How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets – Do’s and Don’ts
When it comes to when to clean your kitchen cabinets, the answer is as simple – any time is the right time to begin.
When it comes to how to clean your kitchen cabinets, the answer is a more complex composition.
The techniques and products you’ll want to use will depend on what your cabinets are made from.
How to Clean Wood Cabinets – Alkaline or Acidic Cleaning Products?
The difference between alkaline and acidic is the difference in a material’s (or a chemical’s) pH balance. Any material or chemical with a pH lower than 7 is considered acidic, while a material or chemical higher than 7 is considered alkaline. Dish soap is considered neutral with a pH ranging between 7 and 8.
Wood has a natural pH that ranges between 4 and 6, making it slightly acidic. However, wood also consists of many organic compounds. And those compounds differ from species to species, from tree to tree, and even from heartwood (the outer part of a log) to sapwood (the inner part).
Any alkaline or acidic cleaner you use on wood will create a chemical reaction. And because of the wood’s natural variation in pH, that reaction will likely be unpredictable (but rarely positive).
High alkaline cleaners such as ammonia, baking powder, or sodium hydroxide tend to leave dark stains on the wood (iron tannate discoloration). While acidic cleaners such as vinegar, lemon juice or tub and tile cleaners are corrosive and will damage wood cabinets, whether finished or not.
Use pH Neutral Cleaners
You want to ensure that any cleaning product you use on wood has a pH balance between 6 and 8. Water (with a pH of 7) and dish soap (with a pH between 7 and 8) are always good options.
The best cleaner, the one that is less likely to do damage to the wood is good old-fashioned elbow grease. Applied with a damp cloth, elbow grease should be effective at removing dirt and dust and even oil and grease build-up.
The Do’s and Don’ts on Cabinet Cleaners
Do:
- Use a pH neutral cleaner (such as mild dish soap and water)
- Remember to wipe dry any excess moisture from cleaning
Don’t:
- Use vinegar, lemon juice, or other acidic cleaning products
- Soak the cabinets or use excessive amounts of water
- Use hot air, such as a hairdryer, to dry the wood
Home Remedies You Should Avoid
Unfortunately, the internet is laden with articles espousing the benefits of one home remedy or the other to use when cleaning kitchen cabinets as an alternative to cleaning products. These remedies, for the most part, have been debunked and proven to not only be ineffective but can actually damage your cabinets. Nevertheless, these home remedy tips persist.
Don’t Use Vinegar and Water
Vinegar is acidic and will damage your wood cabinets. While it is true that if heavily diluted, vinegar will lose much of its acidity, but when diluted it will also lose much of its properties that make it an effective cleaner. Diluted vinegar is no more effective than dish soap. And if not diluted enough, you will risk causing permanent damage to your wood cabinets.
Diluted vinegar can be an effective cleaning agent when used on metal surfaces such as ovens, microwaves, tea kettles, and pots and pans. However, it should not be used on wood.
Don’t Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is an alkaline compound with a pH level between 8 and 9. It is corrosive to wood and should only be used on surfaces such as ceramic and porcelain, e.g., bathroom tiles, bathtubs, and toilet bowls.
Like vinegar, when diluted, baking soda loses much of its corrosive characteristics. But it will still be too corrosive for wood and not more effective than elbow grease and dish soap.
Don’t Use Olive Oil
When it comes to made-up home remedies, olive oil always seems to make the list. As a cleaning agent, olive oil is not at all effective. It is a non-drying oil, meaning that it will leave behind a film that is likely to attract dust and dirt, making your cabinets even more difficult to clean down the road.
Some purport that olive oil will replenish wood and give it a nice shine. There is no evidence to suggest that olive oil has any replenishing characteristics. And the shine is the result of oil residue, which will invariably spoil over time and emit an unpleasant odor.
The Importance of Rinsing and Drying
If you use any kind of cleaning agent (even dish soap), you will need to wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth. Any residue left behind could potentially create an unsightly film or could create a chemical reaction with the wood that could potentially result in a loss or change in color.
Once the wood has been rinsed clean of any cleaning agent, you will want to make sure that the surface is thoroughly dried. The presence of water on an organic surface such as wood can quickly become an attractive breeding ground for mold and bacteria.
Furthermore, water can cause the wood to expand, leading to deformation, splintering and cracking. Make sure that once you’ve finished cleaning, you wipe the surface with a dry cloth.
Do not use hot air to dry your wood kitchen cabinets. This will dry the wood far more than needed and will potentially lead to the wood fibers shrinking, resulting in cracks and splinters.
How to Clean Laminate Cabinets
Laminate cabinets are easier to clean than wood cabinets. However, it is also easier for grease and food deposits to dirty a laminate cabinet, too. Therefore, while laminate cabinets may be easier to clean than their wood counterparts, they may be in need of more frequent, albeit quick, attention.
Frequent Dusting
Dust tends to stick to all surfaces – especially laminate cabinets. To remove dust build-up, use a lint-free cloth or duster and work from the top down. Don’t forget the corners, which are especially good at collecting dust.
