Protect Your Investment: Kitchen Solvers’ Top Cabinet Cleaning Tips

Whether you’ve recently replaced or refaced your cabinets–or simply want your old boxes to shine like new–cleaning and maintenance is essential to protecting your investment. With that in mind, today’s post shares 6 kitchen cabinet cleaning and maintenance tips, courtesy of the Kitchen Solvers handyman franchise.

• Spot-test the cleaning process. No matter which method you choose or what kind of cabinetry you’re working with, always test your chosen cleaning product and tool on a small, out-of-the-way spot. Once you’re sure there’s no damage being done, leave the spot for a few hours to make sure your cleaning solution doesn’t leave any stains or residue.
• Get in the habit of daily upkeep. Simply wiping down your cabinets once a day with a clean cloth goes a long way. Any stains you catch early–before they harden and dry–spares your cabinetry some abrasive scrubbing in the future. Try to keep a cloth handy while cooking to wipe up spills and splatters right away. It’s also a good idea to occasionally disinfect all surfaces using a diluted antibacterial cleaner that does not contain bleach.
• Go with the grain. Scrubbing against the grain is a common beginner mistake because the abrasive action feels good–like you’re really giving your cabinet a deep clean. In reality, you’re wearing down the cellulose fibers in the wood, causing unwanted scratches and scuffs. Always work with the grain of wood when you’re cleaning your cabinets!   Oil soap wood cleaners offer great protection and grime-fighting power, without requiring a ton of scrubbing action. Contact a Kitchen   Solvers handyman franchise representative near you for local product recommendations.
• Choose the right tool for the job. Abrasive cleaning scrubbers may scratch the surface of your cabinets. Stick to gentler cloths and sponges, and go easy on the elbow grease unless you’re 100% sure the finish of your cabinets can handle it. When in doubt, reach out to a member of our handyman franchise–a simple phone call could save your cabinet investment!
• Use liquid cleaning solutions sparingly. Avoid saturating your cabinets as you clean. Use just enough of the cleaning solution to get the job done. When in doubt, opt for less–you can always add more, but water damage sets in quickly.
• Protect the paint. Your approach to cleaning painted cabinets depends entirely on the type of paint. If your cabinet are coated in oil-based paint, the standard method works fine. Simply buy a commercial cleaner or create a simple cleaning solution using dish soap and water. Apply sparingly, scrub gently, and dry thoroughly. As always, you’ll want to test your cleaning solution, tool, and technique on a tiny and inconspicuous area before you commit.However, if a water-based latex paint was used, you’ll need a gentler method. Water-based latex paint scratches easily, so you’ll need to be extremely careful, especially on visible spots. Most handyman franchises recommend a simple solution of warm water and non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner. Take your time and go light!

Damaged Your Cabinets Cleaning? Kitchen Solvers Can Help!

More than a handyman franchise, Kitchen Solvers has been on the cutting edge of the cabinet refacing industry for more than 35 years. If you got to this article too late and damaged your cabinets with improper cleaning technique, refacing might be the answer. Visit our website and get in touch with a member of our team today to learn more.  

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