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What you should know about your cabinets
We always recommend that you return to the place of purchase if you have questions
regarding the care, cleaning, maintenance, repair or adjustments to your cabinetry.
We are providing the information below as a general guide only.
In General
No matter which wood species you choose for your new kitchen or bath cabinetry,
please keep in mind that no two pieces of wood are exactly the same. Stains are
likely to exaggerate the difference between open and closed grains and other markings
in wood. Grain variation and color change should be expected. As hardwood ages,
it will darken when exposed to different types of light. Color differences or changes
in wood can also be caused by exposure to harsh chemicals, extreme heat or other
contributing external conditions. Additionally, wood species exhibit other defining
characteristics, such as mineral deposits/streaks, knots, sap runs, pin holes and
wormholes. These markings make the wood unique and contribute to its enduring beauty.
General Cabinet Maintenance
Caring for the natural beauty of your cabinets means proper maintenance. Part of
proper maintenance is knowing some common household enemies to avoid. Here's how
to prevent damage from these problem areas:
1. Excess water, when left unattended, can cause white spots and haziness to the
finish and even damage the wood itself. Always remove excess liquid promptly, especially
in moisture-prone areas, such as sink, range, dishwasher and baseboard areas.
2. Direct sunlight can cause exposed areas to lighten or darken over time. When
possible, keep cabinets out of direct sunlight or draw curtains during the sunniest
part of the day.
3. Smoke and grease can form a hard film over time, dulling the finish. Routine
cleaning can prevent long-term damage.
4. Extremes in temperature and moisture can cause wood to expand and contract, eventually
damaging the finish. Try to avoid exposing your cabinets to very hot and cold environments,
such as near radiators or in garages.
Cabinet Care
Your cabinets have interior and exterior finishes that are impervious to a list
of household agents, foods and beverages. However, from time to time, they do need
regular cleaning and care.
Cleaning Guidelines
A soft cotton cloth dampened with warm water is usually sufficient to clean your
cabinets. If more thorough cleaning is required, use one of the following cleaning
solutions:
- A fresh solution of dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water.
- A mild all-purpose cleaner. Make sure it does not contain ammonia or silicone.
Use the mildest cleaning solution that will successfully clean your cabinets. Stronger
products may damage or discolor your cabinet finish and are not recommended. After
cleaning, wipe all surfaces with a clean, damp cloth. Dry immediately using another
soft, clean cloth.
Splatters and Spills
Clean spills and splatters immediately. Prolonged exposure to spills, including
food, water or other liquids, or to oil and grease splatters, can cause permanent
discoloration or damage to your cabinet's finish.
Caring for Wood Surfaces
As a rule, wood finishes may be cleaned and protected with any commercial cleaning
polish. Products such as Murphy's Oil Soap contain no wax, petroleum or silicones.
(Wax tends to build up on the surface. Silicone can harm the cabinet's finish.)
- Wipe the surfaces with a clean, damp cloth, then dry immediately.
- To remove general soil or grease, use any common dishwashing liquid and a damp cloth
to wipe clean. Dry thoroughly.
- Excess moisture can damage any cabinet finish; areas near the sink, range, dishwasher,
oven and baseboards are most susceptible. Keep these surfaces dry.
- Avoid draping damp cloths or dish towels over cabinet doors. Over time, this moisture
could cause permanent water damage.
- Waxing is not necessary, but you may apply any furniture polish or lemon oil recommended
for fine furniture, if desired. Be sure to wipe off excess to avoid build-up.
NOTE: Do not use a dish cloth for cleaning. It could contain remnants of grease
or detergents.
Cleaning Products to Avoid
Avoid using the following cleaning products on your cabinets:
- Harsh chemicals.
- Abrasive cleaning products such as tub and sink cleansers, scouring powder, scouring
pads or steel wool.
- Sponges or dish clothes. They may contain particles that could scratch your cabinets,
or they may contain food and oil residue.
- Solvent-based or petroleum-based products such as mineral spirits, nail-polish removers
or paint thinners.
- Ammonia or cleaning products that include ammonia.
- Bleach or cleaning products that include bleach.
