When was the last time you cleaned the kitchen fronts? Do the areas around your kitchen cabinet handles feel particularly sticky from being touched thousands of times over time? With the right home remedies and techniques, you can easily remove grease and dirt from wooden kitchen fronts.
The kitchen cabinets are the flagship of your kitchen, so they should be in immaculate condition. However, grease splashes, water drops and fingerprints often end up on kitchen fronts, so regular cleaning is a must. If your kitchen cabinets are made of wood or covered with wood, you should clean and dry them with particular care so as not to damage the material. Find out in this article how you can properly clean wooden kitchen fronts and which home remedies are suitable for this.
Cleaning wooden kitchen fronts: Which home remedies are suitable for this and what should you avoid
When we clean our kitchens, we mainly focus on the sink, the countertop and the floor. We often forget that kitchen fronts also require regular care. Tiny droplets of cooking fat, food splatters and steam often settle on them and attract dust, resulting in dirty, unsightly surfaces. The kitchen fronts should be cleaned regularly, although it is also worth cleaning the inside from time to time.
Clean wooden kitchen fronts: With detergent and water
If you clean the kitchen fronts regularly and don't get any stubborn stains on them, then all you need is simple dish soap and water.
Pour 2 liters of hot water into a bucket and add some dishwashing liquid. Dip a sponge into the solution, squeeze out the excess water and wash the kitchen fronts with it.
You can easily scrub heavily dirty areas or complicated cabinet parts with an old toothbrush.
If the kitchen fronts become too soapy, wipe them with a damp cloth.
Then dry the surface with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
Can you use vinegar on wooden kitchen fronts?
For stubborn stains on kitchen fronts, it is often recommended to use diluted white vinegar. While this can be effective, it can also be harmful to some wood surfaces if you use vinegar on them frequently.
If you have exhausted all other options and choose this option, be sure to heavily dilute the vinegar and test the solution in a hidden area of your kitchen cabinet first.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water and pour the solution into a spray bottle. Spray onto a microfiber cloth or washcloth. Squeeze out excess moisture and wipe the kitchen fronts from top to bottom. Let the vinegar sit for 10 minutes.
Then wipe the treated surfaces with a rag dampened with water and dry the kitchen cabinets with paper towels or a clean microfiber towel.
Make homemade cleaner
Although we warned you that regular cleaning of wooden surfaces with vinegar is not recommended, it is safe to use when mixed with oil.
You can easily make a homemade cleaner for wooden kitchen fronts by adding 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 4 tablespoons of white vinegar and 8 drops of dish soap to a spray bottle and filling the bottle with warm water.
Shake the mixture and spray onto a microfiber cloth. Scrub the kitchen fronts with it to remove dirt andto remove stainsand polished to a high shine. Remember to shake the bottle before each spray to ensure the oil mixes well.
Remove stubborn stains with baking soda
For stubborn grease or food stains that have been left unattended for a long time, mild dish soap and water may not be enough to remove them.
If you're trying to remove dirt that has worked its way into the wood, you can use a mixture of baking soda and water. Such heavily soiled areas often appear on door handles and cabinet edges.
To do this, mix baking soda and a small amount of water until a paste forms. Then apply the paste to the dirty area and scrub lightly with a sponge, washing it out every now and then. For stubborn stains, you can also use an old toothbrush to work the paste into the wood before wiping it thoroughly.
Make sure that all baking soda residues should be wiped off thoroughly with a damp cloth so that no white film remains on it and tarnishes the shine of the kitchen fronts. Dry the kitchen fronts completely with a kitchen towel.
Remove water stains from kitchen fronts
Water stains on kitchen fronts can be unsightly. They occur when moisture penetrates the surface. If they are white, they can probably be removed without much effort because that means the moisture has penetrated the paint but the wood is not affected. However, if you have dark water stains on the kitchen fronts, this is a sign that the moisture has already attacked the wood and it is much more complicated to remove these stains.
- With toothpaste:Apply a thin layer of white toothpaste to the water stain and gently scrub with a rag or sponge for a minute. Do not press too hard to avoid wearing off the paint. Wipe away the residue with a paper towel.
- With baking soda:Prepare a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the wood stain with a microfiber cloth. Gently rub the surface for a few minutes. Do not use water to remove the residue, simply wipe it away with a dry microfiber cloth.
These two methods are suitable for removing water stains from any type of wooden furnitureand wooden floors.
What should you avoid when cleaning?
Wood is naturally porous and therefore not all products are suitable for cleaning it. If you are not sure whether your wooden kitchen cabinets are covered with a protective layer, you should first test the cleaning product you choose on an inconspicuous area. Once you've made sure your cabinets won't be damaged, you can start cleaning.
When cleaning wooden cabinets, be careful not to leave them wet for too long, otherwise the wood can warp or expand. Always wipe the cleaned area immediately and avoid any water stains left behind.
Avoid using abrasive cleaners and hard brushes when cleaning as these can damage the surface. Also avoid odorous or potentially toxic chemicals that could penetrate the wood.
Be careful not to use bleach on the wood surface as this can cause unwanted discoloration.
Also interesting:Cleaning stainless steel in the kitchen: Practical tips and home remedies for a flawless shine
