How to clean your wood kitchen cabinets the right way and finally get that layer of grease off

Key Points

• A 1:1 vinegar and water mix safely cuts through grease on wood cabinets without damaging the finish.
• Regular cleaning and quick spill cleanups help prevent long-term stains, warping, and dullness.
• Keeping cabinets looking new is easy with vinegar, soft microfiber cloths, and regular maintenance.

There’s more to cleaning your kitchen than wiping down the counters. Caring for your cabinets is an often overlooked part of keeping a kitchen tidy and looking like new.

Learn how to keep your wood cabinets clean and restore them to their original glory with simple ingredients from your pantry.

How to Clean Wood Cabinets With Vinegar

Before you being cleaning your wood cabinets, make sure to grab all the tools you’ll need during the process: duster, vinegar, dishwashing liquid, spray bottle, and a microfiber cloth.

Remove Surface Dust

Use an electrostatic or feather duster to remove dust from the cabinet doors. If you are cleaning the interior of the cabinets, empty all of the contents and use the crevice tool of your vacuum to suction away dust and crumbs.

Mix a Cleaning Solution

Fill a spray bottle with a 1:1 mixture of cool water and distilled white vinegar. If the cabinets are heavily soiled or sticky from a greasy film, add 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Shake the bottle well to mix.

Clean and Shine the Cabinets

Lightly spray the cabinet doors and frame with the vinegar solution. Let the solution work for about 60 seconds and then wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as the soil is transferred, and repeat the steps with the interior shelves.

Warning

Do not over-wet the wood, which can cause warping and damage to the finish. If the vinegar solution is dripping off of the doors, you are using too much.

Clean the Hardware

Before cleaning the handles, knobs, or drawer pulls, consider the hardware material. Most metal hardware can be cleaned with the vinegar solution and buffed to a shine.

If you have uncoated brass hardware that is dull and needs shining, it is best to remove it from the wood cabinet doors to clean separately.

How to Remove Stains from Wood Cabinets

Stains can develop slowly over time, and they need different kinds of treatment depending on the source.

Grease and Food Stains

1. Wet a microfiber cloth with hot water and place a dab of dishwashing liquid on the cloth.
2. Gently scrub the greasy area, then wipe away the soapy residue with a clean, damp microfiber cloth. Repeat until the stains are gone.

Water Stains

1. Rub a small amount of oil, like mayonnaise or vegetable oil, on the whitened area; natural oils should suffice.
2. Allow it to sit for an hour and then buff it away with a microfiber cloth.

Try Toothpaste

You can also put a dab of non-gel toothpaste on a microfiber cloth and rub the water stain until it disappears. Wipe away the toothpaste residue with a damp cloth and buff the wood with a soft, dry cloth.

Sticker or Glue Residue

1. Loosen residue. Use the edge of a credit card or plastic scraper to loosen as much of the sticky residue as possible.
2. Rub the stained area with oil. Place a dab of olive oil on a soft cloth and gently rub the stained area. Move to a clean area of the cloth as the residue is transferred, and reapply more oil if needed.
3. Clean and buff. Finish by cleaning the area with the vinegar and water mixture and buffing it to a shine.

4 Tips to Keep Wood Cabinets Clean Longer

• Clean up spills and splatters immediately.
• Clean the wood cabinet doors monthly and the interior shelves every three to six months.
• Use contact paper or shelving liners to prevent crumbs and residue from building up on shelves.
• Add a protective barrier of wood furniture wax once a year to prevent grease and grime from discoloring the wood.

Frequently asked Questions

Is Murphy’s oil soap good for wood cabinets?

Yes, Murphy’s oil soap is safe to use on wood cabinets, according to the brand, as the product is a natural wood cleaner.

What cleaning tools are safe to use on wood cabinets?

Clean cloths, soft rags, and microfiber cloths are all great cleaning tools to use on wood cabinets. Avoid anything abrasive that can scratch and strip the wood such as steel wool and scrubbing pads.

Read the original article on The Spruce