Commercial millwork takes daily cleaning, often with whatever product is under the sink, and most avoidable damage comes from the wrong cleaner or a hot object, not from wear. The right routine depends on the surface. Below is a practical guide for the three most common surfaces in stores, offices and clinics: high-pressure laminate, solid surface and finished wood. Always check the care instructions from the specific product’s manufacturer, because they take priority over general advice.
Laminate is tough and easy to clean, but it is sensitive to abrasives, some chemicals and heat. Wilsonart’s care guidance is typical of laminate manufacturers:
Solid surface is non-porous and, unlike most other surfaces, can be renewed by sanding. Corian’s care guidance:
Our comparison of solid surface and quartz covers how the two materials differ in use, including repairability.
Wood millwork is protected by its factory finish, so care is really care of the finish.
For how different finishing systems compare in chemical resistance, see our guide to wood finishing systems.
Clinics, labs and food service areas clean with disinfectants much more often and more aggressively than offices. Before choosing finishes, list the disinfectants the facility uses and check them against the manufacturers’ chemical resistance data for each surface. Afterward, give housekeeping staff a short list of approved products for each surface. A disinfectant that is fine on solid surface may discolour laminate or dull a wood finish over months of daily use.
Store fixtures face restocking, carts, customers and frequent moves. A short care sheet for each fixture type, kept with the store’s operations manual, helps staff use the right cleaners and report damage early. Keeping a small stock of matching touch-up materials, spare shelf pins and common hardware on a rollout program makes minor repairs quick and keeps stores looking consistent.
We build laminate, solid surface and finished wood fixtures in our Vaughan plant, and the manufacturers’ care instructions for the specified materials can be included with project closeout documents. If you are not sure what a surface is or what is safe to use on it, get in touch with the project details.
Wipe it with a damp cloth and mild soap or detergent, rinse and dry. For stubborn stains, laminate manufacturers suggest a paste of baking soda and water with a soft brush. Avoid abrasive pads and acidic cleaners, and do not leave bleach on laminate for long.
Corian’s care guidance allows occasional disinfecting with bleach diluted about 1 to 100, followed by rinsing. Strong chemicals such as paint removers, oven cleaners and acid drain cleaners should be kept off solid surface.
Fine scratches in a matte finish can be sanded and buffed out following the manufacturer’s steps. Semi-gloss finishes need finer grits, and high-gloss finishes are best restored by a professional fabricator.
Abrasive cleaners and pads, steel wool, acidic cleaners, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, rust removers and toilet bowl cleaners. Prolonged bleach contact discolours laminate, and hot pots should never go directly on it.
Dust with a soft cloth and wipe with a cloth dampened with water and a little mild soap, then dry. Use only cleaners and polishes that the finish supplier or millwork manufacturer approves, and keep humidity within the range the millwork was installed for.
