Is it that time? The time that must not be named? Not that time you scoundrel, we’re talking about the time to clean your kitchen cabinets. Yeah, we know, it’s not that exciting, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that you’ll have to do it sometime, so why not now? If you ask the man of the house whether cabinets need to be cleaned, he’ll probably scoff and say that they look fine. The only problem is, cabinets really should be cleaned somewhat regularly or your kitchen will end up looking like a grease-stained pig-pen. At some point, your cabinets will have to be cleaned and if you’re going to put the effort in, you’d might as well make sure that the job gets done right.
Turns out, some kitchen cabinets are harder to clean than others, at least if you don’t want to damage them in the process. Some cabinets take a little bit of finesse or even strategic planning to clean effectively without breaking anything. Here’s your guide to cleaning kitchen cabinets without damaging them so that your partner won’t kill you!
The basics
First thing’s first, you’re going to need a stool when cleaning your kitchen cabinets so that you don’t end up making a bigger mess than what you started with. Having a stool is going to be essential because if you grab onto a cabinet for support, you can pull the entire thing down with you. Not only is this a danger to yourself as you will fall backwards when the cabinet comes loose, but you’ll also have a wrecked cabinet and will have to spring for a new one.
Wood cabinets require special care
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when cleaning their cabinets is to use the wrong cleaning products on them. When you use the wrong cleaning product on a kitchen cabinet, it can cause a lot of damage, some of that damage is irreparable.
There’s nothing more discouraging than faithfully scrubbing away at each corner of every cabinet in your kitchen only to find that the cleaning product that you used ate through the paint and tarnished the underlying wood. That kind of damage is a hideous sight indeed, one that you do not want to be faced with by any means.
Regardless of which kinds of cleaning products you end up using on your kitchen cabinets, one of the most important rules is to scrub gently. We know, there are a lot of stubborn stains and spots that make you just want to scrub away with all of your might, but hold tight. If you scrub too hard, you can scrub the paint away with everything else, leaving an unsightly patch of unfinished wood.
Do NOT use a cleaning solution
For the uninitiated, it might seem like a good idea to use conventional cleaning solutions and the same harsh brushes that you would use to clean your sink. One of the best solutions to use on your kitchen cabinets is one that you can make by yourself. Just mix one part dish soap with 2 parts hot water. This solution will be strong enough to eradicate stubborn stains yet gentle enough to prevent the paint or finish from peeling away.
Don’t soak your kitchen cabinets
Another common mistake that many well-meaning homeowners make is to soak their kitchen cabinets while attempting to clean them. There are a number of reasons why this would be a bad idea, namely the fact that wood doesn’t tend to do well with extended exposure to water.
The best way to clean your kitchen cabinets without damaging them is to spray your solution of hot-water and dish soap onto a cloth and gently scrub the stains and blemishes away. Take care not to drench your cloth with solution. If the cloth is drenched, you will be overwhelming your cabinets with too much water.
Other do’s and don’ts
If you are having trouble reaching certain corners and spots in your cabinets, you can use a toothbrush. It will be gentle on the wood and less abrasive. Another thing that you should avoid is getting water built up in the hinges. If too much water gets on the hinges of your cabinets, it can cause them to start rusting and you’ll have to replace them. IF you notice water around the hinges, be sure to dry them off right away or after you’re finished with the rest of the cleaning.
Final tips
Now that you know what to do and what not to do, you’re ready to start cleaning your kitchen cabinets. You’ll have the confidence of knowing that you won’t do any damage to them and the job will be easier when using these tips.
Always dry your cabinets after you’re done cleaning them. Never leave water from the solution in your cabinets, make sure that you dry them thoroughly. One final tip, give yourself some kind of reward after you’re done, cleaning kitchen cabinets is a tedious job, so give yourself something to look forward to!
About the author: This post was provided by Madera Interior Solutions. They design and install quality, custom, kitchen cabinets. https://www.maderacabinets.com/
