Spic and Span: How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets
By Leslie SmithRefacingCabinet.com Columnist
How to clean kitchen cabinets is a basic, but often overlooked, household chore. You should clean them regularly so kitchen residue does not alter the finish, making it dull and uneven--especially for white kitchen cabinets.
Knowing how to clean kitchen cabinets and making it part of your regular cleaning routine is an elementary kitchen cabinet repair.
White Kitchen Cabinets
White kitchen cabinets may be higher maintenance than a natural wood like maple kitchen cabinets. If you have small children or pets, then your white kitchen cabinets may be much more difficult to keep clean. Think about that if you are considering refinishing kitchen cabinets. Color matters.
Kitchen Cabinet Cleaners and Solvents
Knowing how to clean kitchen cabinets properly is based on the regularity of your cleaning and the products you use. If you clean your kitchen cabinets daily, a gentle wipe down with a damp sponge should do the trick. That may not be enough around cooking surfaces or special detail work in your custom kitchen. A household degreaser should do wonders around those areas, especially for those of us who clean less often than daily.
If you have let it go a few months, or if you are preparing to stain oak cabinets or cherry cabinets as part of your kitchen renovations, then something stronger may be in order. Mineral spirits are oil-based and should remove the most stubborn residue. Use this product carefully because it may remove the finish. Make sure you allow the proper ventilation.
Green Kitchen Cabinets
If you are averse to chemicals and want to keep green kitchen cabinets, then you should use regular white vinegar. Use it full strength or diluted depending on the job at hand. Add some baking soda to loosen any stubborn marks or food.
About The Author
Leslie A.M. Smith is a freelance writer and desperately needs a new kitchen. Until she can afford it, she has her eye on refacing her cabinets.