- Silicone-based cleaning, waxing, or polishing products.
Regular Dusting
Use a clean, soft lint-free cotton cloth for regular dusting. Packaged dusting sheets
are not required or recommended. Do not use pre-moistened dusting sheets, and do
not use aerosol products made for dusting.
Waxing and Polishing
Waxing is not required or recommended. Over time, waxing and polishing compounds
may build up on the surface of your cabinets and cause a hazy, streaky or yellowed
appearance. This wax build up is very difficult to remove.
Avoid Moisture Damage
Avoid draping damp clothes or dishtowels over cabinet doors. This moisture can cause
permanent damage - such peeling and discoloration - to the cabinet's finish.
Avoid Heat Damage
The heat generated when using an oven's self-cleaning feature is much greater than
during normal cooking. If this heat escapes from the oven, it can damage your cabinets.
While this is a rare circumstance, you can minimize the risk of cabinet damage by
removing cabinet doors and drawers nearest the oven before using its self-cleaning
feature.
Avoid Light Damage
Exposure to direct sunlight tends to darken the color of natural wood products.
Sunlight can also fade painted wood surfaces, laminated surfaces and thermofoil
surfaces. You should consider draperies or blinds to shield your cabinets from direct
sunlight.
Scratches, Gouges and Nicks
A Touch-Up Kit is available to hide surface damage. Contact the place of business
where you purchased your cabinetry to purchase the color-matched touch-up kit for
your specific cabinets.
Use the kit's touch-up pen to hide minor blemishes. Use the kit's tinted putty stick
to fill deeper scratches, gouges or nicks. Detailed instructions are provided in
each kit.
NOTE: More substantial damage should be repaired by professional refinishers.
SCRATCHES AND SCRAPES (Touch-Up Pen)
Most cabinet scratches can be touched up using a matching touch-up marker available
from your Home Depot.
- Buff the damaged and surrounding area with a Scotch-Brite pad to achieve a blended
surface sheen.
- Shake the touch-up pen.
- Press the pen's felt tip against scrap surface until tip is saturated.
- Apply touch-up liquid with light, even strokes. Use a clean cloth to blend.
- Allow to dry two minutes. If desired, spray with Clear Coat. (Recommended: Semi-gloss
clear polyurethane.)
NOTE: Scratches across the grain are very difficult to repair and may require a
professional.
SCRATCHES, NICKS OR GOUGES (Soft Fill Stick)
Deeper damage requires going to the soft fill stick. Used carefully, this will still
make the necessary repair.
- Carefully evaluate the damage. If you are not confident of your skills, consult
a professional.
- Apply the fill with an even back and forth motion to completely fill in the damaged
area.
- Gently remove excess with a straight edge and dry cloth.
- If necessary, draw in grain marks with touch-up pen.
- If desired, spray Clear Coat to cover.
HINT: Heat fill stick in microwave for a few seconds to soften.
NOTE: NEVER use sandpaper or any other type of abrasive paper or material to "even
out" a scratch. This will damage the finish.
Caring for Thermofoil and Painted Surfaces
Our thermofoil and painted styles are both durable and trouble-free. Most non-abrasive
household cleaners are ideal for these surfaces. However, cleaners with acetone,
ethyl alcohol, or mineral oils should not be used. Harsh solvents and/or abrasives
like turpentine may break down bonds used to bond the edges, so avoid their use.
DO NOT WAX OR POLISH THERMOFOIL OR PAINTED SURFACES.
Caring for Decorative Pulls and Knobs
The occasional use of mild soap and warm water to clean door and drawer hardware
is wise. After cleaning, thoroughly dry all hardware joints and surfaces and surrounding
area with a clean, soft cloth, and buff hardware with the same. Hinges may be cleaned
with cotton-tipped swabs. Lubrication is not necessary.
CAUTION: Many brass and silver polishes contain harsh chemicals that can damage
hardware's surface. Do NOT use.
Caring for Leather Inserts
If you have chosen to add leather insert panels to your Thomasville kitchen / bath
cabinets, proper care and cleaning are critical to the longevity of your leather
product.
