Maintenance Tips

Modular Kitchens are not only smart looking, but also provide a functional and convenient ease of use. Most modern homes today incorporate a modular kitchen that has been planned and designed to suit the users’ needs keeping in mind the available space.

La Home Maker brings you kitchen solutions that not only reflect your lifestyle, but also fulfill your specific culinary requirements. A range of designs, materials and storage choices give you the best looking and efficient modular kitchen.

Indian lifestyle and cooking, demands a rigorous and frequent maintenance routine. Given here are a few guidelines and tips that you can use to maintain a clean and long lasting kitchen. 


Worktops AND Tiles

Worktops and the stove tops can be cleaned using a mild mixture of dish detergent and water. Use a kitchen cloth to clean the surfaces with the soapy water and then wipe off the soap using a clean damp cloth. Allow the counters and the stove to dry. (For stone tops and stainless steel tops, a nylon scrub can be used to clean effectively.)

Backsplash tiles or wall tiles can be kept clean by spraying on mild soapy water and then wiping the tiles clean with a damp cloth. But the most difficult to clean are the dirty grout lines between the tiles.

A handy and easy way to tackle stubborn grimy grout lines is to prepare a paste of 3/4th cup baking soda and 1/4th cup bleach and with the help of an old toothbrush, apply it along the dirty grout lines. Let the paste remain for 5 to 10 minutes before scrubbing lightly to loosen the grime and then rinse the paste or wipe it off with a damp cloth. (It is advised that you use gloves while handling the bleach and make sure no kids are around when you are doing this.)



Hardware AND Fixtures

Sinks
To clear a clogged sink, pour half a cup of baking soda followed by one cup of vinegar down the drain. Wait one hour and then pour boiling water into the drain. If the sink is clogged with grease, pour a cup of salt water and a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by boiling water. The grease will usually dissolve immediately and open the drain.

Handles and Hinges
Handles are the most used parts of the cabinets and should be cleaned frequently to remove grime, marks and bacteria. While wiping down the handles use a damp cloth and make sure to clean the joints where the grime tends to accumulate. Wipe dry the cleaned handles to prevent streaks.


To remove tarnish from handles, use a soft cloth, first dipped in hot vinegar, and then in salt, and rub tarnish off. This works well on brass fittings. To remove tarnish from copper, use a paste of equal parts white vinegar, salt and flour.

Weather changes and high humidity can result in formation of rust on the handles and fittings. For removing rust from chrome, wet a piece of aluminium foil and rub the surface gently and wipe off with a soft rag. You can also use vinegar or lemon juice with salt to clean, or sprinkle a cut potato with salt or baking soda to scrub rust away. Once the handle is clean, dry it and polish immediately with linseed or lemon oil.

For cleaning cabinet hinges, use an old tooth brush dipped in mild soap water and scrub out the dirt and grime from crevices. You can occasionally apply some machine oil to make sure they do not rust or squeak. (If there is a technical problem with the hinges, please call our Customer Care Service for assistance.);

Taps
Taps are the most used fixture in a kitchen. Always make sure the taps are kept sparkling clean and are not dripping. Some eco-friendly and household tips are:

Use an old toothbrush with a bit of baking soda to scrub around the tap. Then use a wet cloth to wipe away the loosened dirt and deposits. Finally wipe the tap with a dry cloth to prevent streaks.

To clean taps with a chrome and nickel finish, dab some vinegar on a damp cloth and clean the tap and hardware. Finish by wiping the surface with a dry cloth.

To clean taps with a copper and stainless steel finish, you can use ketchup or cola (easily found in most kitchens). Apply these to the tap and wipe off with a damp cloth after a few minutes. The acid in these products removes the tarnish to give you a shiny tap.



Cabinets

Proper and regular cleaning of kitchen cabinets will prolong their life and keep them looking as good as new for years to come. Care should be taken to prevent damaging the material and the hardware.

Just a quick wipe-down of the outside as well as the inside of the cabinets with a soft dry cloth every day will prevent accumulation of dust and cooking residue. It will just take a minute or two but will go a long way in preserving the cabinets.

LaHomeMaker Kitchens’ cabinets and components are tested for water and moisture resistance to give you durability. But it would be better to avoid exposure to water for long periods.

To clean glass cabinet shutters, instead of spraying the cleaning liquid directly onto the glass, dab it on a clean dry cloth and wipe the glass clean. This prevents the liquid from streaking on to the rest of cabinet.

Kitchen cabinets pick up a lot of grease and dirt as a result of oil fumes and steam during cooking. And if not cleaned often, stubborn greasy marks form on the surface. Use a mild mixture of liquid soap in lukewarm water to wipe off the soiled area with a sponge or soft cloth and completely wipe off excess moisture with a dry cloth. (Avoid using sharp objects, coarse cloth or powdered cleaners to prevent scratching of the cabinet material.)

All LaHomeMaker kitchens’ cabinets are tested for weight endurance and shutter longevity, but make sure the cabinet storage space is not overloaded beyond the specified weight, and do not apply excessive pressure on the hinges. (Do not try to fix any mechanical breakdown and address the complaint to our Customer Care Service.)


General Maintenance Tips
Try to make kitchen cleaning a regular habit. You can maybe devote one day a week for cleaning the kitchen, this way you can avoid a heavy build-up of dust and grime.

After cooking a meal, a quick clean-up of the counter and stove top can prevent stains and accumulation of grease that might prove difficult to wipe off later.

To remove oily grime, use a mild soapy cleanser with a nylon scrubber. If the surface material is a concern, then spray the grime with a mild soapy solution and after a while wipe it off with a damp kitchen cloth. Wipe the area again with a dry cloth. (Wash and clean the kitchen rags after every use.)

Immediately wipe any spillage to prevent staining and dirt build-up.

Keep the kitchen area clear of any food crumbs or particles to prevent insects and pests from making home in the storage or enclosed areas. (It is also a good idea to maintain a simple pest control regime.).

It is always a good habit to clean the sink after washing the dishes to clear it of any oily residue.

Install and properly maintain dehumidifiers, vents, exhaust fans, chimneys and drains.

After handling soapy cleansers and cleaning solutions please make sure you wash your hands clean and wipe them dry.

(Handy cleaning materials that you should have to maintain a clean kitchen are a pair of rubber gloves, soft cleaning cloths, nylon scrub, an old not-in-use toothbrush, liquid soap, etc. Also make sure you store these items away from children’s reach.)