While you probably spend the majority of your kitchen cleaning time on the big three—sink, counters, and floors—your cabinets, particularly the doors, require regular attention as well. That is where small droplets of cooking grease, food splatters, and steam tend to settle, attracting and trapping dust, resulting in dingy, dull, or streaked surfaces.
While cleaning kitchen cabinets is tedious, it is not difficult and does not require the use of smelly or potentially toxic chemicals. Whether your cabinets are painted or finished wood, a few common household items, and a little elbow grease will bring them back to life. Simply take care not to sully their finish with an overly enthusiastic approach. Here's how to do it properly.
Common rules for cleaning kitchen cabinets
The most important rule is to get inside the cabinet and clean there as well. Spills that have been swept under a cabinet are overlooked and are asking for unnecessary bacterial growth alongside all of the other crumbs that accumulate in this spot. Use a small brush with an angled head, or even just your hand and fingernails to get into cracks. Then dust or disinfect what you find or both by using your favorite substances!
Use paper towels or cloth around drawer handles because they're prone to receiving more than their fair share of bacteria accumulation from germs on our hands.
Use a non-abrasive cleaning agent.
Leave the harsh scrubbing to your sink. It can damage the paint or cabinet finish. Instead, mix one-part mild dishwashing soap with two parts hot water, or the same ratio of distilled white vinegar to hot water. This will help soften grunge and grease so you are able to wipe it away more easily. Pour this mixture in a spray bottle and you're ready to go
Don’t submerge your cabinets in water
Spray the cleaning mixture onto a microfiber cloth or soft rag until it’s damp but not drenched. Too much moisture can damage your cabinets’ paint or finish. Now, wipe each cabinet door from top to bottom, paying extra attention to any trim or molding where dust and grime tend to accumulate. Don’t forget to wipe handles and knobs, and the insides of the cabinet doors, as well. Spritz more cleaning solution onto your cloth as needed, but never let the cloth get wet enough to drip. Squeeze excess into the sink if necessary.
DO tackle tight spots with an old toothbrush.
If you can't see the holes that are on your cabinet, use an old toothbrush. Dip it in your cleaning solution and use it to clean the hard-to-see areas. Make sure to clean around handles and knobs, too.
DON’T let the water run into the hinges.
Your cleaning solution is not for metal on the cabinets. It will make them rusty. Use a dry cloth to wipe away dust and dirt from the metal, or put a drop of cleaning solution on it if it is dirty or greasy.
DO remove the cleaner with a final rinse.
Once you have cleaned your cabinets, go over them again with a clean cloth. Use a damp cloth and be careful not to make any dirty water on the floor.
DO dry the cabinets after cleaning.
Letting cabinets air dry after cleaning can damage or bubble the finish or paint. Instead, use a soft cloth to dry all damp surfaces and encourage a shine.
DON’T forget the glass.
Spray a clean cloth with your vinegar mixture or a commercial glass cleaner and wipe the glass thoroughly. It is usually easy to remove food splatters, grease, and other kitchen grunge from the glass. You may need to do this more than once. Do not use anything abrasive on the glass. Dry it after you are finished cleaning it.
DON’T skip periodic deep cleaning.
Every six months, clean the inside and outside of your cabinets. This will mean cleaning all surfaces: the shelves, inside of drawers, and cabinet interiors. Throw away anything you don't need anymore before putting things back in.
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