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Ampco Products, Inc.
11400 NW 36 Avenue
Miami, FL 33167
Tel: (305) 821-5700
Fax: (305) 688-5160
E-mail: info@ampco.com
Web site: http://www.ampco.com

Care and Cleaning

High Pressure Decorative Laminate
Laminate surfaces can be cleaned with a mild liquid soap or an all-purpose cleaner. Be sure to wipe and dry the finish after cleaning. Do not hose down or wet down high-pressure laminate partition systems.

Although laminate surfaces are extremely durable, you may want to add some extra protection. Use self-cleaning waxes available at your local supermarket to provide a protective film on laminate clad surfaces. These products are gentle and if used according to the directions on the package, can be used regularly with no need for stripping.

While laminate surfaces are impervious to normal wear and tear, they can be damaged if they are subjected to extraordinary abuse. Gouging can result in scratching and cracking. Sliding sharp objects across laminate surfaces may cause accelerated wear and scratching.

Cleaning the Surface
Matte and Suede Finishes - Use a soft damp cloth with mild liquid soap or all-purpose cleaner.

Textured Finishes - Use a nylon scrub brush with all-purpose cleaner or mild liquid detergent diluted with water. Rinse with water and wipe with a soft dry cloth.

High-Gloss Finishes - Use a soft damp cloth with mild liquid soap or all-purpose cleaner. Use a mild glass cleaner with a soft dry cloth to eliminate any additional smears and streaks.

Certain substances require special cleaning techniques and materials. Here are recommendation for the most common problems:

  • Residual Glue - Use a soft dry cloth with an adhesive solvent.
  • Paint and varnish - Use soft dry cloth and a solvent or paint remover to remove oil-based paint and varnish. Water based paints can be removed with glass cleaner or paint remover on a soft dry cloth.
  • Stains - Laminate surfaces will resist most stains, however some substances can cause permanent or semi-permanent discoloring. The visual impact or stains caused by hair dyes, laundry blueing, and pharmaceutical compounds can be reduced by blotting the area quickly with a soft dry cloth slightly dampened with diluted chlorine bleach. Afterwards, immediately rinse the area with water to remove any remaining bleach.
  • Discoloration from wood stains, indelible ink, or newsprint can be faded by applying full strength Pine Sol liquid cleaner or mild all-purpose stray cleaner. Allow the cleaner to draw out the stain for a few minutes, then blot with a soft cloth and rinse with water.

Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is generally corrosion resistant and will last for many years if properly maintained. A common misconception is that stainless steel will not rust. If exposed to highly corrosive materials for prolonged periods, stainless steel may experience some degree of corrosion. For example, muriatic acid, a hydrochloric acid derivative used on job sites to clean grout between tile, will rust even heavy gauge stainless steel. Take care to keep such materials away from stainless steel partitions. If some contamination occurs, however, clean the surface with kerosene, acetone, or soap and water. Then use a scouring pad or steel wool to vigorously rub the surface, always rubbing with the grain of the material, until is removed. Then clean with a normal stainless steel cleaner.

Cleaning the Surface
Clean your stainless steel partitions with any oil based stainless steel cleaner on the market. Do not use non-oil based cleaners, since these tend to leave an unattractive film on the surface. Carefully remove excess cleaner so that the oil does not attract dirt and dust. Wipe the surface with the grain of the material to avoid scratching the surface.

Solid Phenolic Core
Follow the above guidelines for high pressure laminate as the decorative surface should be treated the same. However, because phenolic systems have a solid core, these systems can be exposed to water. You may hose down a phenolic system, if necessary. Do not use abrasive cleaners, rough scouring pads or steel wool to clean
laminate surfaces.

Powder Coated Baked Enamel Steel
Use a mild liquid soap to clean metal partitions. Be sure to wipe and dry the finish after cleaning. Do not hose down or wet down steel partition systems. Do not use abrasive cleaners, rough scouring pads or steel wool to clean surfaces. Keep away from acids, cleaners and stains.

Solid Surface

Routine Care
Soapy water or ammonia-based cleaners will remove most dirt and stains from all types of solid surface. Be careful not to apply cleaning solvents to the toilet partition hardware, however, as this will degrade the finish and functionality of the hardware and moving parts over time.

Removing Stains and Fixing Scratches
Nicks, scratches and cuts are inevitable with any high-use product, including solid surface. But because the material is solid, it is easy to renew to its original appearance as described below.

Minor damage, including scratches, general or chemical stains, scorches or burns, and minor impact marks, can be repaired on-site with a light abrasive cleanser and a product such as a green Scotch-Brite® pad.

For heavier damage, light sanding may be necessary. The following steps should be followed:

Identify the extent of the damage and ascertain whether a minor repair will solve the problem. If the damage is minor, try to repair it with an abrasive cleanser or a product such as a Scotch-Brite® pad. If the above step is unsuccessful, hand-sand with 400-grit wet and dry paper. To minimize dust, wet the surface before starting. If this is unsuccessful, use an electric sander and heavier-grit paper. Always make provisions to control dust. If this, too, is unsuccessful, you may need to consult a professional for other repair options.
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