To maintain the leather, gently dust it with a clean, dry, color-free cloth. Never
use saddle soaps, oils, furniture polish, or ammonia.
To clean, use a slightly damp cloth with warm water to clean the entire area. If
cleaning a spill or a stain, start from the outside and clean towards the center.
Allow to air dry.
Caring for Chopping Blocks
Our solid maple chopping block may be wiped clean with a damp cloth or sponge and
dried thoroughly after vegetable, bread or dry good cutting. Make sure liquids that
seeped onto the reverse side are also dried. Occasionally, a small amount of mineral
or vegetable oil should be rubbed into both sides of block.
CAUTION: When the maple block is used during preparation of poultry or other meats,
bacteria can remain on the surface and be transferred to other foods and tools.
If ingested, this bacteria can cause serious or fatal illness. When uncooked meat
touches the board, clean both sides thoroughly with a sponge or cloth soaked in
hot water and detergent. Wipe with a clean, damp cloth and dry thoroughly.
Adjustments
Door Adjustments
PROBLEM: Doors are crooked.
SOLUTION: Correct installation.
Cabinet doors that appear to be crooked and not lined up with other doors could
be a result of faulty installation. It is essential that each cabinet be installed
level and square. This can be checked by using a level on all vertical and horizontal
surfaces of the cabinet. If the cabinet is out of alignment during installation,
it can twist or become "racked," causing alignment problems. To correct this, loosen
the cabinet from the wall and use shims to properly square up the cabinets.
PROBLEM: Doors do not line up vertically (up and down) or where they meet (in the
middle).
SOLUTION: Adjust hinges, as indicated below.
CUP HINGES
There are several different types of cup hinges. The exact design is dictated by
the overlay (concealment of the frame) for that door style. Adjustment for all is
the same.
For side adjustments: Loosen the screws attaching the hinge to the frame plate;
tighten when the proper position is achieved.
For height adjustments: Loosen the screws attaching the hinges to the frame and
move the door up or down to the desired position.
OVEN CABINET HINGES
For side adjustments: Loosen screw on hinge, adjust the door left or right and tighten
screw.
For height adjustments: Loosen screws on door, adjust door up or down and tighten
screws.
EASY REACH HINGES
For side adjustments: Locate the concealed Phillips head screw. Turn to desired
adjustment.
For height adjustments: Loosen screws on hinge plate, adjust door up or down and
tighten screws.
For forward or backward movement, adjust Phillips head screw at the end of hinge
arm.
BI-FOLD EASY REACH HINGES
For adjusting the gap between doors: Loosen screw on the shortest arm of the bi-fold
hinge; tighten after adjustment.
For height adjustments: Loosen screws on hinge plate, adjust door up or down and
tighten screws.
For forward or backward movement, adjust inner screw on the longer arm of the hinge.
Drawer and Shelf Adjustments
PROBLEM: A drawer appears to be crooked.
SOLUTION: Adjust drawer front. If drawer front appears crooked, measure at each
end to see if height is exactly the same. If not, slightly loosen the screws attaching
the drawer front to the drawer box. You may adjust up, down or sideways. Tighten
the screws.
NOTE: This adjustment can only be made PRIOR to installing decorative hardware (handles
or knobs).
For cabinets with a 5-piece drawer head, adjustments may be made by removing plastic
cover and loosening the side brackets attaching the drawer head to the side of the
drawer box. Loosen screw on the drawer, move head to desired position and tighten
screw.
PROBLEM: Drawer does not close evenly.
SOLUTION: Manually adjust drawer guide socket. To correct drawer guide alignment,
adjust the drawer guide member attached from the front edge of the cabinet to the
back, by manually realigning the back socket. Once realigned, be sure to check that
the drawer guide rollers stay in their track and operate smoothly.
PROBLEM: A shelf looks uneven.
SOLUTION: Make sure shelf pegs are at same height and shelf is resting on flat part
of peg.
ARRANGING YOUR SHELVES
To make your kitchen work just the way you want it, you can easily arrange your
shelf heights to their maximum efficiency.
