How To Clean Kitchen Cabinets And Avoid Damage

Kitchen cabinets are where we all store the food and kitchen supplies. However, we have seen how kitchen cabinet cleaning could be neglected for months! Keeping them clean and organized should be a priority in every household.

Grab a gentler cleaning product and prepare to use some elbow grease! Here we tell you the best way to clean kitchen cabinets! 

Why kitchen cabinets need your attention

An unclean kitchen cabinet can get covered in sticky, grease stains and grime. Although food splatters affect the aspect of cabinets, it is not the worst part.

The food particles and dirt might represent a risk for your household’s health, being the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Also, grime can affect the finish or even the materials of your cabinets. In other words, not cleaning your kitchen cabinets will cause them to break down slowly!

The best way to clean kitchen cabinets

Although every kitchen cabinet is made from different materials, these are the basic steps to clean them: 

1. Dust the surface.
2. Spray a cleaner safe for the surface of your cabinets and wipe it with a soft sponge.
3. Use a toothbrush dipped in the cleaner to scrub the crevices details.
4. Rinse the surfaces with a damp cloth
5. Wipe the excess water with a dry cloth to prevent damages. 

What cleaner should I use to clean my cabinets?

What is the best cleaner for wooden kitchen cabinets? It depends on the wood and finishes, but we recommend starting by dusting the surfaces with a dry microfiber cloth. For tough stains, dish soap and water can do the trick, but commercial wood polishers are also a good option. 

Protecting the finish while cleaning tough stains is what makes choosing the cleaning product the hardest step. Follow these guidelines when selecting the best cleaning product for your kitchen cabinets:

1. Go from milder cleaners to harsh ones: Wiping the cabinet with a dry cloth is the safest option to protect the finish. The rule of thumb is starting with soapy water and changing to a harsher cleaner only if needed.
2. Test the products in a small area before using them: Most cleaning products are harsh chemicals. Before trying a new cleaner, rub it in a hidden spot of the cabinet, so you can see how it reacts. 

Kitchen cabinet cleaning weekly routine

How often should you clean kitchen cabinets? Homeowners tend not to clean their cabinets until it’s time to deep clean the whole kitchen. However, the best way to keep your cabinets in top shape is to wipe and spot cleaning them at least weekly. 

1. Dust every exterior surface of the cabinet. For deep cleaning, you could take everything out from your kitchen cabinets and wipe inside too.
2. If the cabinet is dirty, spray the cleaner and wipe them using a soft sponge or cloth. As we mentioned before, the safer choice is warm water with a few drops of dish soap. Be careful not to wet the surfaces too much because excessive moisture can damage wood and metal cabinets. 
3. If your cabinets have intricate hardware or crevices, use a toothbrush dipped in the cleaner to scrub them.
4. After every stain is gone, wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth to rinse the cleaner.
5. Lastly, wipe the excess water with a dry cloth to prevent damage. 

How to clean sticky grease off kitchen cabinets?

If you haven’t cleaned your kitchen cabinets for a while, there might be some stubborn stains. Your first option should always be patience and elbow grease. However, if they are really tough grease stains or grime, you might need a more abrasive product. 

The natural way to remove grease stains is by scrubbing the spot with a baking soda and water paste. Be careful when using it because it is an abrasive paste that could easily damage the cabinets. Test how the finish reacts before applying it!

Busy people in Washington DC, remember that you can add cabinet cleaning when booking your service with Think Maids! If you haven’t tried out our home cleaning, check it here!