Kitchen cabinets do more than just store dishes, pots, pans, and other groceries. It collects dirt, drips, and enough oil to fry the chicken. Yay! To help you deal with these dirt magnets, we've enlisted two of her top cleaning professionals, Molly Vera Peterson, president of Her Maid, and Clorox's stain and cleaning experts at asked Mary Gagliardi, known as “Dr. Her Martin.” In “Laundry,” we got the scoop on how to clean your kitchen cabinets. It doesn't matter if it's made of finished wood, painted wood, vinyl, plastic, or laminate.
Plus, I'll share my cleaning schedule and my favorite tips for cleaning your kitchen cabinets like a pro. You'll appreciate Gagliardi's unique insights into cleaning products, especially when disinfection is your top priority. “Bleach and water are also suitable for cleaning kitchen cabinets, as long as the protective finish on the cabinets is in good condition,” she says. And keep Mr. Peterson's common sense approach in mind. “I recommend doing her cabinets one at a time so you don't get overwhelmed,” she says.
Read more cleaning dynamo's sage advice on how to clean your cupboards until they're as good as new. And while you're cleaning up, give the rest of your cooking space a thorough wash. Clean the dirty kitchen sink, disinfect the wooden cutting board, and go to town on the dirty and splattered gas stove.
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How to clean kitchen cabinets
Whether you need to know how to clean painted cabinets or natural wood cabinets, you've come to the right place. Our experts will tell you all about it, including how to remove sticky oil stains from kitchen cabinets. Let's start with cleaning supplies and supplies. Peterson says he prefers DIY cleaners, while Gagliardi opts for name brands (like Clorox, naturally).
Below is a list that combines their preferences. Use what best suits your needs and priorities.
supplies
1. Gather your tools
Before you start cleaning, decide which supplies you'll use to take your cabinets from dirty to like-new. Choosing the right cleaning products and tools can help prevent damage to your cabinet's finish.
If you like DIY cleaners, try one of these:
- All cabinet types: Mix 2 teaspoons of mild dish soap (such as Dawn) with 1 gallon of warm water.
- Laminate cabinet: Mix equal parts alcohol and warm water in a spray bottle.
- All cabinet materials except laminate: Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle.
- Greasy cabinet: Add a few drops of dish soap to the alcohol or vinegar solution above.
If you prefer to use commercially available products, both multi-surface cleaners and disinfectant wipes are effective. But please follow the professional rules. When using a new cleaner, test it in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it won't damage the cabinet finish.
2. Clean the top of the cabinet
Gravity must be considered in the cleaning process. This is true whether you're cleaning the cupboards, wiping down the walls, or dusting the entire house. Cleaning your cabinets will remove dust and dirt. That's why it's wise to start with a high standard.
Start by vacuuming the top of the cabinet door. If your cabinets don't reach the ceiling, you'll also need to clean the dusty tops of your cabinets. You can easily remove this dust using a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment or a microfiber cloth. If the dust is mixed with grease, try scraping it off with an old credit card or a hard plastic spatula.
Spray the surface with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and warm water, or a multi-surface cleaner. Let it sit for a minute or two, then wipe with a clean cloth. Repeat as necessary.
3. Cleaning inside the cabinet
Empty the cabinets and move all glassware, dishes, and other kitchen items to a dust-free area. Vacuum or wipe the inside of the cabinet to remove dust and food particles.
4. Wipe the outside of the cabinet.
Lightly spray or wipe the outside of the cabinet door with cleaning solution. Let it sit for a minute or two, then wipe with a microfiber cloth.
You don't want any cleaning solution left on your cabinets, so rinse it off with a damp cloth. Repeat this process to remove stubborn grease and dirt.
5. Clean knobs and drawer handles
Knobs, handles, and drawer pulls are the most frequently touched items on your cabinets, so give them some extra love while wiping down your doors and drawers. To remove dust and dirt from hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, use a toothbrush or cotton swab dipped in cleaning solution. However, please be careful. Special care may be required if the hardware is made of metals such as copper, brass, or silver.
After scrubbing thoroughly, use a soft cloth dampened with clean water to remove any cleaning solution residue. Dry the hardware with a clean cloth.
6. Clean the hinges
This is probably the most overlooked step, but it's important. Clean the cabinet hinges with a dry microfiber cloth or use a toothbrush to remove any stuck-on dirt. If you need extra cleaning power, wipe the hinges with a few drops of cleaning product on a cloth. Rinse with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly.
