Kitchen Cabinet Cleaning Tips

If you don’t have the time or money for a complete kitchen remodel, try thoroughly cleaning your kitchen cabinets to see if a remodel is really necessary. Whether you’re moving out of your old apartment or you’re just getting into that spring cleaning mood, knowing how to clean your kitchen cabinets can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. By following these helpful tips, you’ll learn what products to use (and not use), how often you should clean, and how to cut back on cleaning time.

Tip 1: Empty and Organize Your Cabinets

If you want to make the biggest impact in your kitchen cabinet cleaning, try emptying every item from your cabinet and reorganizing them. Before returning the contents back to each cabinet, wipe down dusty cans or containers with a damp cloth. By doing this, you’ll discover any expired items, and you’ll ensure that the cabinet space is tidy and organized so everything is easy to find.

Tip 2: Use Natural Cleaners

When it comes to cleaning products, keep in mind that these products may come in contact with your food, dishes and utensils. It’s important to use cleaning products that don’t contain harmful chemicals. All-purpose cleaners can always be another possibility, but be sure you read the ingredients (to make sure there’s nothing toxic) and test the cleaner in a hidden spot to make sure it doesn’t damage your cabinet’s finish. If you don’t already have cleaning products on hand, a simple solution is to combine liquid dish soap and warm water. This solution is strong enough to remove fingerprints, food, dust, and grease residue, while mild enough to not damage cabinetry finish.

Tip 3: Exterior Cleaning

We explained how to choose the best kitchen cabinets in our previous blog post, no matter what, the build-up on cabinets typically come from a combination of dust and grease from cooking. From metal to plastic laminate and wood to vinyl, these finishes can all maintain a clean facade by wiping them down with a soap and warm water solution (explained above). After using this solution, wipe the cabinets down with another damp cloth (without soap), and dry with a final cloth.

Tip 4: Interior Cleaning

When cleaning the interior of your cabinets, we recommend beginning with the top cabinet. Wash each shelf with warm water and a mild detergent (if necessary). If you notice a lot of crumbs and residue, try vacuuming the cabinet before wiping it down to save time. After wiping the cabinet down with a second damp cloth, wipe each cabinet with a final dry cloth (like you would with the exterior).

Tip 5: Maintain a Constant Upkeep

After cleaning your kitchen for the first time, you might be hesitant to clean it again – especially if it took longer than you thought it would. Not to fear though! The first cleaning will generally take the longest. As long as you maintain a constant upkeep, the easier and faster it will take to remove fingerprints, food smudges, and grease build-up.  A cleaning schedule can be determined by how often you cook in your kitchen: if you cook daily, try wiping down cabinetry just as often; if you cook once or twice a week, then try cleaning once or twice a week. Remember, the longer you wait to clean your cabinets, the harder it becomes to restore your cabinets to their original luster!

Mr. Cabinet Care is a leader in bathroom remodeling and kitchen remodeling in Orange County. We maintain a high reputation in custom cabinets and have been voted #1 as a Family Owned Kitchen Cabinet Company seven years in a row!