Routine Care of Your Corian® Countertop
There are three types of Corian® countertop finishes: matte/satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss. Most countertops are finished with a matte/satin finish. All Corian® sinks have a matte/satin finish.
For most residues, all you need to clean your Corian® countertops is warm soapy water, ammonia-based household cleaner, or a dedicated countertop cleaner found at your local grocery store. Do avoid window cleaners, however, as they can leave a waxy build-up that dulls the surface. Follow the recommendations on the next page to properly clean your countertop and sink.
Experience has shown that a film builds up on the surface if water is left to dry on the countertop. This film will dull the look of the countertop making the finish appear blotchy and uneven. To prevent build up of the film, it is very important to wipe the countertop completely dry after spills and cleaning.
Some Corian® colors may require more frequent cleaning to maintain a uniform finish. Darker colors tend to require more attention than lighter colors. Over time,even with proper care, your countertop will acquire a patina, changing the appearance of the finish. You may restore the look of the original finish by following the refurbishing guidelines near the bottom of the page.
A key to keeping your countertops looking good is to thoroughly rinse and wipe completely dry after cleaning.
Countertop Cleaning (All finishes)
Most Dirt & Residue
Use soapy water, ammonia-based cleaner (not window cleaner), rinse and wipe completely dry. Commercially available solid surface cleaners, such as Clean EnCounters® will also work well.
Preventing Hard Water Marks
Rinse and wipe completely dry after cleaning; clean up spills before they dry.
Removing Hard Water Marks
Use cleaner formulated for removing hard water marks, such as CLR® or Lime-A-Way®
Disinfecting
Occasionally wipe surface with diluted household bleach - 1:100 (5 Tbsp. of bleach to 1 gallon of water, as recommended by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention for disinfection of surfaces).
Avoid getting the bleach solution in your eyes or on bare skin. Always follow the bleach manufacturer’s safety instructions when working with bleach.
To enhance the gloss level on semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes, use a countertop polish such as Countertop Magic®, Hope’s® Perfect Countertop™, or Enhance Countertop Polish®.
Preventing Damage
Preventing Heat Damage
While DuPontTM Corian® solid surface is heat resistant, as with all countertop materials, it is important to minimize direct heat exposure to protect your surface and investment. Do not place hot pots, pans, etc., directly on the countertop surface. Always use heat trivets or hot pads when placing hot objects on any surface. Always use a trivet under portable heat generating appliances such as a toaster oven. Allow cookware to cool before placing it into a Corian® sink.
Preventing Other Damage
In most cases Corian® solid surface can be repaired if damaged. Be sure to follow these guidelines to help you prevent permanent damage.
Avoid getting strong chemicals, such as paint removers and oven cleaners, on your Corian® countertop. If a spill does occur, promptly flush the surface with water to fully rinse off the chemical.
Do not cut directly on Corian® countertops. Use a cutting board.
Boiling water alone will not damage your Corian® sink; however, it is a recommended practice to run cold water from the faucet while pouring boiling water into the sink.
Repairs
Removing Blotchy Appearance or Fine Scratches
You may notice that the surface of your countertop begins to look blotchy. Typically this is caused by leaving hard water to dry on the surface which will leave a film of minerals.
Pour some mild abrasive liquid cleanser, such as Soft Scrub®, on a damp sponge or cloth and rub over area using small circular motions, from the front to the back, then side to side,overlapping the circles until the entire area has been cleaned.
Rinse the top throughly with clean water and wipe surface completely dry.• Check to see if blotchiness is gone. If not, repeat procedure applying more pressure on the sponge or cloth.
Continue over all affected areas until all film is removed.
Note: While this procedure may remove or minimize the look of very fine scratches, other deeper scratches may remain. They may be removed by following the procedure below or you may wish to hire a professional refinisher to refinish your countertop.
Removing Minor Cuts and Scratches
Because the beauty of Corian® solid surface goes all the way through, DuPontTM Corian® solid surfaces are renewable. You can remove minor cuts and scratches yourself by following theseinstructions. Deeper scratches may also be removed, but repair is best done by professionals.
First, wash the area where the scratch is located, following the instructions found in this guide, to remove any film on the surface as this film may clog the cleaning pads. With the surfacestill wet, start rubbing with the peach colored (1500 AO) side of the abrasive pad. Use a light touch. Pressing too hard may actually leave deeper scratches. Rub over the scratch using astraight line motion. Periodically switch rubbing direction ninety degrees. Rinse pad periodically during this process to remove any built up residue. Be sure all of the scratch is removed.
Clean top with water and dry thoroughly. Check to see if sanded area blends with rest of top. Please note that sanded area may not perfectly match remainder of top. Rub over a large areato blend in sanding.
If needed, continue the sanding process using the blue colored (4000 AO) pad and if necessary the gray colored (12000 AO) pad until the desired gloss level* is achieved. Clean the top with water and dry thoroughly between each pad.• Rinse out all pads used and allow them to air dry before putting them away.
An alternative to refinishing yourself, is to contact the Authorized Corian® retailer from whom you purchased your Corian® solid surface product to inquire about getting a quote for professional refinishing.
With proper care, your Corian® countertop can stay looking like new.