Clean With Mild Dish Soap
Like with wood cabinets, you shouldn’t need to resort to abrasive cleaning products like vinegar or baking soda to remove dirt and grease from your laminate kitchen cabinets. A bit of dish soap in warm water applied with a good dose of elbow grease should be more than sufficient.
Don’t forget to clean the handles and hinges.
Rinse and Dry
Once you’ve finished cleaning with detergent, rinse the surfaces with a clean cloth and warm water. Warm water evaporates far more quickly than cold or room-temperature water. And the less time your cabinets are exposed to water, the better.
Immediately after you’ve rinsed any detergent or cleaning agent off your cabinets, you’ll want to wipe them down with a dry cloth. Laminate surfaces that are exposed to water over long periods of time tend to warp and crack.
Avoid Using Vinegar or Baking Soda
Contrary to many articles circulating on the web, white vinegar and baking soda are poor cleaning agents for kitchen cabinets, wood or laminate. White vinegar is effective at cleaning soap build-up and mineral deposits, which are highly unlikely to be a problem in kitchen cabinets. But white vinegar and baking soda are abrasive and are more likely to do more harm than good.
Baking soda binds to the surface and, if not thoroughly rinsed and wiped clean, will leave a pale white film behind, dulling any shine your cabinets might otherwise have provided.
Avoid Abrasive Scouring Tools
Tools such as scouring pads, steel wool, or wire-bristled brushes are best used on metal surfaces like kitchenware – pots and pans. When used to clean a smooth surface – wood or laminate – they will invariably leave behind scratches.
Laminate cabinets are best cleaned with a damp soft or micro-fiber cloth.
When Elbow Grease and Mild Dish Soap Aren’t Enough
For grease, oil, or food stains that have been left unattended for extended periods of time, simple elbow grease and mild dish soap may not be enough to get rid of them. You will have to move on to more aggressive cleaning products.
Only use more aggressive cleaning products after you’ve exhausted the option of elbow grease and dish soap. Aggressive cleaning products are likely to cause some amount of damage to your cabinets. And the chances of causing damage only increase with repeated use.
If you find you need to use a more aggressive cleaning product, start with a slightly more aggressive one at first and work your way up as needed. The ideal pH of the cleaning product you’ll want to use falls in the range of 6 to 8. Anything higher or lower should only be employed if all the other options have been exhausted.
For stubborn grease stains, many homeowners recommend diluting white vinegar. While this can be effective, it can also be harmful to your laminate surface. If you’ve exhausted all other options and decide to go this route, start by heavily diluting the vinegar and only decrease the dilution if needed.
When using aggressive cleaning agents, you’ll need to pay extra attention to rinsing them from your cabinet surfaces. And don’t forget to dry with a clean, lint-free cloth.
When Cleaning Isn’t Enough
You’ve exhausted your supply of elbow grease. You’ve even experimented with more aggressive cleaners like white vinegar or powerful commercial cleaning products. And yet, your cabinets still appear dull, dirty or simply unsightly.
All hope is not lost, there are still steps you can take to give your old kitchen a new, clean look. And the steps aren’t necessarily complicated or overly costly.
Cabinet Refacing
You can keep your existing cabinet boxes and maintain the familiar layout of your kitchen while making it look brand new. With cabinet refacing, you can create a “new kitchen” look without the “new kitchen” price tag.
Cabinet refacing involves removing the existing doors and drawer fronts and replacing with new ones. The existing cabinet boxes are prepped and a veneer, or new skin, is applied to the outward facing portions of the boxes to match the new doors and drawer fronts.
Cabinet Refacing – DIY or Hire a Professional?
Cabinet refacing, when done right, requires a keen eye for detail and a comprehensive knowledge of the appropriate tools and materials. Additionally, many of the tools required can be expensive and, when not used correctly, can be damaging to both yourself and to your cabinets.
Even those experienced with woodworking could benefit from hiring a professional – professional cabinet remodelers who have access to the best tools, knowledge of measurements and access to the best products.
For those who are not experienced with woodworking, doing a cabinet refacing job yourself is definitely not recommended. The necessary tools require special skill and know-how to be used effectively and safely.
Most cabinet refacing jobs can be done in as little as two days (up to four for a particularly large kitchen).
You can request a free quote from Kitchen Tune-Up for your cabinet refacing project.
Our Exclusive 1 Day Tune-Up
Sometimes, even if your kitchen cabinets are clean, they still don’t have that fresh, vibrant look you want from them. Applying wax or polishing agents doesn’t seem to do the trick, either – if anything, it only serves to highlight the problem.
For these cases, Kitchen Tune-Up has the perfect solution in our unique, comprehensive proprietary wood reconditioning process we call a Tune-Up.
We separate then remove the build-up of grease, wax, smoke, and dust. We touch up and blend areas where the color may have dulled or faded, then apply a special colorant to revitalize. We finish by treating the cabinets with a special penetrating oil that restores dried-out wood fibers and then apply a fresh coat of finish.
