Tips On How To Clean Kitchen Cabinets (Fast & Easy)
Knowing how to clean kitchen cabinets is essential as it is one of your home’s most used and frequently viewed areas. Whether you deal in food or not, kitchen cabinets can quickly collect dust, grease, and nasty smells. In some cases, if you’ve been cooking with garlic in your kitchen for a long time without cleaning it regularly, it can work its way into the material of your cabinets.
This can be a dangerous situation. Not just because of the bad odor, but because eating something that has come into contact with this sticky substance isn’t good for one’s health.
If your cabinets are looking a bit grimy, then it might be time to give them a thorough going-over. Cleaning kitchen cabinets can be confusing and stressful, but you can do it quickly and easily with the right technique.
How Often Should I Clean My Kitchen Cabinets?
ââIt would help to deep clean your kitchen cabinets about once every six months. If you do this, they will look great for a long time.
You can also do a quick clean every week, but this won’t be as effective as a deep clean done less often.
What Can I Use to Clean My Kitchen Cabinets?
If you’re thinking about getting your kitchen cabinets professionally cleaned, you may be wondering what kind of cleaning tools you need. Here’s the breakdown:
Cleaning tools for cabinet cleaning include:
- A soft cloth or an old t-shirt (to wipe off the dust).
- A sponge or microfiber towel (for wiping up sticky messes).
- Vinegar and water mixture
- Baking soda and water mixture
How to clean kitchen cabinets: Step-by-step
1. Start with the top cabinets, then work your way down.
This is important because the bottom cabinets tend to get dirtier than the top ones, so you want to start with the cleanest part of your kitchen and work your way down.
2. Place a garbage bag over the back of each chair to protect it.
This is a great way to protect your kitchen cabinets while cleaning.
If you have one or two chairs, place a garbage bag over the back of each chair to protect it. If you have more than that, cover the backs of all your chairs with garbage bags.
3. Wipe Handles, Knobs, and Pulls.
Wipe down the handles, knobs, and pulls on your kitchen cabinets with a damp cloth. This is an important step because it will remove any dirt, dust, or grime that has accumulated on these surfaces.
When cleaning your cabinet handles, knobs, and pulls, use a gentle soap such as dish soap or all-purpose cleaning spray. Never use abrasive cleaners or cleaners containing bleach because they may damage the finish of your cabinets.
4. Remove all cabinet doors, organizing them on the floor in front of their respective cabinets or on a large, clean surface nearby.
It is important to remove all of the cabinet doors so they can be cleaned thoroughly. If you leave a few doors on your cabinets, you may miss some spots that need attention.
5. Remove everything from your cabinets.
This is the most important first step to deep cleaning your kitchen cabinets. Get rid of any food, dishes, or pots and pans that have been sitting in there for a while, as well as any leftover cleaning supplies and tools.
6. Wipe any dirt and dust off the surfaces.
Use a sponge with soapy water to wipe down each surface in the cabinet, including the inside of the door. You can also use a damp microfiber cloth if you don’t want to get your hands dirtyâmake sure it’s not too wet!
7. If you have stains or sticky spots, mix an equal amount of white vinegar and water in a bowl.
If you have stains or sticky spots, mix an equal amount of white vinegar (or baking soda) and water in a bowl.
Then, apply the mixture to the cabinet with a clean cloth or sponge. Leave it on for 10 minutes or so before wiping it away.
If your cabinets are extremely dirty, you might need to repeat this process several times.
Grab your favorite cleaner and scrub away any dirt or grime on your cabinets with a soft-bristled brush.
When you’re done scrubbing, wipe down all surfaces with a clean cloth dipped in warm water and wrung out well. You can also use this time to wipe down the walls around your cabinets if they’re dirty.
If necessary, put on dishwashing gloves to protect your hands.
8. Let the cabinets air dry, or use a dry towel to speed up the process.
Drying with a towel is faster, but it can also leave streaks and spots. Air drying is slower, but it will give you a more professional-looking finish.
If you’re in a hurry and don’t mind the streaks, try drying your cabinets with a clean cloth. If the finish looks great after the first pass with the cloth, use this method for all of your cabinets.
9. Once dry, replace shelves and drawers before reattaching the hardware and doors.
Once your cabinets are dry, it’s time to put everything back.
First, replace the shelves and drawers in your cabinets. You’ll want to do this before reattaching the hardware and doors so that you can make sure they’re aligned correctly.
Once they’re in place, use a level to make sure each shelf is sitting straight on its supports so that it doesn’t wobble when you close the doors.
Tips for Keeping Your Cabinets Clean Longer
Keeping your kitchen cabinets clean is a breeze! I’ve got five easy tips to help you get started.
1. Use a soft cloth, rag, or standard duster to dust at least once every two weeks. This should reduce the need for more thorough cleaning.
2. Clean up spills right away with a damp cloth or sponge. The longer something stays in your cabinets, the more likely it will leave stains that are hard to clean or cause other damage.
3. A broken head gasket seal can let a lot of heat out, damaging cabinets near a self-cleaning oven. To avoid this, remove the doors and drawers from all cabinets above or close to the oven during a cleaning session.
4. Keep appliances that make heat, like coffee makers or air fryers, away from cabinets. Too much heat and water can damage the surfaces of cabinets.
5. Use a cleaner made just for cleaning your cabinets, especially if they’ve been painted over time because of wear and tear.
Methods to avoid when cleaning kitchen cabinets:
There are many ways to clean your kitchen cabinets, but not all are effective or efficient. Some methods can damage your cabinets and make them look worse than before you started. Here are some tips on how to avoid these methods:
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on your cabinets.
This includes anything with bleach or other harsh chemicals like ammonia or acetone. These cleaners will scratch the finish on your cabinets, causing them to look dull and damaged.
Don’t use paper towels to wipe down your cabinets.
It’s tempting, but using a paper towel will leave behind lint that will collect dust over time, causing more buildup than if you had just left it alone in the first place! Paper towels also tend to be rough on finishes so they can cause scratches and lint problems later on down the road.
Don’t use harsh cleaners like Windex or 409
These cleaners can leave behind streaks that can be tough to get rid of later on when cleaning becomes more challenging due to more buildup of dust and dirt over time (which causes more buildup). Using these cleaners can also cause damage over time because they contain ammonia, which is corrosive.
Final Thoughts
Overall, deep cleaning the kitchen cabinets does not have to be a daunting task. It is possible to clean your kitchen cabinets in a timely manner and restore that “new” look to your cabinets. As with any home improvement project, preparation will be the key to having your kitchen remodel come off without a hitch.
Hopefully, this blog post will be helpful for those of you looking to clean your cabinets. Depending on your needs, you can use the provided cleaning instructions for cleaning your kitchen cabinets.