Cleaning your kitchen cabinets is one of the less common tasks in regular household chores. While cleaning your cabinets is not of the upmost importance, it should still be done several times per year. Don’t worry, though, as there are several easy and efficient ways to do this.
Easy Ways To Clean Kitchen Cabinets
Follow these tips and tricks to get your kitchen cabinets clean in no time!
Empty Everything Out
Remove all of the contents of the cabinets with care. It is best to place fine china or breakable items in another room as you may need to climb on counters when it is time to clean the cabinets. Stack plates and put them in boxes or on the dining room table. You will want to put kitchenware somewhere safe, but not someplace where it can get dirty or you will have to wash everything once the cabinets are clean.
Wrap items in bubble wrap or even towels if you are putting them in boxes or totes. This will keep them safe if someone accidently bumps them while you are cleaning the cabinets. Alternatively, choose a time when the whole family is at school or work to begin this endeavor.
Choose the Right Products
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Before you begin cleaning you will want to make sure you know the materials your cabinets are made out of. Some of the most common materials for modern kitchen cabinets are solid hardwood, a particle board, laminate or metal. It is important that you use the right kind of cleaner for the surfaces both inside and outside of the cabinet.
Solid hardwood cabinets, particle board and laminate may benefit from a cleaner such as Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Cleaner or Weiman Furniture Polish & Wood Cleaner. Method also has several wood cleaners that are plant-based and safe to use on wood based cabinets. For a metal material, try Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish.
A half vinegar and half water solution can also be used for a more natural approach. A pail full of warm soapy water can work wonders as well!
Wipe Down the Outside
Using the chosen cleaner, spray the outside of the cabinets lightly. Using a microfiber towel, wipe the product off while making passes over each part of the cabinet. If the cabinet has lots of stuck on grease allow the cleaner to sit on the surface for a couple of minutes before wiping it off.
If using soapy water, use a sponge to clean the cabinets in a circular motion. Be sure to rinse the sponge as not to saturate the material. Use a damp paper towel to wipe the soapy water off and do an additional pass with a dry microfiber cloth or paper towel.
Getting the Inside
The inside of the cabinet may be a little hard to clean simply because it is a tighter/harder to reach space. Take the cleaner and mist the inside of the cabinet very lightly. Quickly wipe it off with your towel or cloth to prevent any kind of warping on the wall of the inner cabinet.
A clean toothbrush can make an excellent tool for reaching hard to reach corners inside the cabinet. Simply spray the head of the toothbrush with your product or dip it into the soapy water.
You may want to use a step stood or sturdy chair from your kitchen table to reach higher up cabinets. Just be sure that any counters you may sit or kneel on are capable of holding your weight. For lower cabinets, place a folded towel on the floor in front of the cabinet to keep your knees from hurting.
Hard To Remove Stains
Since cabinets take a lot of wear and tear over the years, there might be some super caked on or greasy spots that need to be removed. While the initial pass may not have even touched them, don’t worry because there are a few things you can do in order to take care of them.
Create a baking soda and water paste in a small bowl. Using a toothbrush or your fingers, rub a small amount of the paste on the stain. Apply it in a circular pattern and don’t be afraid to use a little elbow grease either! Let the mixture sit on the stain for 10 minutes then return with a damp cloth and remove it.
A good degreaser is not to be discounted for hard to get rid of stains either! Use the same method of application as the baking soda paste, but make sure to read the back of the degreaser bottle to make sure that it is safe to use on your cabinets.
Tips For Upkeep
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There are many things that you can do to keep your cabinets from becoming too dirty or hard to clean. One of them is wiping down cabinets that are within close range of your cooking range or oven. These cabinets tend to get food splatter on them which can lead to staining or damage.
Lower cabinets are prone to foot traffic weathering and messes. For example, when your dog comes through the kitchen door and brushes against your white laminate cabinets. Imagine him doing this again and again for months on end. Your white cabinets are probably no longer white after that! Make a habit of wiping down lower cabinets that are located by high traffic areas.
Lining the inside of cabinets with Con-Tact paper/liner can also save you a lot of time and energy in the long run! When it is time to clean the inside all you have to do is dump the crumbs and other debris off the liner into the garbage. A good cabinet liner can also prevent damage to the wood from still wet dishes that might be placed in them. There are many different patterns and styles of cabinet liners available, which allows you to customize them to the theme of your kitchen.
Polishing cabinets can also help maintain cleanliness longer. This is best done after a good cleaning. The good news is that many cabinet cleaners have a polish already built into them! Companies such as Murphy’s Oil and Parker & Bailey make excellent cleaners/polishes 2 in 1 for wooden cabinets.