The Tune-Up generally takes one day to complete. Request a free quote online today to see how we can revitalize your kitchen cabinets and give them a new lease of life!
The post How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets – Do’s and Don’ts appeared first on Kitchen Tune-Up.
How Cabinet Refacing Can Transform Your Kitchen
Your kitchen cabinets need refreshing. Maybe they’re scuffed or stained. Maybe you’re just plain tired of the color or finish. But you’re reluctant to yank out all those cabinets, rip up the walls, and start from scratch–that’s expensive and could put your whole kitchen out of commission!
Kitchen Tune-Up’s cabinet refacing service can transform your kitchen without the mess, fuss and expense of a remodeling job. You get the beauty and benefits of new-looking cabinets in just days, not weeks. How do you decide if cabinet refacing is right for you? Check out this primer to learn how refacing works.
What Is Cabinet Refacing?
Cabinet doors and drawers tend to wear out faster than cabinet frames. In cabinet refacing, we remove doors and drawers but keep the kitchen cabinets’ existing frames (or “boxes”) in place. We cover the boxes with a new veneer of wood or laminate. Then we install new cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. The cabinets appear completely new–and the doors and drawer fronts are new, with the original boxes veneered specifically to match them.
Here’s what refacing isn’t: It isn’t painting existing cabinets. It isn’t refinishing the wood on existing wood cabinets. Don’t get us wrong–for many kitchens, painting cabinets or revitalizing wood with Kitchen Tune-Up’s wood refurbishment process are ideal choices! But if refacing with veneers and new doors is right for your kitchen, we’ve got the expertise and a fantastic selection of materials to make your cabinets look like new.
Is Refacing or Renovating the Right Option?
Ask yourself these questions to decide if refacing is the best option for your particular kitchen.
Do I crave a fresher look, but don’t want to pay big bucks for a full remodel? HomeAdvisor says refacing is 30 percent to 50 percent less expensive than kitchen cabinet remodeling. That gives refacing the cost advantage, if you mostly want to alter the kitchen’s appearance and not change its functionality or footprint.
Do I like my kitchen’s current layout? If your familiar layout works efficiently, there’s no need to tear out cabinets for a full remodeling job. Refacing keeps the layout while upgrading the look.
Are the cabinet boxes in good shape? We’ll inspect your cabinets and tell you if the boxes have damage or other issues that mean replacement, instead of refacing, is your best choice. If the boxes are sturdy, refacing likely is an option.
Would I like to keep using my kitchen normally while it’s getting upgraded? Refacing doesn’t require demolition and doesn’t move appliances around, so you can keep using your kitchen while we’re on the job. Our refacing service usually takes only two to four days. We clean the area every day before we leave, so you have a usable kitchen during the refacing process!
Do I plan to stay in this house for a while? If you’re looking at moving within just a few years, painting might be an option for your kitchen cabinets. But if you aim to use these cabinets for years to come, then refacing gives you incredibly durable cabinets for the long term.
Refacing, Step by Step
What will you experience if you choose refacing?
Choose your beautiful new doors and drawers. Browse our huge collection of kitchen cabinet door styles. Talk to your Kitchen Tune-Up expert about the styles that work best on your cabinet boxes. Our door catalog has options galore, in styles, sizes, finishes and colors to perk up any space. Kitchen Tune-Up also features exclusive door designs created just for our customers, giving you unique choices you won’t get elsewhere. As an established home improvement company that does business nationwide, Kitchen Tune-Up gets favorable pricing from cabinet manufacturers. We pass that savings along to you.
Consider whether you want to add some new cabinets, a kitchen island, or more drawers instead of cabinets. With Kitchen Tune-Up’s Refacing Plus option, you can add these changes at the same time we’re doing the refacing.
Say goodbye to your old cabinet doors and drawers. The next time you see the drawers, they’ll have new fronts that match your new cabinet doors.
We veneer the boxes. Using wood or rigid thermofoil (RTF) veneer, we cover the fronts and sides of your cabinet boxes. RTF is a melamine product known for toughness and versatility–RTF comes in colors and patterns to match a host of design schemes.
Your new doors and drawers arrive. We install new hinges, if needed, then hang your new cabinet doors and install the drawers. To complete the fresh look, add new door handles and drawer pulls.
Can’t I Just Do It Myself?
Yes. Handy homeowners can replace doors and drawer fronts and even attach veneers to cabinet boxes themselves. Measuring precisely and choosing materials carefully are key. You’ll need to source your drawer fronts and doors and a matching veneer, plus the adhesives and tools to attach the veneer. Don’t forget hinges and hardware.
While doing it yourself is possible, if you’re looking to refresh your cabinets, consider letting your nearest Kitchen Tune-Up team do it for you. Ask about our refacing service today and compare it to the time you’d spend on DIY refacing.
The post How Cabinet Refacing Can Transform Your Kitchen appeared first on Kitchen Tune-Up.