Product Care & Maintenance
The best way to care for your new Dream Home
Proper care and maintenance of the products we installed in your dream home will ensure that they last a lifetime, or at least until you want to upgrade again.
Listed below by category are our "best practices" for product care and maintenance. If we have missed anything, please don't hesitate to ask.
Click on a link below
Care and Maintenance - Hardwood
Proper maintenance of your hardwood floor is important for keeping it looking new over time.
- Walk off mats - Place rugs at all entryways to collect dirt that might be tracked into the home. Make certain to use rugs or mats that can breathe. Avoid using rubber-backed or non-ventilated rugs as they can damage the floor.
- Sweeping - Sweep your floor regularly to pick up grains of dirt and other particles. A vacuum cleaner without a beater bar can be helpful in hard to reach places.
- Cleaning - Make certain to use a designated hardwood floor cleaner as most cleaners and waxes will build up a film on your floor. This build up can cause future problems with re-coating the floor. Do not use ammonia cleaners or oil soaps as they can dull the floor. Never use excessive water to clean your floor.
- Spills - Make sure to wipe up any spills immediately to prevent spotting and staining.
- Protection - Place pads under all furniture that is located on the hardwood floor. Make certain that all bar stools and chairs have adequate protection under them. High-heeled shoes and dropping of sharp or heavy objects can damage the floor.
Proper maintenance of your carpet is an important step to keeping it looking good for a long period of time.
- Vacuum - All carpets require daily vacuuming especially in high traffic areas. This will help, but not prevent, crushing and matting caused by heavy foot traffic. Vacuum cleaners with a good “beater bar” are recommended for most carpets.
- Cleaning - Steam or chemical cleaning will alter the appearance and performance of the carpet. Consult with the manufacturer before professionally cleaning or adding stain protection to the carpet.
- Perimeter Discoloration - It is common that carpet will discolor along the walls and around heat/air conditioning registers. Frequent vacuuming with an edge tool, along with thorough cleanings of all air vents and filters will help, but may not prevent, this from occurring.
- Spot Cleaning - Listed below are recommended ways for spot cleaning areas of carpet. These are recommendations only and are not guaranteed. Follow the steps listed below when spot cleaning:
a) Blot liquids with a clean, white, absorbent cloth.
b) Use a small amount of the recommended cleaning solution. Work into the area gently. DO NOT SCRUB! Blot thoroughly. Repeat as necessary.
c) Absorb as much of the cleaning agent and wetness before moving on to the next step in the cleaning process. This can be done with paper towels or a clean, white cloth.
d) When complete and area is dry, vacuum thoroughly to restore the texture of the carpet.
Care and Maintenance - Ceramic Tile
Proper maintenance of your ceramic tile is an important part of keeping the product looking good over time.
- Sweeping - Sweep tile floors regularly. Dirt can adhere to the surface of tile, especially those with a textured surface. Vacuum cleaners without a beater bar work well for hard-to-reach places.
- Walk Off Mats - Place rugs or mats at entryways to collect dirt that might be tracked into the home.
- Cleaning - Use a damp mop on your floor regularly with the manufacturer’s recommended grout and tile cleaner. For heavily soiled areas, use a sponge or a cloth and the recommended cleaners. If you are not sure what cleaners are safe to use, a liquid detergent such as Ivory or Lux diluted with water can be used. Always rinse well when complete. Textured tiles may require mild scrubbing with a soft brush. Avoid using cleansers containing acids, ammonia, vinegar, bleach, scouring powders, or other harsh abrasives, as they may scratch the surface of the tile.
- Protection - Although very durable, it is recommended to protect your floor by putting pads under the furniture, especially bar stools and chairs.
Proper maintenance of your grout is an important part of keeping the product looking good over time.
- Cleaning-To clean grout use soap, like liquid Ivory (not detergent), and water.
- Reseal - Grout will be sealed initially, but needs to be resealed every 8-10 years.
Care and Maintenance-Laminate Flooring
Proper maintenance of your laminate floor is important for keeping the floor looking good over time.
- Walk Off Mats - Place rugs at all entryways to collect dirt that might be tracked into the home.
- Sweeping - Sweep your floor regularly to pick up grains of dirt and other particles. Vacuum cleaners without a beater bar work well for hard-to-reach places.
- Cleaning - Make certain to use a designated laminate floor cleaner as there are many cleaners that will leave a build up or residue on your floor. Never use excessive water to clean your floor.
- Spills - Make sure to wipe up any spills immediately to prevent spotting and staining.
- Protection - Place pads under all furniture on the laminate floor. Make certain all bar stools and chairs have adequate protection under them. High-heeled shoes and dropping of sharp or heavy objects can damage the floor.
Proper maintenance of your vinyl flooring is important for keeping your floor looking good over time.
- Walk Off Mats - Place rugs at all entryways collect dirt that might be tracked into the home. Make certain to use rugs or mats that can breathe. Avoid using rubber-backed or non-ventilated rugs as they can damage or discolor the floor.