7. Clean cabinet doors and shelves
Spray the cleaning solution on the inside of doors and shelves. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes, then wipe the inside surface with a microfiber cloth. Don't forget to wash it off with a damp cloth.
Pay particular attention to cabinets with glass doors. You don't want glass cleaning solution to drip onto your woodwork and stain it. Spray a vinegar and water solution or commercial glass cleaner on a clean cloth, not on the glass. Wipe the inside and outside of the glass door.
8. Remove dirt
To remove stubborn stains, mix two parts baking soda and water to create a paste. Apply to the stained area. Wait 2-3 minutes, then gently wipe the area. Baking soda has an abrasive action, so be sure to touch it lightly. Then wipe it with a slightly damp cloth.
9. Dry thoroughly
Dry all surfaces thoroughly with a clean microfiber cloth. Want to really make your cabinets shine? Grab another soft cloth and use it to buff the surface. If it's still dull, try using beeswax polish or kitchen cabinet cream to restore its shine. If this does not resolve the issue, you may need to remove product buildup.
Leave the cabinet door open for 1 to 2 hours to allow the cleaned area to dry completely. Then you can refill the cabinet.
best kitchen cabinet cleaner
Peterson's go-to supplies are natural cleaning products you probably already have on hand, like dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and white vinegar. As Clorox's Dr. Laundry, Gagliardi is drawn to multipurpose cleaners.
How to keep kitchen cabinets clean
After working hard, you'll want to keep your freshly washed kitchen cabinets beautiful and clean. Dust and grease buildup is inevitable, but the steps below can help extend the time between deep cleanings.
- Do not leave cabinet doors open. Take out what you need and close it immediately. That's the best way to keep the inside of your kitchen cabinets clean.
- Doors and drawers that don't close completely are more likely to attract oil and dirt. To resolve the issue, fix the hinges and drawer glides.
- To reduce grease stains on cabinets, use splatter screens and turn on exhaust fans when frying.
- Keep your shelves clean by using shelf liners and wiping down bottles and jars before putting them back in the cabinet.
- Clean up spills immediately. When cleaning your countertops, make sure no food or other dirt drips onto the cabinets below. If so, clean it immediately. Wipe dirt and fingerprints off the cabinet as soon as possible.
- Recycle old face cloths and turn them into kitchen towels. Use it to wipe your hands while cooking to avoid transferring food to cabinets and drawers.
How often should I clean my kitchen cabinets?
How often you clean your kitchen cabinets depends on how often you cook and fry.
If you cook in the kitchen regularly, wipe down the outside of your cabinets and drawers once a week, or at least once every two weeks. Depending on how dirty it is, it should be thoroughly cleaned (inside and out) every 3 to 12 months. Do you cook with oil regularly? The cooking area cabinets should be thoroughly cleaned more often.
If you order more takeout than cook, you can clean the outside of your cabinets and drawers every 1-2 months. Clean your cabinets and drawers inside and out once a year.
Kitchen cabinet cleaning tips from the pros
We didn't just ask experts how to clean kitchen cabinets. We also asked for cleaning tips. And it worked.
- Don't try to clean all your cabinets at once. It's overwhelming. Instead, tackle one thing at a time.
- Wood and water don't mix. When cleaning wood cabinets, make sure the finish is in good condition. Otherwise, use only a slightly damp cloth for cleaning and rinsing. Avoid leaving any liquid on the wood and allow the surface to dry completely after rinsing.
- Do not use products containing ammonia, bleach, solvents, strong detergents or soaps, nail polish remover, or paint thinner. Avoid using plastic brushes, steel wool, scrubbers, etc. All of these products and tools can strip the wood or paint finish and damage your cabinets.
- Do not use white erasers or melamine sponges on finished wood. It is abrasive and can scratch the finish.
- Keep kitchen wipes on hand to easily clean cabinets. You're more likely to clean when you have something quick and easy to use nearby.
- Do not use vinegar or baking soda on laminate cabinets.
- In general, when cleaning things in your home, don't mix ammonia and bleach, vinegar and bleach, rubbing alcohol and bleach, or vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
- If you're not sure whether a cleaning product is suitable for your cabinets, test the product you use in an inconspicuous area first.
- Be sure to wipe down the tops of your cabinets and cabinet doors to remove any dust or oil.
- Perhaps the most overlooked area to clean is the kick plate under the base cabinet. Wipe down when deep cleaning your cabinets. You'll be surprised what sticks!
source:
- Vera Peterson, Molly Maid President
- Mary Gagliardi, aka Dr. Landry, Clorox Stain Expert
