GENERAL CLEANING & MAINTENANCE INFO

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Showers, Tub Surrounds, Vanities, & Tubs

We've designed these Whitewater™ products to be easy to clean. The main thing to remember when cleaning the surface is to never use abrasive cleaners or rough cloths. Use soft cloths and cleaners such as Mr. Clean, Scrubbing Bubbles, Pinesol, Clorox Cleanup, and Soft Scrub's green gel. Do NOT use harsh chemicals or any cleaning products containing abrasive or solvents since these could dull the brilliant surface. Products like Bon-Ami, Comet or Ajax are not recommended.

There are a lot of other cleaners that can be used. If you're not sure it's safe you can rub the cleaner between your fingers; if you fell any grit don't use it. However, if your product has a matte finish, a mild abrasive may be used occasionally. Your Whitewater™ product, regardless of if it is Cultured Marble, Cultured Granite, Tuscany, Solid White, Aggregate, Fossil, Quarry or Quartz, sill has a surface finish similar to cultured or synthetic marble. If you are unsure of a cleaner read the label on the cleaning container.

Avoid using sharp objects or toys on the surface that could scratch it. The gel coat finish is like a boat so it can scratch just like your boat does. One thing you can do to keep the surface easy to clean and fill in small scratches is use a turtle wax about once a year. Do this just like you would to a boat. You can wax the surface with an automotive turtle wax or Gel Gloss (Gel Gloss is a wax made especially for gel coated finishes. It comes in a pink can and can be found at most hardware stores). Don't wax the bottom surface of a tub because it makes it slippery. If you use a regular car wax that is blue, stay away from the caulk lines because they can turn the blue color.

Regular cleaning is recommended to keep your marble looking its best. If you have not cleaned it on a regular basis so soap scum and hard water spots have collected, there are a couple things you can do. You can use an ice scraper made for your car windshield or a Formica sample chip to scrape the walls of your tub surround/shower. You can also mix equal amounts of water and vinegar, which is a good solution to take off water spots.

Jetted and Non-Jetted Tubs

Your bathtub has an Acrylic surface. Use soft cloths and household cleaners such as Mr. Clean, Scrubbing Bubbles, Pinesol, Clorox Cleanup or Soft Scrub's green gel. Stubborn dirt or stains may be removed by using Spic & Span in powder form or equivalents. Do NOT use harsh chemicals or any cleaning products containing abrasive or solvents since these could dull the brilliant surface. Products like Bon-Ami, Comet, Ajax or Lysol are not recommended. Do not use caustic drain cleaners in your tub.

Light surface scratches or burnish marks can be removed easily. Apply paste wax or automotive rubbing compound to the scratch and then mildly buff the area. This will return the acrylic to its original luster and shine. Contact Whitewater's™ service department for assistance with deep scratches or gouges.

Your jetted tub's piping should be cleaned out regularly. Every couple of months fill the tub above the jets with hot water and add several teaspoons low sudsing automatic dishwashing detergent or a few cups bleach. Run the jets for about 15 minutes, drain the tub, fill again and run clean water through for another 15 minutes. If you haven't cleaned the tub in awhile and it needs a heavy duty cleaning, do this process several days in a row. If you purchased your tub with Whitewater's™ "Sanitizer" your piping will automatically clean and nothing needs to be done.

You can also remove jet covers for cleaning by gently prying a flat object under the cover to pop it off. White, bone or gray jet covers can be cleaned using a mild detergent. Chrome, nickel, brass or oil rubbed bronze jet covers should be cleaned with water.

Vanities

Refer to the general cleaning instructions at the top of the page for all Whitewater Surfaces™ vanities. If your vanity is Staron®, Corian®, Zodiaq®, etc, please see their individual websites for specific cleaning recommendations. If you set curling irons on your vanity, it is possible for it to get a burned yellow mark. Prevent this by using a hot pad under the curling iron.

Shower Doors

Using a squeegee daily is the best way to keep your glass clean. Regular cleaning can be done with a solution of 80% warm/soapy water and 20% vinegar. Do not use cleaners containing Ammonia or with a high ph level. You can also use Rain-Ex® periodically to make the water run off better and spot less.

Whirlpool Tub Operating Instructions

To use your whirlpool tub, fill the tub with water to at least 1 inch above the highest jet. All nozzles should be completely submerged with the "eyeballs" pointed down to keep the water from spraying out of the tub. Turn the pump on by pushing the on/off button. If will turn off by pushing the same button. Once in the tub, you can redirect the jet "eyeball" to your preference. You can also adjust the whirlpool action of the tub by turning the air control knob to allow for more air mix.

Use only a small amount of low-sudsing bath soaps or oils. The whirlpool action intensifies sudsing so use small amounts to avoid oversuds and damage to the pump. The jets should never be run without water to avoid damage to the pump. Do not drain the tub while the pump is on.

Avoid using sharp objects or toys on the surface that could scratch it. Avoid small objects in the tub that could possibly enter into the jets or suction area.

Caution: Do no use the tub for prolonged periods at high temperatures; check with your physician if you suffer from heat disease or high blood pressure.

Caution: Keep long hair and all other objects away from the suction cover. Never allow children to use this pruduct unsupervised or play in a way that would alolow the child's hair near the suction cover. Do not use the tub if the suction cover is missing or damaged.

Stone (Granite) Countertops

Stone countertops can be routinely cleaned simply by wiping with a damp cloth. Mild household cleaners can also be used. The best way to keep your stone looking its best is to clean it and buff it dry often, especially around faucets (water puddles can dry to leave a white, dull residue of mineral deposits). Splatters and spills should be wiped up right away. Even though sealants fill the pores, the surface isn't protected completely. Oil left on the counter can soak in and leave a darker area. Cut fruits or meats (anything containing bacteria or citric acids) shouldn't be left on the countertop.

Stone is a very hard material so it is nearly impossible to scratch. Stone can only be scratched by harder stones, such as diamonds. However, cutting boards are still a good idea. Don't sit or stand on your countertop since it could possible crack or fissure.

One great quality of stone is that it is heat resistant. It disperses heat--you won't have to worry about setting hot dishes or heat generating appliances on the surface. It can withstand temperatures up to around 1400 degrees. You will need to seal the stone every couple of years. If you are unsure if your stone needs to be sealed, you can sprinkle a little water on the counter. If the water absorbs quickly it should be re-sealed. If the water beads, the sealant is okay. Re-seal the countertop by wiping it with a mineral based sealant.

When stone has absorbed a stain, it can be removed by re-absorbing it into a different material. If your stone has been stained, please contact Whitewater™ for a cleaning brochure describing how to remove the stain. You can also schedule a service call if you would like Whitewater™ to handle it. This service call would not be covered under warranty.