Sweeping - Sweep your floors regularly to pick up dirt and other particles. Vacuum cleaners without a beater bar work well for hard-to-reach places. - Cleaning - Mop the floor thoroughly with fresh water. DO NOT LEAVE STANDING WATER ON THE FLOOR. If water alone will not clean the surface, use the recommended cleaning products per the manufacturer. If you are unable to determine the proper cleaner, use one tablespoon of liquid dish soap mix with one quart of water. Rinse well to ensure you do not leave behind a film.
- Spills - Wipe up spills immediately to avoid spotting and staining. Use a clean cloth to wipe the spill and use the proper cleaning method on the affected area, rinse thoroughly when complete. Do NOT use highly abrasive cleaners as they will scratch the vinyl flooring.
- Protection - Place pads under all furniture that will rest on the vinyl flooring, especially bar stools and chairs. Take extreme caution when moving appliances; DO NOT drag or roll.
- Caulking - It is the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain caulking.
- Moisture - Do not saturate the vinyl floor. Excessive moisture and standing water will cause damage.
- Traffic - Vinyl will show wear patterns over time. This is considered a normal characteristic.
- Underlayment - There are times when vinyl is installed over an underlayment. Underlayment seams may show through the vinyl flooring.
Care & Maintenance - Natural Stone
CLEANING
- Sweep, dust-mop, or vacuum prior to wet-mopping with pH-balanced neutral cleaner and warm water. After mopping, wipe dry for best results.
- Do not use harsh chemicals on stone such as bleach and ammonia. Be cautious with items like vinegar, alcohol, citrus juices and oils because they can affect the finish of your stone, especially polished ones.
SEALING
- All stones will be sealed with an impregnating sealer whether they are slab or tile. An impregnating sealer penetrates the interior of the stone through the pores of the surface with silicone and resins. The main objective of an impregnating sealer is to protect the interior of the stone. While it will help the stone from absorbing liquids it will not protect the surface. Proper maintenance will help keep the surface looking its best.
- All slabs will come sealed by the fabricator. Homeowners will need to reapply a sealer once a year thereafter.
- All stone tiles will be sealed by our trade partner Brady’s Grout Seal. The sealer will have a 5-year warranty, as long as the stone was cleaned and properly cared for by the homeowner.
- All stone tiles and accents will be sealed twice before grouting by the flooring company and then sealed after grouting by Brady’s. This ensures that the stone does not absorb the grout. The grout should be cured approximately 30 days before sealing.
- Upon request and for an upgrade, the flooring company can add an enhancing sealer to the stones. The enhancing sealer will darken the stone and make it appear wet. This is very popular for slate because it will bring out all of the rich colors. It is also great for tumbled stones because it will get rid of the chalky look and deepen the color.
All of the above stated items are normal conditions and characteristics of natural stone, at no time will any of these conditions justify replacement of the stone.
Care & Maintenance-Granite Slab
Proper maintenance of your granite countertops is an important part of keeping the product looking good over time.
- Sealing - The newly installed granite countertops are sealed after installation. Under normal use in food preparation areas, it is recommended that you reseal your countertops every 12 months. It is recommended to use an impregnating sealer. Sealing is considered normal homeowner maintenance.
- Protection - Be sure to use coasters under glasses. Some foods and drinks contain acids and other materials that can stain or dull the surface.
- Spills - Blot up spills immediately. Oils, grease, butter, etc., can eventually penetrate the stone surface.
- Cleaning - It is recommended to thoroughly clean the countertops once per week. Use a mild liquid dishwashing detergent diluted with clean, warm water. Make sure to rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth to avoid soap build up and streaking on the surface. You may also use specially designed granite cleaners for this process; refer to the contractor for the recommended cleaners. DO NOT use any chemical cleaners, scouring powders, creams, or abrasives.
- Stability - DO NOT allow anyone to sit, stand, or walk on your countertops. Although granite is extremely strong, it is not flexible. Sink and stove rails, overhangs, and seams can be particularly vulnerable if heavy objects are placed on them.
Care and Maintenance - Cabinets
Proper maintenance is important for keeping your cabinets looking good over the years.
- Use appropriate furniture care techniques and products on your cabinets.
- Washing with water can damage the finish on your wood. A hardwood cleaner can work well.
- Avoid lemon-type polishes for they may cause yellowing.
- Products such as Murphy’s soap can cause problems and build up on your cabinets.
- The hinges on the cabinet doors can be lubricated. If needed, an oil- free silicone lubricant will work well in this situation.
- The wood materials used in cabinets are products of nature and include numerous color hues, grain patterns, and other natural characteristics.
Care & Maintenance - Laminate Countertops
Proper maintenance is important for keeping your laminate countertops looking good over the years.
- Do not chop, slice, pound or hammer on any laminate surface.
- Use cutting boards, chopping blocks, or other protective surfaces.
