Cabinet Care 101: The Ultimate Cabinet Maintenance Guide

At Selba, we believe that your cabinetry deserves the utmost care but that doesn’t have to be a burden. In fact, we created this cabinet care guide so that you can maintain your expertly-crafted cabinets with ease.

These instructions are applicable to cabinetry of all materials including wood, laminates, UV lacquer, acrylic, and painted surfaces.

Cabinet Cleaning Frequency

To preserve your cabinet’s pristine condition, clean surfaces immediately after a mess occurs and once weekly as a part of a normal maintenance routine.

We also recommend deep cleaning your cabinetry twice a year (think spring cleaning and winter maintenance), where you completely empty your cabinets and thoroughly clean shelves, inside surfaces, handles, hinges, and exteriors.

Materials Needed for Cabinet Cleaning

To clean your cabinets like a pro, you will need the following supplies:

• Gentle Dish Soap
• Water
• Spray Bottle
• Microfibre Cloth or Soft Rag (2-3)
• Glass Cleaner

Step One: Cabinet-Friendly Cleaning Solution

It’s imperative to use a gentle cleaning solution on your kitchen cabinets. Harsh chemicals and strong detergents cause serious damage to cabinet finishes and paint.

Prepare a gentle cleaner by mixing one-part mild dish soap with two parts warm water. The warm water will help dissolve dirt and grime for effortless cleaning. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray directly onto the cloth prior to wiping cabinet surfaces. Spraying any mixture directly on your cabinets will cause a water ring or “halo” mark to occur, which is quite difficult to remove or may result in permanent damage.

Step Two: Wipe Down the Cabinets

Begin by using a clean microfibre cloth that is exclusively used for your cabinets. Cloths that are used for other purposes may have remnants of strong detergents and soaps which may leave streaks or spots on your cabinets.

Spray the cleaning mixture onto a microfibre cloth or a soft rag until it's damp and not drenched.

Moisture is the bane of any cabinet finish. Excessive moisture can damage cabinets by causing discolouration, fading, peeling, or warping. Wood cabinets are also susceptible to water damage/swelling from the overexposure of water but will suffer easily from scratches when dry dusting is performed, so it is important that your cloth is only damp and not completely dry.

With your damp cloth, wipe each cabinet door from top to bottom, following the grain of the surface, as needed. Be sure to pay careful attention to any trim or moulding where dust and grime tend to accumulate.

Don’t forget to wipe all handles, knobs, and the inside of the cabinet doors.

Step Three: The Details

With a focus on the cabinet doors, cabinet details such as hinges, handles, knobs, and the inside of the cabinet doors often get overlooked. Be sure to give these areas some TLC.

To properly clean your cabinet hinges, simply use a dry microfibre cloth to gently wipe the metal. If the hinges are particularly greasy, spray a drop or two of the cleaning solution onto your cloth and only scrub the problem spot.

Be sure to wipe the metal dry immediately afterward.

Step Four: Rinse off Cabinets

To remove the residue of the cleaner, follow up with a lightly dampened cloth to wipe over surfaces that cane in contact with the homemade solution. Ensure that no droplets are left behind and use a dry microfiber towel to guarantee no wet/damp spots areas are forgotten.

Step Five: Don’t Forget Glass-Front Cabinets

A beautiful peak-a-boo feature in your kitchen, glass inserts are easily scuffed and require some attention.

Spray a clean cloth with a glass cleaner. Wipe the glass thoroughly on both sides to remove dried food splatters, grease, and fingerprints.

Lastly, wipe the panels dry.

At Selba, we craft quality, functional, and customized kitchen cabinetry to match and elevate any lifestyle.

Visit us at one of our showrooms or request a consultation today to begin working with our cabinetry and design experts today.