Aside from floors and walls, one of the most exposed areas of your kitchen is the cabinets. Opening and closing it to look for something while cooking, before and after meals, and for storage use makes it more exposed to grease, dirt, and bacteria. Therefore, it’s essential to learn and find the right balance on how to clean your kitchen cabinet. Though there are a lot of cleaning materials you can use to do this, the most important thing to consider is the material of your cabinet.
To guide you on the process, we’ve come up with some common cabinet materials and how you can clean it properly.
Wood
Regardless of what cleaner you use, it’s essential to follow these steps:
- Use a clean cloth to wipe the dust off the surface. Make sure to remove the dust on the handles, too.
- Apply your cleaner on a soft cloth or sponge. You can remove grease and grime build-up with elbow grease.
- You can remove stains in the cabinet, such as chocolate, by mixing salt and vinegar. Dip the toothbrush in the paste and lightly scrub the stained surface.
- Find another used toothbrush and dip it in the cleaner. Use this to clean the hardware and the areas around it.
- Once these are all cleaned, wipe the cleaner off with another clean cloth. You can dip the cloth in warm water to easily remove the soap off the cabinet.
- Make sure to wipe the surface dry.
Acrylic
Acrylic cabinets have a protected layer to protect the gloss of the cabinet. Once the film is removed, the surface becomes more scratch-resistant. This the case if you just currently upgraded or installed your acrylic kitchen cabinet.
On the other hand, if you’ve had this cabinet for quite some time, it’s essential to reapply the protective polish on the surface. If you’ve done this, then you’re ready to start cleaning your cabinet with the following steps:
- Get a wet microfiber cloth and wet the fabric with mild soap and water. Do not use paper towels or scrub to avoid scratching the surface.
- Do not use harsh cleaners and other abrasive materials such as ammonia or thinners.
- Once you’ve cleaned the surface thoroughly, make sure to wipe it dry. Use a clean and dry microfiber cloth to dry it off.
Laminate
Laminate is also a common material for cabinets. It’s a versatile material which is also easy to clean and to maintain with the following steps:
- Remove the dust on the surface. You can use a lint-free cloth or a duster. You can do this twice a week to avoid dust build-up on the surface of your cabinets.
- Deep-clean your laminate cabinets using mild soap and a soft cloth. You can mix a tablespoon of dish soap and a quarter of water.
- Soak the cloth on the mixture. Use this to wipe the cabinet surface. Include the hinges and handles.
- Once you’re done wiping it with the cloth with soap, rinse the surfaces by wiping the cabinet with warm water and a soft coth.
- Lastly, dry the surface. Make sure to wipe it dry with a clean cloth.
Glass
Another common kitchen cabinet material is glass. A lot of homeowners love using this to easily see through their cabinets and find what they’re looking for.
To clean the surface of your glass cabinets, follow these steps:
- Mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with 2 cups of water. Store the mixture in a spray bottle.
- Spray the cleaner directly on the glass surface.
- Once all surface is damp, wipe it off with a clean, soft cloth. You can also use a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the surface.
- Use a paper towel or any dry cloth to wipe off the soap.
If there is soap left of the surface, you can remove this with a cloth which is dabbed on baking soda. Rub it on the surface on a circular motion then remove it with a dry cloth.
Are you ready to give your cabinets the TLC it deserves? Try out these simple cleaning methods now!