Are you regularly cleaning your kitchen cabinets as part of your kitchen maintenance routine? If they don’t appear dirty at first glance, you might overlook cleaning them while wiping down the countertops or mopping the floor. However, a quick wipe with a cleaning cloth will reveal the buildup of grease and grime on your cabinets. Upon opening the doors, you’ll likely find dust and crumbs inside that also need attention.
During cooking, particles in the air settle on the cabinets, accumulating over time. Moving items in and out of the cabinets also provides opportunities for dust and dirt to collect inside. Regardless of their material—whether wood, painted, metal, or laminate—kitchen cabinets require regular cleaning and occasional deep cleaning to prevent dirt and grease buildup.
Here’s a guide on cleaning different types of kitchen cabinets:
General Tips:
Brittany Greene, the founder of Happy Clean Atlanta, suggests using a simple solution of two drops of dish soap in a gallon of room temperature water to clean cabinets. Use a soft microfiber cloth dampened in the soapy water to wipe down the exterior and interior. Ensure cabinets are thoroughly dried to prevent damage from moisture accumulation.
Avoid Using:
Avoid harsh cleaners like bleach and ammonia, as well as abrasive pads that could harm the cabinet finish.
Cleaning Methods for Different Cabinet Types:
Painted Cabinets:
For painted cabinets, avoid using magic erasers as they can damage the paint. Stick to the soap and water mixture with a soft cloth for gentle cleaning. An all-purpose cleaner safe for painted surfaces can also be used.
Wood Cabinets:
Greene recommends an oil wood cleaner for grimy wood cabinets to dissolve grime effectively. Finish with an all-purpose cleaner for a thorough clean and to nourish the wood.
By following these cleaning tips, you can maintain the appearance and longevity of your kitchen cabinets effectively.
D, and Greene recommends products like Beezwax or Liquid Gold to restore the polish and shine to wood cabinets. Laminate Cabinets Similarly to painted cabinets, you want to be careful with laminate cabinets because the surface can be damaged by abrasive materials. Avoid Magic Erasers or any cleaning tools that could scratch the laminate. Gentle soap and water is best, and make sure to thoroughly dry the cabinets inside and out after cleaning. Laminate is particularly susceptible to warping from moisture. Metal Cabinets Metal cabinets are among the most durable on the market. While you can do a general cleaning with soap and water, you can also use stronger cleaners for deeper cleans. Metal can handle rubbing alcohol to remove stains and extra fine steel wool to scrub away rust. Getty Images / chuckcollier Deep Cleaning Kitchen Cabinets Deep cleaning kitchen cabinets isn’t significantly different from a general clean, except that you should fully remove everything from the cabinets so that you can get in every nook and cranny. “You should remove all of what’s inside the cabinet, use a vacuum hose or a cloth to remove debris, crumbs, and anything else left inside cabinets,” says Greene. She recommends wiping down the inside of the cabinets with a cleaner, then also cleaning all the handles, knobs, and hardware. Each of these surfaces is touched or used on a daily basis, and you might be shocked at how dirty and grimy they get over time. Plus, Greene points out that deep cleaning your cabinets is the best way to keep them organized! You’ll see what you have in there and what needs to go. How Often To Clean Kitchen Cabinets You might be surprised to learn that the ideal cadence for cleaning your kitchen cabinets is weekly. Greene explains that high traffic kitchens, which means you’re cooking daily, need a weekly cleaning to stay spick and span. If your kitchen is used less often, monthly should suffice. “For high traffic kitchens, clean and wipe down the outside of cabinets weekly to avoid build-up, making it so much easier to maintain the sparkle we all strive for,” says Greene. When it comes to deep cleaning, this only needs to be done once a year. But Greene adds, “If you are really ambitious, twice a year wouldn’t hurt.”
