How To Clean Kitchen Cabinets

 

How To Clean Kitchen Cabinets

Cooking sessions result in spills, messes, and a lot of smudges on cabinets. The problem is how to clean kitchen cabinets when these hard-working uppers and lowers often get neglected during your weekly cleaning, resulting in an accumulation of grease, grime, dirt, and smudges by the time you realize you have ignored them.

Using cabinet hardware frequently creates a breeding ground for bugs and vermin, and food crumbs hide in back corners attract vermin. Additionally, wood is porous, which makes it difficult to remove stubborn residue, although it is more delicate than metal or laminate.

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The Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Kitchen Cabinets

Follow this guide to successfully clean kitchen cabinets – and you’ll have no problem getting them in pristine condition!

Step 1: Empty them out

If you need to remove and temporarily store the contents of cabinets, then it might be a better idea to stagger cabinet cleaning rather than attempt it all at once.

It is recommended to remove all expired shelf papers after the shelves have been emptied and dispose of them soon afterward.

Get rid of dust and crumbs by vacuuming and wiping shelves and drawers.

Step 2: Tackle the tops

The tops of cabinets are rarely finished with an easy-to-clean surface. Next, there are issues of accessibility and elevation. Having cabinets that are not at ceiling height makes them easy to accumulate clutter. Step stools or ladders are best for this job. Make the most of your vacuum’s small round brush attachment or a long-handled duster for dust removal.

The most challenging part of cabinet cleaning may be removing grease and dust that have merged.

Pour some vinegar on the surface and sprinkle some baking soda on it, then let it sit for a few minutes.

Wipe off the gunk with a rag or paper towels, then scrub with a sponge.

Clean the surface once again by lightly spraying it and wiping it off.

Step 3: Prepare a safe, gentle cleaner

It is important not to damage your cabinets when cleaning them.

The mild dish soap in hot water formula is safe and effective on painted and finished wood (and metal, laminate, and vinyl).

Adding white vinegar, which has antibacterial properties, gives the solution a sanitizing boost and will remove dirt, smudges, and grease buildup.

Spray the mixture into a spray bottle, but apply it with a microfiber cloth or sponge rather than directly onto the surface of the cabinet, as it’s best not to soak the wood.

Step 4: Clean high to low

The upper body comes first, then the lower body. You should start with the interiors: the back wall, then the sides, and finally the shelves and drawers. Make sure to pay close attention to corners. Saturate a toothbrush with cleaning solution and scrub gently if necessary.

If soap residue remains, wipe it with a soft cloth or sponge dipped in plain water. Following thorough rinsing, wipe the cabinets completely dry and close them.

Make sure to clean the sides of the boxes before you clean the doors and drawer fronts.

Step 5: Go at the grease

If you have sticky, yellowish grease build up, a mixture of baking soda and water can reduce it naturally and cost-effectively.

If grease is stuck to surfaces, apply the cleanser, let it sit for several minutes, then scrub gently (do not scrape!) with a soft-bristled brush.

Wash the area thoroughly with a wet cloth, sponge, or microfiber cloth, and then dry it.

To test a commercial grease remover, seek out an inconspicuous area to apply the product on first. Magic erasers are non-toxic melamine foam blocks that are like super-fine sandpaper; take care to avoid damaging varnished wood or glossy paint finishes.

Step 6: Treat the trim

Cabinet trim can become so soiled, if it is too ornate, because grease and dirt love to settle in crevices.

You can use a small cloth or soft toothbrush to gently scrub the area using a basic cleaning solution.

The area must be rinsed thoroughly with plain water and dried thoroughly with a clean cloth.

Step 7: Handle hinges and hardware right

You need to look at cabinet metal properly.

Cleaning the hinges is easy if you wrap an index finger in a dry cloth. Spray a mixture of 50/50 water and white vinegar on a soft toothbrush, and scrub away the stubborn grease.

Whenever you are cleaning metal or ceramic hardware, as well as the areas around handles, knobs, and pulls that will collect dirt and grease, utilize the toothbrush approach.

Step 8: Get the glass gleaming

Depending on whether your cabinet doors have glass, use commercial glass cleaner or a homemade spray cleaning solution made of one cup of rubbing alcohol, one cup of water, and one tablespoon of white vinegar.

Step 9: Clean the contents

Ensure that cookware, dishes, and food packages aren’t dusty or dirty before refilling shelves and drawers. Even if everything looks perfect, a quick swipe with a microfiber cloth will make your contents fit for return to your sparkling cabinets.

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Summary

In this guide, I have explained how to clean kitchen cabinets in nine steps. In no time at all you will have a gleaming kitchen cabinet. Just follow the steps in the proper order. How do you clean your kitchen cabinets other than using these methods? Let us know in the comments.