Maximum Care and Maintenance Guidelines
Kitchen Bench Tops And Splash Backs.
Maximum Porcelain Panels are stain, scratch and thermal shock resistant. Panels are suitable for internal and external use as the product is UV resistant. It is recommended that all maintenance guidelines are followed to ensure that the surfaces stay in excellent condition
Maximum Porcelain Panels are stain resistant as porcelain is a low porosity material but normal daily care must be taken to immediately clean up stains, especially on polished bench tops.
Routine Cleaning
The best method to minimise stubborn stains is to immediately wash away stains such as red wine, food, oils and other liquids by using warm water or with small quantities of a non-bleach or nonabrasive household cleaner. Use a soft non abrasive cloth.
Do not use cleaners that have high alkaline pH levels, such as oven or drain cleaners. Avoid hydrofluoric acid or its compounds.
Stubborn Stains
For stubborn stains use a nonabrasive cleaning product, sugar soap or normal house cleaning products that are cream based or bicarbonate soda mixed with warm water. To remove other hard substances that may adhere to surfaces always use a plastic scraper to gently remove material.
Avoid the use of industrial and harsh chemicals on the surface of material, such as paints, paint strippers, permanent markers and inks. To remove permanent marker marks or other stubborn stains pour a small amount of Glitz Premium Bleach just over the stain and let sit for 4 hours or overnight, then wash off with warm water.
Heat Resistant
Although Maximum is thermal shock resistant, it is always advisable to use a heat mat or similar as a normal practice when placing hot pots on the bench.
Minimising Scratches
Maximum panels are scratch resistant, not scratch proof. Maximum will easily withstand daily use. Always use cutting boards when preparing food. Avoid sliding heavy metallic objects along the porcelain surface.
Repairing Chips For chips and other small damage, normal adhesives and colouring pastes used for engineered stones can be used, such Akepox 5010 and Akemi colouring paste, or the KONIG chip repair system for porcelain.
Contact Maximum Australia for assistance or advice.
Revitalising Surfaces – use Glitz Green Eucalyptus oil (available from Bunnings). Use a dry soft cloth and wipe over surface.
External Use – Maximum is UV resistant and can be used externally. Follow routine cleaning procedures as you would internally.
FLOORS AND WALLS
Cleaning
Initial cleaning – the initial cleaning immediately completed after the flooring is laid is of essential importance for removing all mortar, adhesives, grout and epoxy residues that may be left in the joints. In this initial phase, we recommend that you use an acid based tile cleaning product, as this will minimise future dirt build up. It is also recommended to use grout sealers to maintain clean grout lines. Do not use cleaners that have high alkaline pH levels, such as oven or drain cleaners. Avoid hydrofluoric acid or its compounds. Use PH neutral cleaning products for general use after initial cleaning process. Note: Always do a test strip with the cleaning product that you intend to use.
Cleaning Steps
Vacuum – Vacuum or wipe the tiles to remove loose dust and grit from the surface.
Damp clean – Clean using a microfibre mop or cloth dampened with warm water (no chemicals are necessary when using good-quality microfibre). If you have a smooth floor, use a flat microfibre mop. If your floor tiles are textured, use a microfibre string mop which can more easily enter the texture of the tile. The mop or cloth will ‘grab’ the surface and lift off most daily grime. Use some pressure to work the microfibre – floating it lightly over the surface will not be so productive!
Spot clean (if necessary) – Spot clean any spills, marks or stains using a neutral pH chemical such as Slique Cleansing Fluid or PH neutral cleaner from Elite Coatings. Your local tile shop will have other neutral ceramic cleaning or porcelain cleaning chemicals that are suitable for commercial or domestic use. If using a chemical, rinse the surface lightly with clean water.
Dry – DO NOT leave to dry naturally – dry using an old towel or a clean, dry mop. Note: continued use of this porcelain cleaning regime will improve heavily contaminated tiles over time, but faster recovery can be achieved using intensive cleaning.
Intensive Cleaning
Vacuum – Vacuum or wipe tiles to remove loose grit from the surface.
Scrub – Scrub a small area (about 3-4 square metres) using a light solution of tile cleaner suitable for your tiles, such as Slique’s heavy duty tile cleaner. Your local tile shop will have something suitable for tile cleaning home use. Use a soft brush or broom to work the solution into the pores of the tiles and grout. Continue to complete small areas until the entire surface has been scrubbed. Soak – Leave the solution to work for several minutes, then scrub again.
Extract – When the solution has lifted out the dirt, remove the liquid and dirt using an old towel or clean, dry mop.
Rinse – Pour clean water over the surface to rinse.
Dry – DO NOT leave the surface to dry naturally. Use a clean cloth or mop to soak up any water.
General Recommendations
For commercial and heavily used surface areas such as airports, hospitals, supermarkets, and any public spaces with heavy foot traffic which are thus subject to considerable soiling, it is necessary to use automatic cleaning machines with suction of the washing liquids. This allows not only deep cleaning, but also the continuous removal of liquids containing substances that cause soiling, thus preventing the formation of films which are very difficult to remove.
Common Cleaning Mistakes
Using the wrong cleaning products – too harsh a chemical or too abrasive a cleaner.
Using too much product – dilute as per instructions, more is NOT better.
Applying too much water to the surface – flooding the area.
Not changing the water or cleaning solution often enough.
Not finishing with a rinse to remove any cleaner – or chemical residue.
Leaving residual moisture on the floors – make sure to dry mop, wet vac or dry with an old towel or rag so that there is no residual moisture left on the floors (especially in the grout joints).