Kitchen Cabinet Cleaning And Maintenance

Keep them clean to avoid refacing and replacing

Cabinets are the unsung heroes of the kitchen. They are used more frequently than stoves or dishwashers or other appliances, yet kitchen cabinets seldom receive the same care and cleaning and attention as appliances or countertops. A regular routine of kitchen cabinet cleaning and maintenance can prolong the life of your cabinets and forestall the day that an expensive kitchen redesign becomes necessary.

Basic kitchen cabinet care

Your hands transport more grease, food, and moisture to kitchen cabinets and kitchen cabinet knobs than most other areas of the house. Preventing buildup of dirt and grime is easier the more consistently you clean. Most kitchen cabinets can be cleaned with a simple mix of detergent and warm water.

For kitchen cabinets made from finished wood, use cleaners specifically designed for wood cabinets or furniture. Avoid the use of caustic or abrasive cleaners. If your wooden kitchen cabinets appear dull after cleaning, apply a wood wax for added luster.

Extra kitchen cabinet care

If advanced cleaning of your kitchen cabinets is necessary due to long term neglect, an all-purpose cleaner is appropriate for metal or plastic surfaces. On a kitchen cabinet made from finished wood, you may need to use a solvent such as paint thinner to deal with excessive grime.

Be very cautious when using solvents. Avoid open flames and use proper ventilation. To avoid further damaging your kitchen cabinet finish, apply the solvent to the inside of the kitchen cabinet door first and see how it responds. If the doors have been neglected for too long a time, refinishing will likely be necessary.

Refacing your kitchen cabinets

Refacing kitchen cabinets is an inexpensive form of kitchen redesign. Refacing is a great option especially for a kitchen cabinet that is well built and still in excellent structural condition but has a worn or faded appearance.

Kitchen cabinet refacing involves the removal of all cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. A thin veneer is then applied to the remaining cabinet faces, and new matching doors and drawers are installed.

Kitchen cabinet refacing can be especially cost-efficient if you do the refacing yourself. If you choose to go that route, know that it's going to involve a great deal of cleaning and stripping the old finish or paint off your kitchen cabinets before you even get started on the new veneer.

Replacing your kitchen cabinets

Replacing your kitchen cabinets is a major step up from refacing, and will require a lot of planning and foresight to be done well. The budget you have to work with will determine your decorative limitations, so settle that before all else.

Once you have a budget, take some time to reacquaint yourself with your kitchen. Walk through your cooking routine and note how a different kitchen cabinet design could make your life easier. If there are certain shelving or kitchen accessories you've desired, now is the time to make note of them.

Kitchen cabinet manufacturers create 3 general categories of kitchen cabinets: stock, semi-custom, and custom. Custom kitchen cabinets will be the most expensive, but will give you the most finish and design options. They'll also be more durable than stock kitchen cabinets. Semi-custom kitchen cabinets are also becoming increasingly diverse and affordable. A wise shopper should have no difficulty finding quality kitchen cabinets that are built to last.