Kitchen Cabinet Maintenance Tips

If you’ve just installed new cabinets in your kitchen, you’ll no doubt want to make them last for years to come. Fortunately, taking care of your cabinets is simple and doesn’t require too much effort or preparation. All you need is a few common household cleaning supplies and you’ll have your cabinets looking clean and beautiful. To help you, we’ve compiled a handy list of kitchen cabinet maintenance tips – including do’s and don’ts, the cleaners you should use on different materials, and the best ways to clean inside kitchen cabinets.

Want to discuss kitchen cabinet maintenance tips in person? Visit our showroom or call us to chat with one of our friendly team members today.

Kitchen cabinet maintenance tips

How to keep kitchen cabinets clean with warm soapy water

If you’re wondering how to clean your kitchen cabinets, a gentle touch is key. Laminated surfaces are stain resistant, so most cabinets don’t require harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners. Instead, warm soapy water and soft cloth are all that’s needed to keep your laminated cabinets clean. For optimal results, it’s recommended that you rinse any detergent off with another clean damp cloth and polish the surface cry with a soft cloth.

For any accidental spills, use a cloth to remove the spill straight away. To remove stains or heavy dirt build up on laminated cabinets, you can use a class cleaner such as Mr Muscle Surface or Ajax Spray ‘n’ Wipe glass cleaner. Rub with a clean, dry cloth to restore brightness. Streak marks will sometimes show on dark colours and high gloss surfaces, and these same products can be used to remove visible streaks.

We recommended you avoid the following products as they may damage the finish of the laminate:

• Bleach
• Strong detergents
• Paint thinners
• Nail polish remover
• Ammonia
• Petroleum based products
• Steel wool pads
• Scourers

Deep cleaning your kitchen cabinets

Routine cleaning should be enough to keep your cabinets looking squeaky clean but if not, a deeper clean may be required. The best way to clean inside kitchen cabinets is to empty all your cupboards and of all their contents, and wipe down the insides of the cabinets, hinges, and doors with a soft cloth, water and a mild detergent. For difficult to reach corners and crevices, you can use a toothbrush, which can also be used to gently clean any hardware.

When it comes to ‘how to clean your kitchen cabinets’, keeping it simple is the key, and it’s the same with your benchtops. Engineered stone, for example, requires very little maintenance to keep the surface looking like new. For everyday cleaning, you can use the same damp cloth and mild detergent, or alternatively you can try a quality spray and wipe type cleaner. If you have a different type of benchtop such as timber or natural stone, it’s best to speak with your supplier about the best cleaning approach, or call us and one of our friendly kitchen designers can help!

Don’t soak your cabinets

Although most cabinets are water resistant, too much water can wreak havoc, particularly on timber cabinets. Excess moisture can cause swelling, and particularly on older painted kitchens, water residue can cause paint to flake. Instead of soaking your cabinets and leaving them to dry, simply wring your cloth before wiping the cabinets down – you never want your cloth to be so wet that it drips! You should also dry your cabinets after cleaning, because if there is any moisture or cleaning product left on your cabinets, it can leave unsightly residue. To avoid this, dry them off using a microfibre cloth.

How to clean grease off kitchen cabinets

If you’re wondering how to clean grease off kitchen cabinets, you’re not alone. Cleaning your kitchen cabinets regularly can help stop stains from fingerprints, grease, and food splatter from forming, but sometimes it’s easy to miss the odd spot, especially around food preparation areas. If your surface is laminated, use the products recommended above to remove grease stains.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our article on kitchen cabinet maintenance tips. If you’d like more information about how to keep kitchen cabinets clean or would like to have a custom kitchen made to order, get in touch online or call one of our new kitchens specialists on (07) 3356 1719.