When cleaning our kitchens on a daily basis, the focus tends to be on features such as the counters, basins, and floors. The kitchen cabinets tend to be neglected, but these are equally essential parts of the kitchen that should be cleaned regularly to ensure that they are able to last as long as possible.
There are numerous products on the market which are suitable for cleaning kitchen cabinets. In selecting a product, it’s essential to consider the surface finish of the cabinet to ensure that the product doesn’t cause damage. Commercial products, as well as homemade products, both work well.
To understand which cleaning product will best serve to clean your kitchen cabinets, you need to have a good understanding of the finish of the cabinets and how different products will interact with these finishes. This will ensure that you are not causing any unnecessary damage to your kitchen cabinets.
Best Products for Cleaning Kitchen Cabinets
There are countless commercial cleaning products available for cleaning kitchen cabinets; however, not all of these are necessarily suitable for this purpose, let alone for all finishes. It’s crucial, therefore, to select a product that is suited for the exact needs associated with your specific kitchen cabinets.
If you’re doing a simple spot-clean, an easy wipe ought to do the trick, but if you’re attempting to remove grease and grime after weeks of build-up from countless meal preparations, the process might be slightly more complex requiring more research as well as patience.
Stains and drips on surfaces can quite quickly and easily be wiped away using a multi-surface cleaner, but as build-ups occur, you may struggle to get the cabinets properly clean. This is when a specialized product comes in useful.
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There are many product options available, including organic plant-based products, chemical spray formulas, and traditional oil soaps. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, as well as a preferred surface upon which it should be used to best effect. Take a look at our recommendations depending on what type you are looking for…
Best Surface Finish
Murphy’s Oil soap (Amazon link) is a product that has been on the market for over a century. It is explicitly designed to clean wood and does so safely without causing any damage to the timber or its surface treatments. This product cuts easily through grease and grime with ease, leaving a smooth finish on any timber cabinet surface.
Best For Painted Surfaces
The Magic Cabinet and Wood Cleaner (Amazon link) is suitable for painted cabinet surfaces, making it an excellent contender, ensuring that painted surfaces are not damaged through the long-term use of the product.
This cleaner is available in a spray bottle as well as an aerosol option, with a thick spray that allows easy access into crevices. After wiping, this product leaves a smooth finish on the surface, which makes it an excellent choice. You can find both options on Amazon here.
Scent-free Option
Another Product to note is the Bona Cabinet Cleaner (Amazon link). Bona is a company that specializes in producing hardwood floor cleaners, with this product having been designed specifically for cleaning kitchen cabinets.
This is another spray bottle product that has little to no scent and is easily able to access small crevices as easily as surface stains. It has been noted, however, that this product tends to leave behind a sticky residue on any cabinet surfaces.
Organic & Biodegradable Option
Method, a well-known brand in the household cleaning arena, produces an all-purpose spray that is perfect for cleaning the grease and grime from kitchen cabinets. This product makes use of natural, biodegradable ingredients, which add to its appeal, along with a citrus aroma that is sure to please.
This product works exceptionally well if you allow it to sit a while before scrubbing to ensure efficient stain removal. You can find it on Amazon here.
Some Homemade Cleaning Options For Kitchen Cabinets
Vinegar is an excellent choice for cleaning greasy cabinets. The way to use it is to mix it in a 1:1 ratio with water in a spray bottle. After spraying it onto the cabinets, allow it to sit for at least 60 seconds before wiping it clean using a soft cloth.
If the cabinets are filthy, you can also add a small amount of dishwashing liquid to the vinegar/water mixture to ensure a more thorough cleaning.
Another option is to make a mixture of vinegar and salt, forming it into a paste. This paste should be scrubbed onto any stained area using a toothbrush or similar. Ensure that you do not scrub the surface too hard or use anything abrasive such as steel wool, as this may cause the wood to become extremely scratched.
After carefully scrubbing, rinse the paste off using clean water and dry it with a clean towel.
Reasons For Cleaning Your Kitchen Cabinets
Besides ensuring that your home is able to look clean at all times, cleaning your kitchen cabinets has long-term benefits that ensure you will have cabinets that last for up to 50 years.
This might sound extreme, but if you care properly for your kitchen cabinets, they can last up to 50 years. If not taken care of, kitchen cabinets can require replacement after only 20 years. This shows that proper care is of vital importance.
When looking at the overall cost of a kitchen renovation, cabinet replacement can make up between 60% and 70% of the total cost. This means that for an average kitchen remodel costs around $24,000, between $14,000 and $17,000 of the budget will go directly towards the replacement of the cabinets.
When put into perspective in this way, it shouldn’t be hard to convince you to take care of your kitchen cabinets as well as you possibly can.
Tips on How to Use Kitchen Cabinet Cleaners
Cleaning can be tedious at times but it is a necessary thing you have to do.
To make your cleaning effort a productive one, here are some tips you can always follow when cleaning your kitchen cabinet.
Apply the cleaner to your cabinet
After you might have bought a good cabinet cleaner/degreaser, you can go ahead and apply it to the cabinets you want to clean.
If you are not sure about the quality of the cleaner, you can apply it to a small area at first to see how it will affect your cabinet.
After applying the cleaner, you may have to wait for some minutes, depending on the type of cleaner.
Clean with soft fabric
After applying the cleaner, you have to use a clean soft material to rub it in a circular motion.
Degreasers are of different qualities, so the effort you have to put in varies; some require a lot of effort and some don’t.
Keep rubbing until all the grease and dirt has been removed.
You have to be careful not to use too much pressure so as to avoid damaging the varnish on your cabinet.
Clean up any residue
It is common to notice residue after using some cabinet cleaners.
All you have to do is clean the residue with a clean cloth immediately after using the product.
Even if you don’t notice any residue, it is still necessary to use a clean cloth to clean the surface of your cabinets after using any de-greaser.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to make use of one of the above-mentioned commercial cleaning products, or you opt instead to use a home remedy to keep your kitchen cabinets clean, you can ensure that these costly assets are well-cared-for through decades to come.
Proper care and maintenance will mean that your kitchen cabinets are able to last for up to 50 years, saving you enormous amounts of money in the long term. This makes it an extremely worthwhile venture.