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Kitchen cabinets are the biggest storage area in your kitchen, including wall cabinets and floor cabinets. The accumulated dirt, grime and food spills inside can affect your cooking if you don't clean them well every now and then.
If you happen to be a person who loves cooking, then the kitchen needs your utmost consideration. A new trend has emerged of buying customized cabinets for kitchens. If you want to maintain them in an immaculate condition, then cleaning becomes a must for you. The main reason for this is that it will enable you to cook without any worries and the food prepared would turn out to be absolutely healthy.
Before beginning any cleaning project, it's always best to read through all of the instructions and have at hand whatever supplies you need.
Here’s a list of the tools and supplies that you will need:
- liquid dish soap
- vinegar
- toothpaste
- an old toothbrush, nonabrasive sponge, or scrub brush
- white distilled vinegar
- cloths or paper towels for drying
- lemon juice or baking soda/water paste, depending on the task at hand.
Steps of Cleaning Kitchen Cabinet
Here are 10 steps to follow when cleaning your kitchen cabinets to give them a thorough clean.
Step 1: Remove all items from the cabinets
Remove all items from the cabinets. Put them away in another room or on another countertop. Keep things off of the floor as well because you might accidentally drop something and make a mess.
Step 2: Remove all drawers and shelves
Remove the cabinet drawers and keep them off to the side. If you can't take out your cabinet's doors, then cover them with a large sheet of plastic to protect them from drips and splatters. Lay down some newspapers or even lay pieces of cardboard over the countertop so that you don't soak through and damage it.
Step 3: Scrape away any tough food spills
Using a small spatula, scrape away as much food as possible from cracks and crevices inside your cabinets. A putty knife will help dig leftover bits left by spoons, melon ballers, ice cream scoops, etc., as well as stuck-on chunks of food.
Step 4: Wash cabinets with mild soap and water
Scrub the inside of the cabinets with a sponge soaked in warm soapy water. A mild dishwashing liquid can be used as well as lemon juice or white vinegar, but don't use either on wood surfaces because they could dull the finish. Rinse off all residues with clean water and wipe dry.
Step 5: Clean doors and drawers using lemon juice or vinegar
Using a paper towel, rub fresh lemon juice onto cabinet doors and drawers. This will help remove any smudges and fingerprints from them. If you happen to have some baking soda available, then sprinkle it over the surface and scrub it gently with an old toothbrush. The mixture will help remove any grime that has been left behind. Rinse the surface with a damp cloth and dry it up. Sweep away any excess powder using a clean paper towel.
You can also use vinegar in place of lemon juice to disinfect cabinets and remove hard-water spots from chrome faucets. Chances are, your kitchen sink is made of stainless steel or some other type of metal, so you're better off sticking with the lemon juice instead because it won't corrode!
Step 6: Wash inside surfaces with warm water
If your cabinets have been neglected for a long time, then you might consider washing them inside with warm water containing one tablespoon each of chlorine bleach and ammonia. Make sure the area is well-ventilated; you don't want to breathe in the fumes.
Step 7: Wipe cabinets with a cloth moistened with vinegar
After allowing time for your mixture to dry, wipe away any residue using a clean cloth soaked in white vinegar. The smell of vinegar will dissipate within seconds. It will help disinfect the area as well as make it smell better. Make sure that you're not left with streaks because if you do notice this problem, then just wipe them away with distilled water.
Step 8: Wash outside surfaces using mild soap and warm water
Wet down the outside surfaces of your cabinets thoroughly before applying dishwashing liquid or lemon juice mixed with baking soda (1 tablespoon each). Then use a sponge or cloth to wipe away all residues.
Step 9: Wash doors outside surfaces with baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice
If your kitchen cabinets have glass panels or mesh screens that you can't remove, then you might want to try this method. Sprinkle the surface evenly with baking soda and add a little water until it forms a nice paste. Next, apply some distilled white vinegar and scrub vigorously using an old toothbrush or non-abrasive sponge. You should see some results by now! If necessary, repeat the process again after rinsing thoroughly with clean water and dry up using a clean paper towel. Then moisten a cloth with freshly squeezed lemon juice and rub it onto the entire door surface to get rid of stains and smudges, as well as to give it a nice shine. Let this dry for a few minutes and wipe away with a clean cloth.
Step 10: Polish metal parts using toothpaste
Apply some minty toothpaste (not gel type) onto a soft cloth and rub gently over all surfaces of kitchen cabinets made from metal and chrome faucets and handles. This is an effective way to clean these surfaces, although you might need to use stronger stuff for tougher stains like rust.
I hope you learned a lot from these 10 tips for cleaning kitchen cabinets. Follow the instructions carefully and always wear protective gear when necessary. If you have kids or pets then make sure to keep them away from the area until it has completely dried up, as well as afterward. Good luck!
