How to Clean Wooden Cabinets
If you’ve invested in high quality custom kitchen cabinets, you’re going to want to keep them in good condition so they last for a long time. Although wood is aesthetically appealing, it can be difficult to care for depending on the types of materials and environment it’s exposed to. If you have custom cabinetry in your kitchen, there’s the risk of spills within the cabinets, but if they’re in the bathroom area, the wood can warp if the room isn’t properly ventilated while the hot water is running. Luckily though, the process of cleaning cabinets stays the same regardless of the room they’re installed in.
The only factor that changes your cabinet cleaning routine is the material that the cabinets are made from (i.e. metal, wood, laminate), and if the cabinets are wooden, how you clean depends on the finish.
Cleaning Wooden Cabinets
If you have wooden cabinets, they’re most likely made from either solid wood, veneer coated over wood, or wood that has vinyl coating. The type of wood doesn’t really affect how you clean it, like we mentioned before, it’s the finish on the wood. The most commonly used finishes for wooden cabinetry include:
- Varnish
- Polyurethane
- Wax
- Unfinished
When you clean wooden cabinets, the most important thing to remember is that you want to keep them dry. If you see they’re collecting steam from either the shower, or the dishwasher, take a dry cloth and wipe them down. Your regular cleaning routine should consist of disinfecting all the surrounding surface areas (including the cabinets) with bleach free cleaner. Wipe the surfaces down with a clean damp cloth to remove the cleaner, then use a third to dry the surfaces. Also, remember when you’re cleaning or polishing cabinets to go along with the grain rather than against it. You don’t want to damage the natural texture of the wood.
Cleaning Painted Cabinets
So you have wooden cabinets, but they’re painted. Have no fear because cleaning painted wooden cabinets is actually easier than cleaning natural wood ones since they’re often sealed with multiple coats of oil based paint. All painted cabinets should be cleaned with a solution made with warm water and a diluted all-purpose cleaner. If you don’t have an all-purpose cleaner, you can also use wood cleaner or white vinegar. In the event that the cabinets begin to collect grease, wipe them down with ammonia, but if the stains are stubborn, you should be able to get them out with baking soda and water.
Tags: bathroom cabinetry, Cabinet Makers in South Florida, Cleaning Guide, custom cabinetry, k