Here's how:
• Properly install shelf pegs into drilled back and face frame vertical rail (when
required).
• Shelf peg must be completely inserted into end panel for peg to properly support
the shelf.
• Shelf must be installed with shelf peg lip behind edge of shelf. If shelf is installed
on top of lip, it will cause shelf peg failure.
For cabinets that have a center vertical rail and the cabinet back is drilled, shelf
pegs are required to support shelf in the middle.
Lazy Susan Adjustments
PROBLEM: Door hits side frame or is crooked in frame.
SOLUTION: Make necessary adjustments to top and bottom.
Step 1 - Top Adjustment
Remove and discard shipping screws (if used).
Loosen star washer screws to re-center pivot. Tighten, check and repeat if necessary.
Step 2 - Bottom Adjustment
Rotate door to expose screws on bottom bracket. Remove and discard shipping screws
(if used).
Loosen star washer screws to re-center pivot cam base (both sides). Tighten, check
and repeat if necessary.
PROBLEM: The door doesn't come to full close.
SOLUTION: Center the door correctly in the frame.
Step 1 - Loosen clamp screw in white plastic housing (approx. 1 turn) to prepare
for positioning adjustment.
Step 2 - Rotate door counter-clockwise until white plastic housing has been latched
into position with spring. A resistance to turning will be felt when the housing
reaches the latched position and may be accompanied by a click or latching sound.
Step 3 - Rotate door slowly clockwise to exact front centered position but not past
it. Release door to check alignment. You may need to rotate door a little past center
to allow for slight spring-back. If you rotate too far, go back to step 2 and repeat.
Step 4 - SLOWLY rotate door counter-clockwise far enough so that clamp screw faces
you again. Tighten clamp screw securely, being careful not to rotate white plastic
housing out of position.
PROBLEM: The door is not centered top to bottom.
SOLUTION: Change adjustment wheel setting.
Step 1 - Remove polymer retainer clip.
Step 2 - Turn adjustment wheel (located inside cut out portion of shaft) clockwise
to raise shelf/door unit. One full turn raise door 1/32".
After adjustment, be sure to replace retainer clip.
NOTE: If shelves are heavily loaded, lift lower shelf slightly to aid adjustment.
Total adjustment: 1/2".
NOTE: When adjustments are completed, be sure to securely tighten all adjustment
screws in housing, shaft bushing and tray adjustment screws.
Cabinet Repair
Surface Damage
As careful as you are, there may still be some occasions in which your cabinets
get nicks and scratches. They can normally be easily fixed. Your Home Depot Designer
can order a cabinet touch-up kit for you that includes a touch-up marker, a filler
pencil, and fast-dry touch-up. It is important to follow directions in the kit.
It is wise to purchase one of these kits to make small repairs.
NOTE: More substantial damages should be repaired by professional refinishers.
SCRATCHES AND SCRAPES (Touch-Up Pen)
Most cabinet scratches can be touched up using a matching touch-up marker available
from your Home Depot.
• Buff the damaged and surrounding area with a Scotch-Brite pad to achieve a blended
surface sheen.
• Shake the touch-up pen.
• Press the pen's felt tip against scrap surface until tip is saturated.
• Apply touch-up liquid with light, even strokes. Use a clean cloth to blend.
• Allow to dry two minutes. If desired, spray with Clear Coat. (Recommended: Semi-gloss
clear polyurethane.)
NOTE: Scratches across the grain are very difficult to repair and may require a
professional.
SCRATCHES, NICKS OR GOUGES (Soft Fill Stick)
Deeper damage requires going to the soft fill stick. Used carefully, this will still
make the necessary repair.
• Carefully evaluate the damage. If you are not confident of your skills, consult
a professional.
• Apply the fill with an even back and forth motion to completely fill in the damaged
area.
• Gently remove excess with a straight edge and dry cloth.
• If necessary, draw in grain marks with touch-up pen.
• If desired, spray Clear Coat to cover.
HINT: Heat fill stick in microwave for a few seconds to soften.
NOTE: NEVER use sandpaper or any other type of abrasive paper or material to "even
out" a scratch.
This will damage the finish.
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