Photo by @opkirilka on Twenty 20
Kitchen cabinets take a lot of wear and tear. Grease, food particles, and dust can build upon them and become difficult to remove, so it’s a good idea to clean them frequently. When you need to do a deep cleaning, use a natural cleaner like baking soda as this will prevent the varnish from coming off. Finish off a full clean by polishing your wood cabinets to make them look like new again.
1
Make a vinegar solution. Mix one cup of white vinegar with one cup of water. This mild cleaning solution is perfect for daily use on wood cabinets. It will not warp the material or remove the finish.
If you don’t like cleaning with vinegar; you can use a mild detergent solution instead. Mix one teaspoon of the dishwasher with one cup of water. You can also use a commercially available degreasing solution if you have one.
Don’t use harsh all-purpose cleaners on your cabinets. These could cause them to become discolored and misshapen.
2
Clean the outside of your cabinets after cooking. Fat and food particles can build upon their surfaces every time you cook. Cleaning them after cooking will do a lot to keep them looking good. Soak a clean cloth or rag in the vinegar solution and use it to clean the cabinet doors and bottoms.
Don’t get the cabinets too wet because the moisture could warp the wood. Squeeze the cloth you are using so that it is wet but not soggy.
The vinegar smell will go away as the cabinets dry.
If the vinegar solution doesn’t work, you may need to purchase a homemade degreasing solution.
3
Dry the cabinets with a clean cloth. Since any remaining moisture on them could cause the wood to warp, rub them again with a clean, dry cloth to remove any remaining cleaning solution.
4
Clean the inside of your cabinets regularly. Seasonings and other foods you keep there are likely to spill at times, so keep the inside clean; rub with a cloth leaving a few weeks. Take out everything you keep in the cabinets and clean them with a light solution of vinegar or detergent. Pat them dry with a clean towel, then put everything back on the shelves.
If you have a lot of spilled food to clean up in your cabinets, it might be wise to invest in some good food storage containers. Using glass or metal jars to store condiments and dry goods protects food from insects and keep spills to a minimum.
Cabinet liners or liners can make cleaning the interior easily. Consider lining them with rubber liners. When it’s time to clean, you can remove the liners, rinse them, dry them, and then return them to the cabinets.
5
Dust cabinets frequently. To deal with some accumulated dust and shine, wipe the interior and exterior surfaces with a soft, dry cloth. Dusting the outside of cabinets often is particularly important because the grease and steam produced by cooking will cause dust to accumulate on the surfaces, making it more difficult to clean if you don’t do it often.
For more information about how to clean and restore your kitchen cabinets ask New Refinishing.
