How To Clean Wood Cabinets

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January 21, 2017

Kitchen cabinets get grimy and dirty fast.

You splatter grease on them.

You spill everything imaginable on them.

Your kids throw food on them.

The good news is that you can fight the grime, grease and grunge and make your cabinets look fabulous again.

You can use commercial cleaners like Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean cabinets.  You can also make your own cleaners from ingredients in your kitchen that are eco-friendly and affordable.

Vinegar seems to be the go-to natural cleaner for greasy cabinets.  Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water and put into a spray bottle.  Mist on your cabinets.  Then let it set for a minute or two.  And finally wipe the cabinet clean with a soft cloth.  Add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to the vinegar and water solution to clean extremely grimy cabinets.

No matter what cleaner you choose, the basic steps are the same:

Use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe the cleaner on the outside of the cabinet doors and drawers.  Use a little elbow grease to remove heavy grease and grime buildup.

Wipe the cleaner on drawer pulls and door handles.  Use a toothbrush dipped in the cleaner to scrub the hardware, the wood around the hardware and the crevices of ornate trim.  Wipe the cleaner on the inside of the doors and drawers.  Use a second cloth or sponge dipped in clean water to remove the cleaner from all surfaces.  Dry all surfaces thoroughly with a clean towel.

Here’s how to clean wooden kitchen cabinets with stubborn stains like syrup or chocolate.  Make a paste of vinegar and salt.  Dip a toothbrush into the paste and lightly scrub the stained area.  Don’t scrub too hard or use steel wool, as it will scratch the wood.  Rinse the paste off with clean water and dry with a clean towel.

You can also put baking soda on a wet sponge and scrub the stain.  Use a soft toothbrush or nylon-bristle scrub brush so you won’t scratch the cabinet surface.

Now that you know how to clean wood cabinets, be sure to protect them from future stains.  Mix vegetable oil and vinegar in equal portions and apply it lightly on the cabinet surfaces.  Rub it in with a clean, soft cloth.  Buff till it shines.

Feel free to stop into Builder Supply Outlet or the Edge Showroom with any home improvement questions you may have regarding regarding kitchen cabinets or anything else.  Or call us anytime at 1-708-343-3900.  You can also make an appointment to meet with one of our designers at no charge by clicking here.