Installing Kitchen Cabinets - Cleaning/maintenance

One of the dirtiest places in your home is your kitchen, being subjected daily to cooking spills, grease and food splatters. This does not account for sticky and hand or fingerprints from adults and children alike, which ultimately can be a recipe for disaster for kitchen cabinets.

Home repairs can be much easier if you employ a regular cleaning regime to prevent excess dirty build-ups on your cabinets. Cleaning methods will vary dependent on what your kitchen doors are made of. Warm water and detergent works best on vinyl, painted surfaces and metal. However, should rinse the area well with water and dry it with a lint-free cloth.

Generally, all-purpose kitchen cleaners can be used, but it is important to read the labels first because some cleaners may damage your cabinetry's surfaces. Always do a test on a less seen area before applying any cleaners to the whole. Again, rinsing away any residue and drying the surfaces properly is important.

A lot of people are very concerned about environmental issues when it comes household cleaners. There are alternative, environmentally friendly ones available in your kitchen. Grease can be easily removed with a mixture of lemon juice or white vinegar and water. Stains are removable with either club soda or baking soda. Again, always rinse thoroughly and dry with a lint-free cloth.

You may also wish to try wooden furniture cleaners, even spray ones, on your cabinetry as long as you follow all the directions very carefully. Again, testing the cleaner on a hidden part of the surface should be done first, even though the cleaner may recommend itself for you type of finish.

Another vital warning is to avoid flammable wood cleaners. Such information is always clearly labeled on these products and should not be ignored. Always avoid cigarette smoking, keep away from heat sources and open flames, and avoid appliances with pilot lights or gas elements as a single spark could either cause an explosion or a major kitchen fire. Such fires are very hard to get under control and spread very quickly.

Dulling your cabinets can happen sometimes when using cleaning. When this occurs, us furniture polish to restore them. Furniture wax can also help. However, you may need to buff a bit to bring back the shine. It is important from time to time to polish the wood to preserve both the shine and the wood itself.

As with other parts of your kitchen, food grime and grease can begin to build on your cabinets. Always clean your cabinets first and then the hardware. Then put the handles back onto your drawers and cabinets to ensure an over all lift.

Again match the cleaner with your hardware's materials. Each metal type has an available polish and cleaner in retail stores. Be cautious about using the incorrect cleaner that may cause damage to your handles and ultimately cost your money if you have to replace them. Finally, again, always read the labels instructions before cleaning.

About the Author

Ken Morris often produces informative papers on ideas associated to installing and home repair. His publications on
kitchen cabinets
are found on his website .

Amerock Hardware from www.Kitchen-Cabinet-Hardware.com

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