14 days of installation.
The manufacturer’s guarantee covers manufacturing defects. It does not cover normal wear and tear or accidental damage, and like any kitchen furniture it needs protecting from heat and water, so keep the heat strips in place and deal with any leak under the sink straight away. If your kitchen is from another range, your order paperwork sets out its guarantee.
The full details are confirmed in the aftercare pack we give you when the kitchen is finished, and in our terms of service. If something is not right, call us rather than the factory and we will sort it out.
Aftercare questions
A cupboard door has dropped slightly. What should I do?
Hinges can settle in the first few months. You can level a door with the adjustment screws on the hinge, a quarter turn at a time, or call us on 01903 357090 and we will adjust it for you.
Can I use antibacterial spray on my worktop?
On quartz and sintered stone, a mild spray used now and then and wiped off is usually fine, but avoid anything with bleach. On granite, timber and painted surfaces, warm soapy water is the safer choice. Check the maker’s care guide, which we leave with you.
How often should a timber worktop be oiled?
Oil it several times when it is new, then whenever water stops beading on the surface. Around the sink that may be every few weeks, elsewhere a few times a year.
Who do I call if an appliance stops working?
Appliances are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, so the maker’s service line is the quickest route. If you are not sure who to call, ring us and we will help.
Is my kitchen guaranteed?
Yes. In line with our chosen manufacturer’s guarantee, Caledonia cabinets, drawers, hinges, doors and storage units are covered for 10 years, and we guarantee our fitting for 12 months from completion. Appliances are covered by their makers. The full details are confirmed in the aftercare pack we give you when the kitchen is finished.
Something not right? Call us
Ring the studio on 01903 357090 or call in on West Street. And if you are planning another room, we come out, measure up and design it in 3D and VR, just as before. See our kitchens and recent projects.