- Knives or other sharp utensils may slice or scratch the surface.
- Prolonged exposure to temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher may cause the laminate to discolor, warp, or separate from the core material. Use caution with all heated appliances.
- Ceramics and abrasive objects can cause scratching and premature wear. Do not slide items across the laminate surface without putting a mat, trivet, or felt protectors under them first.
- Never use chemicals that contain acid, alkali, or sodium hypochlorite. These cleaners will mark, etch, corrode, and permanently discolor the laminate top. Examples are: drain/oven cleaners, metal cleaners, ceramic cook top cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, chlorine bleach, and lime scale/rust removers.
- To clean, use a clean, damp, non-abrasive cotton cloth and a mild liquid detergent or household cleaner.
- Rinse with clean water, using a clean non-abrasive cotton cloth.
- Do not flood the laminate, especially near seams, since water can penetrate and cause the substrate to swell.
- To remove or minimize stains, use full strength Fantastic All Purpose Cleaner, Formula 409, Pine-Sol or other mild household cleaners.
- To minimize stubborn stains make a paste with baking soda and water and let sit on stain (do not rub). Wipe up the paste with a clean, damp, non-abrasive cotton cloth and then rinse with clean water.
- Periodic application of a self-cleaning wax can help minimize future staining.
Care & Maintenance - Solid Surface Countertops
Proper maintenance is important for keeping your solid surface countertops looking good over the years.
- Hot plates, pans, and skillets should never be laid directly on countertops. Hot items will cause the surface to stain, bubble, or crack.
- Always use cutting boards and trivets to prevent damage.
- Avoid exposure of strong chemicals directly to your countertop such as paint removers, oven cleaners, polish remover, etc. as they can etch or discolor the top surface. Use an abrasive cleaner or a green Scotch-Bright pad to remove discoloration.
- Do not run ice cold water immediately after pouring boiling water into a Corian sink.
- Use soapy water or ammonia based cleaner to remove dirt and most stains.
- Water marks – Wipe with damp cloth and towel dry.
- Difficult stains – Use an abrasive cleaner and/or a green Scotch-Bright pad.
- Minor cuts and scratches – Use an abrasive cleaner, green Scotch-Bright pad, or sandpaper with no greater grit than 180 or 220.
- Deep cuts, scratches and major damage - contact your solid surface manufacturer.
Care and Maintenance - Window Coverings
Window fashions come in a variety of styles and products. It is best to review the following information to help understand care and maintenance for different products. The life of your window coverings is in direct proportion to the care and maintenance they receive.
Draperies / Top Treatments / Bed Coverings / Roman shades
DRY CLEAN ONLY. Clean your fabric products as needed. Select a reputable dry cleaner that guarantees length. Homes differ in the amount of fabric soiling conditions (smoke, cooking oils, pet stains, water, dust, etc.) which can affect the life of the material. The combination of direct sunlight and air pollution will eventually take its toll on all fabrics. Fading and acid grime from the above conditions cannot always be removed by cleaning, possibly resulting in permanent discoloration. The only way to avoid acid grime is by not letting it accumulate. Vacuum your fabric products regularly.
Wood Shutters / Composite Shutters
Treat wood shutters as you would any fine wood furniture. Dust as needed with a soft, clean cloth, or feather duster. Remove spots or stains with a damp cloth. A mixture of ammonia and water is recommended for stubborn spots or stains. Due to direct exposure to sunlight, do not use wax, oil or any type of detergent. Consult your individual product care instructions for specific cleaning instructions
Composite shutters
These shutters are virtually indestructible. Most varieties of polyresin construction are waterproof, flame retardant, color fast, and washable. Its durable finish makes dents and scratches a rare possibility. In most cases, soap and water will remove unsightly blemishes, and scratches may be buffed away using light steel wool. Consult your individual product care instructions for specific cleaning instructions
Wood Blinds
Treat wood blinds as you would any fine wood furniture. Dust as needed with a feather duster or soft clean cloth. A mixture of ammonia and water is recommended for stubborn spots or stains. Due to direct exposure to sunlight, do not use wax, oil or any type of detergent.
Vertical Blinds / Sheer Wrap Vertical Blinds
Dust with feather duster or vacuum with upholstery attachment. For heavy soils, gently sponge on mild detergent or fabric cleaner. Sheer wrap fabric may be removed and washed with mild detergent on gentle cycle.
Window Shadings: Woven Woods, Silhouette, Cellular and Pleated Shades
All of these products can be cleaned with a light vacuuming attachment right where they hang. To clean with water, use a lukewarm, damp sponge and wipe with firm light strokes. Some cellular and pleated shades can be removed and dipped in warm water for extensive cleaning. Consult your individual product care manual for specific cleaning instructions.
Dream Home Designs, LLC.
1480 West 3rd Ave.
Denver, CO 80223
Phone: 303-417-6399
Fax: 303-433-9790
