You may not enjoy cleaning greasy kitchen cabinets, but it is a task you must do regularly to prevent stubborn buildup. Make it easier on yourself with these tips from Brilho Luxury Home Services. To simplify it more, call on the team for residential cleaning services in Toronto by Brilho Luxury Home Services.
Perform a Spot Test
While the outlined methods are safe for wood cabinets, it’s always wise to perform a spot test when using new cleaning methods.
Choose a hidden spot to see if any techniques below interact with the finish. Clean the small area as outlined below and wait for 24 hours to see if there is any reaction.
Watch the Moisture Content
When cleaning greasy kitchen cabinets, it’s essential to know how much moisture the surface can take.
Veneered or lacquered cabinets can stand a fair amount of water, but wooden cabinetry cannot.
While coatings on the wood should render it impermeable to water, they wear away in time. The water can then get in between the cracks and warp the wood.
With painted surfaces, the type of paint determines how much you can wet it.
To be on the safe side, always use a damp cloth or sponge rather than one that’s dripping with moisture. Also, always dry the surface after cleaning it to reduce the chance of water ruining the finish.
Warm Water and Dish Soap
Add a little dish soap to warm water to make cleaning greasy cabinets easier. Don’t use detergent, as this can contain abrasive compounds. Dish soap is gentler and contains degreasing agents that work as well on cabinetry as they do on dishes.
The method is as follows:
- Froth up the water and moisten a sponge. The sponge should be damp rather than dripping wet.
- Work at the grime in a circular scrubbing motion and keep going until it comes off.
- Finish up by rinsing the area with clean water to remove all traces of the mixture and dry the surface with a dry cloth.
Lemon-Fresh Multipurpose Cleaner
Citrus oils are natural degreasers, so find a multi-purpose cleaner that contains lemon oil or some other type of citrus.
The method is as follows:
- Apply the cleaner and leave it in place for a few minutes to allow it to get to work.
- Wipe the surface with a damp cloth to remove the oil.
- Once again, rinse the cleaner off using clean, warm water.
If you prefer a natural cleaning agent, make one yourself and save a little cash. Fill a mason jar two-thirds of the way with orange or lemon peels, and then add white vinegar to cover them.
Leave it in a dark, cool space for two to three weeks so that it can steep. You can also shake the bottle every couple of days or so to extract the maximum amount of citrus oils, but this is not essential.
At the end of the period, strain the vinegar and put it into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto the cabinet and let it sit for a little so it can work its way into the grease. Then wipe away and rinse with clean water.
White Vinegar and Water
Mix equal parts of vinegar and water to create a natural degreasing agent. The vinegar cuts through the grime effectively, but is too strong to use neat, so follow these steps instead:
- Spray the mixture onto your cabinetry and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
- All but the most stubborn of grease stains should wipe away easily afterwards, so remove them with a damp cloth.
- If they don’t budge, reapply the mixture and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
- Dry the surface using a clean rag.
Baking Soda and Water
Cleaning greasy kitchen cabinets that have been that way for a while is more challenging. If the standard methods are ineffective, you need something with abrasive qualities. Baking soda fits the bill because it naturally dissolves grease and lightly scrubs the surface.
To use this method:
- Mix equal parts of baking soda and warm water to get a paste
- Apply the mixture to the greasy cabinets using a dry cloth. Use gentle, circular motions to remove the grime, changing out your rag when it gets too dirty.
- Remove the baking soda residue with a damp cloth and clear off any remaining dirt.
- Finish up by drying off any moisture using a clean microfiber cloth.
Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
This takes cleaning greasy kitchen cabinets up a notch for those stubborn stains. The combined degreasing power of lemon juice and the slightly abrasive nature of baking soda make a potent combination.
You’ll need about two to three tablespoons of lemon juice, the same amount of baking soda, and four to six tablespoons of warm water. Then:
- Mix all the ingredients in a spray bottle, shaking well to ensure the baking soda dissolves.
- Spray onto the surface, and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Wipe the area down with a damp cloth using circular motions.
- Rinse the mixture off with clean water and then dry it.
Prevent Grease Accumulation in the Future
Wiping down your cabinets with a damp cloth soaked in warm water once a week should prevent the buildup of dirt in the future. If this doesn’t work, use one of the tips above to make the surface spotless.
Regularly wiping down the cabinets prevents grease and grime from setting and potentially staining your cabinets. It’s an effective technique to use in the bathrooms and other rooms in the house to make spring cleaning simpler.
If you’re renovating, you might also like to try this method for getting rid of drywall dust. Should you not have the time, our team members are pros at cleaning greasy kitchen cabinets and other areas. Call our experts at 416-923-3300 or email [email protected] to learn more about our service and schedule an appointment with us today. We guarantee exceptional results.
