Now that you’ve got your beautiful new cabinets, how do you keep them looking fresh and new for years to come? It comes down to taking care of them the right way. Cabinets are an investment, and you need to continue to care for them over the years and even generations to keep them looking their best.
General Cleaning Tips
No matter the type of cabinet you have, there are a few tips that will help keep them looking new and beautiful.
- Get into the habit of regular cleanings. Even if your cabinets look clean, regularly wiping them down (at least once a week) will help them stay beautiful for years to come.
- Clean any stains or splatters on your cabinets right away. Leaving grease, water spills, or food stains on your cabinets for too long can make them extremely difficult to remove or even permanently damage your cabinets.
- Don’t use too much water while cleaning. Once you’re done, make sure you dry off the cabinets so there’s no water left behind. That’s a common problem we see, along with letting water get into the cabinet seams. If water is allowed to sit anywhere for a long period of time, it will cause the cabinet to swell and warp.
- Consider protecting your sink base and vanity cabinets with a plastic liner or pan. Those are the two areas that are at the highest risk of water damage.
- If you have glass doors in your cabinets, don’t spray glass cleaner directly onto the glass as it can damage the surrounding surfaces or even tarnish your hardware. Spray the cleaner directly onto your cloth and then clean the glass.
Cleaning Materials to Avoid
There are some products that should never come near your cabinets. These can either damage your cabinets or cause more unseen dirt—neither of which you want.
- Dirty sponges or dishcloths. Used cloths and sponges can carry food bits, dirt particles, leftover grease, or even remnants of strong cleaning chemicals. Make sure you’re using freshly washed or brand new cleaning materials.
- Scouring pads or steel wool. Despite how tempting it might be to pull these out to conquer a particularly stubborn stain, these will damage your cabinets.
- Harsh chemicals like bleach, strong chemical tub and sink cleansers, and ammonia.
- Strong soaps or detergents.
- Silicone-based products.
Basic Cleaning Process
- Start with water. Use a soft, clean cloth or sponge, dampen it with warm water, and wipe the surface of your cabinets.
- If water isn’t enough, add a small amount of mild dishwasher soap to the water and try again.
- If that still doesn’t do the trick, create a cleaning paste with baking soda and water. Vinegar and water are another option. Wipe the cabinet with a water-dampened cloth afterwards to rinse it.
- No matter what water mixture you use, dry the surface afterwards with a soft cloth.
Cleaning for Specific Cabinet Types
Some cabinets have special requirements. We use four main types of materials in our cabinets—all of which are simple to clean and care for. The right kind of cabinet care depends on what material your cabinets are made from.
Thermofoil
Thermofoil is quite easy to clean, making it a popular cabinet choice. You can stick with the formula we mentioned earlier—water and a cloth—and only add a mild soap or cleanser if you’re facing a tough stain. Fine, soft scrub pads are another option if you use them very gently, but be particularly careful with super matte finishes.
Always rinse thermofoil after cleaning if you used a soap product and finish by drying the cabinets with a soft cloth. Drying is important to avoid damaging the cabinet material with water.
Use:
- Nonabrasive soap and water.
- Denatured alcohol and water.
- Methyl Hydrate.
Do not use:
- Abrasive cleaning pads, such as steel wool.
- Abrasive cleaners, harsh detergents, products with ammonia or acetone, glass cleaner, powdered cleaners, or lacquer thinners.
- Citrus oils, paste wax or polishes that contain silicone can leave a residue that is difficult to remove.
- Drain cleaners or toilet bowl cleaners can harm thermofoil. If you spill or splash these products on cabinets or components, wipe immediately and rinse several times with clean water.
Remember to keep thermofoil safe from heat and steam that comes from appliances (like toasters, coffee makers, and rice cookers). Direct steam will damage thermofoil.
Painted MDF
To clean painted MDF, use a soft, water-dampened, lint free cloth (microfibre works the best). Like with thermofoil, dry your cabinets after wiping them downt to prevent water damage.
If you notice grease build up on your painted cabinets, add some mild soap or cleanser to your damp cloth to remove the build up. Rinse off any product afterwards with a clean, damp cloth.
Use:
- Mild dish soap and water.
Do not use:
- Paper towels or any other paper products.
- Abrasive cleaning pads, such as steel wool.
- Abrasive cleaners, alcohol, harsh detergents, products with ammonia or acetone, glass cleaner, powdered cleaners, or lacquer thinners.
- Citrus oils, paste wax or polishes that contain silicone can leave a residue that is difficult to remove.
Our MDF finish is specifically designed for the cabinet and furniture industry and has a high resistance to yellowing.
However, it can be susceptible to chipping if the cabinets face an abrupt impact. If you notice a chip on your cabinets, don’t ignore it. A chip causes the bond between the paint and cabinet surface to weaken, and leaving it unaddressed can sometimes result in the paint flaking away. To fix a chip, use a touch up kit.
Wrapped Low Pressure Laminate and Thermofused Laminate (TFL)
These doors can be wiped with a clean, damp cloth. To remove tough stains, use a soft cloth moistened with a mild soap or cleanser. Fine, soft scrub pads are fine to use so long as you are gentle. To avoid streaking on laminate, do not use a soap-based cleaner.
Use:
- Mild glass spray cleaner.
- Any mild all-purpose household cleaner can be used to remove grease and more stubborn surface dirt build-up. Always rinse your cabinets with a cloth dampened with water, and dry with a soft cloth.
Do not use:
- Paper towels, as they can scratch laminate.
- Abrasive cleaning pads, such as steel wool.
- Abrasive cleaners, harsh detergents, products with ammonia or acetone, glass cleaner, powdered cleaners, or lacquer thinners.
- Citrus oils, paste wax or polishes that contain silicone can leave a residue that is difficult to remove.
Ongoing Cabinet Care
Cleaning isn’t the only aspect of keeping your cabinets beautiful. There are other tricks you can use to maintain the brand-new look of your cabinetry, starting from the very first day you begin using them.
- Minimize your cabinet’s exposure to direct and constant sunlight, as it can fade or discolour cabinets and doors. Don’t let the sun shine directly on your cabinets for hours each day—use curtains to protect the cabinets if your room layout makes this difficult.
- Prevent exposure to excess smoke and chemicals, as they can cause some cabinet materials to fade or vary from their original colour.
- Protect your cabinets from steam and direct heat. This is especially important for thermofoil, but all cabinets will benefit from the extra protection. Don’t use kettles right beneath your cabinets, and keep steamers away. Steam can warp the shape and cause delamination or peeling on doors, none of which you want.
- Use touch-up kits to fix any nicks or scratches that occur over time. These keep your cabinets looking great, even as they’re well loved over the years. We sell kits specifically made for our doors to help repair them and keep your cabinets looking brand new.
If you have any other specific cabinet questions, we’re always here to help. Contact us today or check out our cabinet care page for more details about your specific cabinet types!