So, you’re getting all new kitchen cabinets. You’ve been dreaming of this moment – when you finally get that update that your kitchen so desperately needed. You can wait for your cabinets to be beautiful and functional. But do you know exactly how to care for your new kitchen cabinets?
To keep your cabinets in good shape and to maintain them throughout the years, there’s a few simple ways to take good care of them. Kitchen cabinets go through a lot of wear and tear over time, and can look worn out if you’re not careful. Here’s how to keep your kitchen cabinets looking new, even after they’re not.
Ask Your Contractor
For every type of kitchen renovation you do, it’s always important to ask your contractor as many questions as you can think of. They will be up to speed on what type of care each particular finish might need, and how to best care for the exact type of cabinet that you chose.
Care After Installation
When you’re done installing your cabinets, your contractor will likely tell you that you need to wipe them down. Find a cloth that won’t scratch the surface, and wet it until it’s damp. Once you’re done wiping the cabinets on both the inside and the outside, be sure that there isn’t any water that’s sitting on the surface. Gently wipe away any water that might remain, so that there isn’t any streaking. Leaving water on your cabinets for a long time could also cause them to blister, or the finish to fade.
Talk to Your Kids
If you have kids, let them in on the excitement that you’re feeling about your new kitchen cabinets. At the same time, teach them how to care for your kitchen cabinets. They might seem like something that’s fun to swing on – but let them know that’s going to damage the structure. If your kids like to cook in the kitchen, be sure to check for splatters – you can never be too sure they won’t end up where you thought they never could.
Keep Them Clean
If you spill and it gets on your new cabinets, don’t wait to clean up the mess. Whatever spilled should be cleaned right away, because the finish of the cabinets can get stained. When you’re cleaning up a spill, try not to rub too hard. If your cabinets are made of wood, which they most likely are, it might damage the material.
Do Regular Maintenance
Every few weeks, to keep your cabinets looking the best that they can look, bust out your cloth that you used when they were first installed. Wipe them down to remove stains and the buildup of grease. If you find a grease stain that’s particularly tough, you can use a dish soap that isn’t too harsh, and switch over to warm water.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Speaking of soap that’s too harsh, when you’re cleaning your cabinets, you want to make sure that you’re avoiding chemicals cleaners. Steer clear of ammonia, solvents, bleach, or waxes mixed with a large amount of chemicals. If one of your stains just won’t come out, then mix up baking soda with water, and see if that does the trick.
When you’re using a gentle cleaner, pair it up with a cloth. Don’t use a scouring pad, steel wool, or a hard brush, because this will scratch the surface of that beautiful cabinet that you just got installed.
Use a Touch Up
Over time, it’s almost unavoidable that your cabinets are going to sustain a few nicks and scratches. But you don’t have to live with that. Find a touch up kit where you can fill in the color that’s been scratched off your cabinet.
Don’t Slam
It seems to go without saying, but closing your cabinets hard can do damage to the hinges, and the structure of the cabinet door itself. If you have cabinets that are lower down, try not to lean up against them when you’re going to reach something on the top shelf. Using your foot to close low cabinets is usually okay, but not if you’re closing it too hard or leaving marks with your shoes.
Avoid the Sun
If at all possible, try to keep your cabinets out of the direct sunlight as much as you can. You can’t move where your cabinets are, but you can put up a shade. Sun will bleach the wood of your cabinets, and can even end up warping them.
Use a Toothbrush
For the tight grooves in your cabinets, it’s okay to use a soft toothbrush to make sure you get rid of all the grime that’s been building up. Some cabinets have grooves that you simply can’t access with your cloth, like right where the hardware meets the wood, and those spots shouldn’t be missed. Just make sure that you’re scrubbing gently.
Don’t Forget the Top
The tops of cabinets are one part of your new kitchen cabinets that tend to get overlooked, quite literally. But dust does collect at the tops of the cabinets, and cleaning them regularly can ensure that your kitchen is fresh and clean.
Your kitchen remodel is our passion. Let us be your guide throughout your entire remodel – not just cabinets. For whatever you need, let us be the ones to take your kitchen from every day into a true masterpiece. Get a free quote when you contact us now. All you need to do is provide your contact information and the details of what you’d like in your dream kitchen. We’ll make the rest happen.