PASTEL PRODUCT CARE & MAINTENANCE

CARE OF COATED WOOD SURFACES

Furniture that has been made to last can very quickly get a “used” appearance. Quality wood furniture must be taken care of properly in order to keep its beauty. Due to its many properties, wood has always been used in the making of furniture all over the world. Each tree is an individual piece of nature which keeps its own character in strength, structure and sensitivity to light and moisture. Wood can change its character with time.

Tips to follow are:

1. Moisture is the worst enemy of all wooden furniture, so all spilt liquid should be wiped away at once.

2. Table tops should be protected against heat, and also against wet or colored objects. Always protect the surface when using sharp tools.

3. Furniture made for indoor use should never be used outdoors. In order to keep the color of the wood, direct sunlight should be avoided as much as possible.

4. Never put furniture directly against a heater or radiator.

Day to Day Cleaning:

The coated surface should be cleansed with a dampened cloth and mild soap and water. The surface should then be wiped down with a dry cloth to remove excess moisture. Other cleaning compounds exist but may contain alkaline agents which will adversely affect the coated surface. Household polishes can be used on an infrequent basis. Products containing silicone are moisture and dirt resistant but may hinder future lacquering.

TUMBLED MARBLE TABLE TOPS CARE & MAINTENANCE

Thank you for your purchase! With proper care and maintenance, your top will look beautiful for many years to come.

The process that gives the worn-out and used appearance to your top involves cutting big blocks of marbles into thin slabs and then into little pieces of rectangular and square shape. At last, they are “tumbled” into big barrels containing acid to give their final appearance. Appearance may vary from one piece to the other and micro gout cracks maybe present but do not jeopardize the structure of the tops.

The tops are assembled in Los Angeles, California from Mexican marble and are sealed prior to shipping. Iron flat bars are used underneath to give extra strength to the metal frame. However, they may pop out of the bottom coat of thin set in extreme cases. This does not cause any prejudice to the structural aspect of the table top and can be touched up with regular cement.

It is recommended to keep the tops sealed on a regular basis (every 6 to 12 months) depending on the wear and use of the tops. A top subject to everyday meal use will necessitate more care than a top used in summer under a patio. A good quality stone sealer can be purchased from any tiles or stone store or even your local Home Depot, and should be applied according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Grout cleaners are also readily available for extreme situations. These tops are for indoor and outdoor use and, when sealed properly, will withstand any weather conditions except internal freezing. Snow or freezing rain penetrating the table will cause cracks! In prevention, the tops should be brought inside or covered with plastic.

Your top is ready to be enjoyed!

CARE FOR YOUR GRANITE TOPS

Found in many parts of the world, granite is an extremely durable stone that was formed over the course of millions of years as heat and pressure forced liquid materials through softened limestone. As the earth cooled, the mineral flows stopped and eventually hardened. The resulting crystalline properties of these minerals lent the newly created granite the distinctive colors, veining, and graining for which this stone is valued.

The surface of the granite on your top has been polished or sealed to create a uniform, generally non-porous surface. While going through the process, majority of the stone's natural characteristics - including veining, hairline cracks, and color variations - remain an intrinsic part of the material's natural beauty. Thus, ensuring that each piece of furniture is a unique item to be treasured and enjoyed for many years to come.

To maintain the beauty of your stone products, follow the guidelines below:

* Protect surfaces from scratching, staining and etching by -
--keeping them free of debris or sharp objects.
--wiping up spills immediately.
--avoiding contact with chemicals, particularly acid-based materials.
* Clean with pH neutral products or those especially formulated for use on stone.
* It is not recommended that you use water-based solvent for dark granite because it will remove the polish from the surface.
* After a period of use, apply a penetrating sealer to prevent contaminants from being absorbed into the stone. (Tile Lab is recommended.)
* Remove stains with special absorbent poultices formulated for use on stone.
* Renew the surface on polished granite (granite with a high gloss surface) by buffing with special stone polish powders or creams. Do not use granite polish on granite with a matte finish, which has been honed rather than polished. (Penetrating sealer may be used on both polished and honed granite.)

RECOMMENDED FABRIC CLEANING CODES

The furniture industry has adopted a standard coding which indicates the proper cleaning method for all types of upholstery fabrics.

Pastel's fabrics utilize this coding. The code is identified below:

W -- To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended. Spot clean, using foam only solvent upholstery shampoo product. Apply foam with a soft brush in a circular motion. Vacuum when dry. Pretest small area before proceeding. Use a professional furniture cleaning service when an overall soiled condition has been reached.
S -- To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended. Spot clean, using mild water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Clean only in a well-ventilated room and avoid any product containing Carbon Tetrachloride or other toxic materials. Pretest small area before proceeding. Cleaning by a professional furniture cleaning service only is recommended.
SW -- To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended. Spot clean with a mild solvent or an upholstery cleaning product, follow instructions carefully and clean only in a well-ventilated room. Avoid any product which contains Carbon Tetrachloride or other toxic materials. With either method, pretest a small area before proceeding. Use a professional furniture cleaning service when an overall soiled condition has been reached.
X -- Clean this fabric only by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust or grime. Water-based foam cleaners or solvent-based cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinking, staining or distortion of the surface pile and, therefore, should not be used.