How to Clean Your Wood Cabinets and Finally Get that Layer of Grease Off

By: Mary Marlowe Leverette

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.

From protecting the wood finish from stains to excessive wear, keep reading to learn how to keep your wood cabinets clean and restore them to their original glory with simple ingredients from your pantry.

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How to Clean Wood Cabinets With Vinegar

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 50:50 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.

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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.

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How to Remove Stains from Wood Cabinets

Grease and Food Stains

1. Wet a microfiber cloth. To remove stubborn grease and food stains, wet a microfiber cloth with hot water and place a dab of dishwashing liquid on the cloth.
2. Clean the affected area. 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. Use an oil agent. Rub a small amount of mayonnaise or vegetable oil on the whitened area. Allow it to sit for an hour and then buff it away with a microfiber cloth.
2. Use 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. 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.

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Additional 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.

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