KBB Birmingham 2020 saw the trade launch of The Used Kitchen Company’s Kitchen Passport to thousands of industry experts, manufacturers and buyers. The response was astoundingly positive, everyone welcomed the new initiative which will extend the cradle to grave life of a kitchen. We are proud to be able to offer this ethical and sustainable business which not only extends your kitchen’s lifespan but maximises the resources that went into its creation. Check out our supporters below who have already given Kitchen Passport their stamp of approval!
Today we are hugely excited to be launching our official website mykitchenpassport.com and are now live and ready to store all of your kitchen info under one roof. Check out who has already given it their seal of approval
Whilst the idea of re-usability has infiltrated all parts of our lives, from to our phones to our homes, we rarely view our kitchen as something that can be reused by someone else. As a result, kitchens seldom survive renovation projects, with perfectly reusable kitchens ending up in landfill.
With thousands of homeowners embarking on renovations each year, the cost of the kitchen industry on the environment has grown considerably in recent years.
The Kitchen Passport is an effort to reverse these practices, and foster a more circular kitchen economy. By providing a safe and secure location for your kitchen’s details, the Passport is designed to facilitate the resale process and reduce the waste produced by the kitchen industry.
We hope that the Kitchen Passport will encourage homeowners to view their kitchens as recyclable items, which can have multiple owners and multiple homes.
Together, we can work towards a sustainable future in the kitchen industry.
Looeeze Grossman Founder and CEO Kitchen Passport
Dismantling Your Kitchen
Dismantling a used kitchen can be a very tricky procedure. Whilst kitchens are made to last, worktops can be extremely heavy and delicate, and prone to cracks if not handled properly. Kitchen dismantling is best done by a team of profession fitters, as there is a real art to their removal. However, if you do decide to go ahead yourself, bear in mind the following:
Preparing for dismantle
Remember to take out insurance to cover the seller’s property in case of accidental damage.
You need someone qualified to disconnect electric and gas.
Remember to isolate water and heating system if radiators or under-plinth heaters are involved
Make sure floors are covered before beginning dismantle. One scratch can be very expensive
Dismantling the kitchen units.
Dismantling is reverse engineering:
Appliances come out first
Then plinths and trims
Take island out (if there is one) to make space to work
Remove top cupboards
You might need to remove tiles to get base units out
worktops
Some kitchens have screws filled over and painted. Use a magnet to locate screw head.
Transporting the kitchen.
Hire a van for the transportation of your kitchen. Most hire vans carry 1.2 tons max. An average island worktop weighs 250kg.
Check that your kitchen fits the dimensions of the lorry.
You will need to take out a separate insurance. Van hire insurance does not cover the goods you are carrying.
You will need straps. Packaging and a way of handling worktops if you don’t have specialist equipment
If you have any questions about the dismantling process, get in contact with our kitchen experts:
Taking care of your kitchen will keep it in good condition for years to come and expand its lifetime. Whilst you may think giving the worktops or cupboards a wipe down may do the trick, the internal cupboards collect dust and scuff marks which also need attention. There is so much that can be done to prevent any damages to the surfaces and units and regular maintenance is vital, so we are here to help you make the most out of your kitchen.
Check out our tips on how to maintain the quality of your kitchen units, worktops and appliances.
Kitchen units
An effective, inexpensive and natural way to clean your doors and cabinets is to make a solution of warm water and vinegar (2 parts water, 1 part vinegar). Use a cloth dampened in the solution to give the units a good wipe down. This will get rid of any dirt and grease stains. Do this bi-monthly for a deep and thorough clean.
If you do not have vinegar then liquid soap is a suitable alternative as it works as a degreaser.
Antibacterial cleaning wipes are a quick and easy way to clean dirt marks off your cabinets. Scented ones are an added bonus as they leave your kitchen smelling fresh too. Do this once a week to avoid a build up of dust and food splatters.
Use an old toothbrush to get around the small areas like door knobs and handles.
Worktops
The method of cleaning worktops depends on the material you have…
Laminate worktops can easily be cleaned with an antibacterial kitchen spray, hot water and liquid soap or antibacterial wipes.
Granite or Marble worktops can be cleaned with a mixture of non-abrasive dish soap and warm water and wiped dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Steer clear of bleach or ammonia-based cleaners as this can be damaging to the surface.
Wooden worktops can be cleaned with homemade solution of 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1tbs of liquid soap. Add the mixture to a spray bottle, spray your worktops and wipe with a clean damp cloth.
Appliances
For stainless steel appliances combine equal vinegar and water in a spray bottle. This will naturally disinfect, deodorise and clean your appliances. For extra cleaning power on tough stains add bicarbonate of soda, which is really effective in removing dirt.
Always use microfibre cloths or cotton cloths to clean your appliances and not paper towels as this will leave streak marks.
Oven grills are a nightmare to clean, but we’ve found a brilliant tried and tested hack to get them sparkling like new. Fill your sink with hot water and add 3 lids of fabric conditioner, soak the grills for an hour and see how the dirt falls off.
Not sure what to do with your old kitchen?
Are you purchasing a new kitchen and not sure what to do with your old one? I bet you didn’t know there is a huge online marketplace for used kitchens. The Used Kitchen Company buy and sell used and ex-display kitchens nationwide and yours could be one of them. The process is simple and there is always someone there to assist you every step of the way. The Used Kitchen Company was set up over 12 years ago as the brainchild of Looeeze Grossman who realised there was an important gap in the market for recycling perfectly good used kitchens. They have now listed over 5000 used and ex-display kitchens which are happily re-installed up and down the country and further afield.
If you want to sell your old kitchen with The Used Kitchen Company, just take a few clear photos of your kitchen and upload them to get valued. For more information, visit their Sell My Kitchen page or give them a call on 020 8349 1943.
FAQs
1. How can we dismantle our kitchen without damaging it?
There is certainly an art that our team of professional fitters have. The main issue when dismantling a kitchen is to remove the worktops undamaged. This is best done by starting off with a lot of manpower – a large piece of granite can need 4 or 5 people to lift. The next step is to work on the joins and silicone as this is the key before trying to gently remove the tops. For more dismantling tips and tricks, check out our blog post on kitchen removal.
2. Is it OK for me to keep some of the appliances ?
Yes, it is absolutely fine to keep appliances, but we do suggest that if hobs/sinks are cut into the worktops, it is a good idea to include them when possible.
3. How will it fit in someone else’s home ?
Once you lift the worktops off a kitchen, each unit is an individual carcass, so it is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle where you can easily reconfigure the units to accommodate your space. We always say buy a little larger than you need, and that way you have a few extra units to play with.
4. Why would anyone want to buy my used kitchen?
You’ll be surprised by how many used kitchens we sell. Lot’s of people love to recycle and up-cycle old kitchens by repainting it, adding new worktops or changing the handles – making it look brand new again. Sometimes you won’t even be able to recognise it’s the same kitchen. Not only is it good for our planet, but it saves you money too making it a good option for those on a budget.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our kitchen specialists at 020 8349 1943
