HOW TO MAINTAIN LAMINATE SHEETS
The popularity of composite finishing materials depends not only on affordability, but also ease of maintenance after installation. Formica is the prime laminates manufacturer in India,popular for its large variety of colour, styles and patterns at convenient price-points. Laminate sheets counter-tops are exceedingly inexpensive as compared to tiles, marble or granite, but the design patterns that they carry mimic these more expensive items. Even the best laminates in India are composited materials, which is to say they are created by a man-made process that comprises of applying heat and pressure on plastic, plywood or particle boards in a way that they are stable and stick. Laminate sheets can handle heavy duty abrasion, scratches and dust without losing their polish. However, to ensure longevity and cleanliness, a little bit of effort has to be put in. Here are some guidelines by some laminate manufacturers in India on how to go about maintaining laminate sheets.
Do’s:
To begin with, a clean and damp soft cloth should be sufficient to do the trick. To enhance the cleaning power of a gentle rub, add some drops of mild dish washing soap. All laminate manufacturers in India encourage youto ensure that no soap foam stays on, or seeps into the corners. You could even try to use a spray of window, mirror or glass cleaner and carry out a swift power scrub at dirty spots.
To get the perfect damp cloth to clean laminate sheets, soak it under a running tap, and wring out all the excess water. You could clean your laminate counter-top or furniture once a day or after heavy use.
Laminate Manufacturers in India always make products that are water-proof, and are naturally resistant to dust and mild scratches. However, it is advisable to clean up spills as soon as they happen on even the best laminates in India. So always keep a soft cloth handy, so as to avoid staining and damage.
A natural alternative to chemical cleaning agents is to use a solution of white vinegar in tap water. Determine the concentration of vinegar in water that works best for your laminate sheets! This DIY is a trial and error method which can give lasting results without causing any chemical damage to you or your loved ones.
Besides white vinegar, baking soda is a more powerful cleaning agent and is recommended for use by the almost all laminate manufacturers in India. For caked-on food or crud, use a paste-mix of baking soda in white vinegar.
Don’ts:
Laminate Sheets don’t work well with intensive cleaning agents; especially the ones with scrubbing particles like chemical products with grit should be avoided as far as possible. You may be tempted to try out promising cleaning agents which have acid as their primary content, but knowing that laminates are made of plastic and paper, all laminate manufacturers in India want to refrain from using them at all cost. Using acid/ detergent agents can damage the plastic coating of the laminate sheets. Also, thorough washing can harm the laminate sheet as it can detach the laminate from the underlying base and may also warp the wooden base in the long run.
Also, always remember to keep a cutting board handy if you’re using laminates on your kitchen counter-top. Use a trivet when resting heated pots and cookware, as too much heat can leave a burn/ scorch mark on laminate sheets.
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