Maintenance and Care

Keeping Melteca/Melamine surfaces clean is easy.

Regular cleaning simply involves wiping with a clean, damp cloth.

For stubborn grease and grime use diluted vinegar and water or sugar soap.

The most important thing is to catch the stain early. Wiping it with hot soapy water is the first thing to try, however for tougher stains we recommend trying:

Foodstuffs – all-purpose surface cleaner

Shoe polish – diluted vinegar or lemon juice

Paint/glue – acetone then wipe with warm soapy water and wipe dry

Hair/leather dye – methylated spirits

Stubborn marks or stains – clean with Ajax spray and wipe; a soft
nylon nail brush will assist if dirt particles prove hard to move

NEVER use any of the following on Melteca/Melamine for any
reason:

Abrasive cleaners – such as:

• Jif
  
• Vim
  
• Brasso
  
• Mr Muscle cleaner
  
• Wire wool
  
• Sandpaper

(FORMICA/LAMINEX/PRIME LAMINATE/WILSONART)

Maintenance and Care

• Avoid scourers and abrasives as they will damage the surface.
• Don’t place hot objects, electrical appliances or pots straight from the oven or cooker onto your HPL surface.
• Don’t cut on the HPL surface.
• Keep waxes and polishes well away as they dull the natural shine.
• Do not use strongly acidic, alkaline cleaners or bleach for normal cleaning as these might etch the surface.

STREAKS

Streaky marks sometimes show on dark colours after cleaning. An all- purpose cleaner such as Windex spray cleaner or Ajax Spray n Wipe usually removes them.

GREASE

Using a mild dishwashing detergent in water will remove greasy marks.
Dab, wait and wipe away. Finish with an all-purpose cleaner such as Windex spray cleaner or Ajax Spray n Wipe.

SPILLS

HPL surfaces resist staining from most household chemicals. With some accidental spills however, prompt action is essential. Wipe off beetroot,
grape and berry juices, first aid preparations, concentrated bleach, oven cleaners, dishwasher detergents, artificial dyes, hair colouring and solvent based pen ink immediately. Specialty glues such as Super Glue must also be removed straight away with acetone (nail polish remover).

STAINS

If the stain won’t budge with Extra Strength Windex, try methylated spirits or dab the stain with a diluted bleach mixture (1 part bleach to 8 parts
water), leave for 3 minutes then wash off with water and dry. Finish off with Extra Strength Windex. Only as a last resort if a stain persists try 2 or 3 rubs with a crème cleanser or white toothpaste, wash and dry. Please note that bleach or these abrasive cleaners may irreversibly damage the laminate surface.

SCRATCHES

HPL surfaces will withstand normal wear and tear, but can be damaged by scratching or cutting with utensils, knives and unglazed pottery.
Darker colours will show scratches more readily than lighter colours. In general dark colours and high gloss surfaces require more care and maintenance than lighter colours or lower gloss colours. To minimise scratching, always place and lift objects from the surface – never drag or slide them across the surface.

Maintenance and Care

Timber veneer surfaces are easy to keep clean using a damp cloth with a mild detergent. To remove stubborn stains use methylated spirits or ammonia. If in doubt about the suitability of a particular cleaner or detergent, check with its manufacturer. Silicone based products must be avoided.

Do not use acetone or trichloroethylene for cleaning purposes. Do not use abrasive cleaners, powders, scouring pads, steel wool, sandpaper etc. These can damage the finish and make the surface susceptible to staining.

Accidental spills or over spray from harsh chemicals should be wiped off immediately, and the affected surface must be cleaned thoroughly with a damp cloth. Examples of harsh chemicals include; drain cleaners, rust removers, coffee pot cleaners, metal cleaners, ceramic cook-top cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, chlorine bleach, oven cleaners and bathroom cleaners.

Exposure to Water and Sunlight

Natural wood products, including Natural and Designed Timber Veneer will react to direct and indirect light. Therefore, a change of the surface colour and appearance over time is a natural characteristic, not a defect. Additionally, heat and humidity will interact with light to accelerate the ageing process.

If exposed to direct and strong light, timber veneer products may undergo sudden and irregular changes from the original colour.

As little as an hour’s exposure to sunlight may change the colour of timber veneer. Water will also stain face veneers if allowed to ‘pool’ on the surface.

Useful information for people thinking about getting a new kitchen or other piece of cabinetry

We realize how difficult it can be for the average man or woman when embarking on a project like a new kitchen to understand the different terms and to make comparison between various options. We have compiled this list in the hope that it will make things a little easier.

Welcome to the second issue of Marton Lee’s bi-monthly newsletter.MERRY XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

XMAS CLOSURE This year Marton Lee will close at mid-day on the 24th of December and will reopen on 17th January 2011.

RECENT PROJECTS In this issue we are featuring three recent projects which we were involved in making. These being: a suite of children’s furniture and two feature wall units. One very noticeable trend in interior décor is the call for wall units that combine utility with style. With the move to wall mounted televisions, people are looking for a piece of furniture that compliments this; whilst also providing a means to display photos and objets d’art and having space for books, CDS/DVDS and the like. The first set (above) is of a piece that combined a natural finish American Oak with a satin lacquer finish matching the walls. more details >> www.martonlee.co.nz/furniture/living-dining/

The second set is a piece that also used the contrasting finish and appearance of a dark stained Oak with a white satin lacquer finish to create a unit with visual presence more details >> www.martonlee.co.nz/furniture/living-dining/

The kid’s furniture was for a playroom fit out and included shelving, drawer units, shoe rack, desk top and 2 sided desk. It was made using a combination of white satin lacquer and ‘White Maple’ melamine. The emphasis was on practicality (hard wearing surfaces and plenty of storage for all the toys) coupled with a light, spacious feel. more details >> www.martonlee.co.nz/furniture/children/

Marton Lee finishes all its own furniture and cabinetry in-house. This includes everything from single pot clear sealers to 2 pot polyurethane pigmented coatings and finishes which range from matt to high gloss.

The launch is testament to the company’s on-going commitment to providing NZ’s finest range of quality media furniture. The company’s in-house design capability allows it to produce ranges that embody the latest design trends and which provide a range of stunning, contemporary and classic aesthetics.

The underlying principle for the new ranges is to provide people with an unprecedented opportunity to ‘customize’ standard ranges of entertainment furniture: to choose the size (length), configuration (drawers, doors, flaps etc) and finish details (veneer or paint, stain colour, paint colour, handle style etc). While, at the same time, not having to pay bespoke prices nor having to accept long lead times. This is expressed in Marton Lee’s concept of ‘Your choice’