With spring upon us, this is a great time to clean the cabinets
in your home. The cabinets in your home may have been manufactured from quality
hardwoods. Like any other wood product
or piece of fine furniture in your home, proper care, use, and maintenance of
your cabinets is essential to maintain their beauty and function. The following
is a list of maintenance steps and things to avoid. This list is not intended
to be a complete list, but rather it is to be used as a guideline for general
care. Always follow the directions for
any product that you buy. When in doubt,
common sense should always prevail.
A soft cotton cloth dampened with warm water is usually
sufficient to clean your cabinets. If more thorough cleaning is required, use
one of the following cleaning solutions.
-A fresh solution of
dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water
-A mild all purpose
cleaner. Make sure it does not contain ammonia or silicone.
Use the mildest cleaning solutions that will successfully clean
your cabinets. Stronger products may damage or discolor your cabinet finish and
are not recommended. After cleaning, wipe all surfaces with a clean, damp
cloth. Dry immediately, using another soft, clean cloth. Cabinet interiors may
have a water resistant topcoat, however, water or other liquids allowed to sit
on the surface for extended periods of time may cause staining or
bubbling. Be sure dishes, glasses, etc.
are dry before storing in the cabinets.
Clean spills and splatters immediately. Prolonged exposure to
spills, including food, water or other liquids or to oil and grease splatters,
can cause permanent discoloration or damage to your cabinet’s finish. Give
special attention around sinks and the tops of doors and drawers in the sink
area. Waxing is not required or recommended. Over time, waxing and polishing
compounds may build up on the surface of your cabinets and cause a hazy,
streaky or yellowed appearance.
Spray ammonia-free glass cleaner on a clean soft cloth or paper
towel. Do not spray cleaner directly on the glass. Avoid excess glass cleaner
running into the cabinet joints. Avoid draping damp clothes or dishtowels over
cabinet doors. This moisture can cause permanent damage to the cabinets finish.
Keep cabinet surfaces dry. Place coffee makers so that the steam is directed
away from the cabinet surfaces. Avoid placing small kitchen appliances where
the heat is directed onto cabinet surfaces.
Avoid using the following cleaning products on your cabinets:
-Harsh chemicals
-Abrasive cleaning
products such as tub and sink cleaners or steel wool.
-Products that include
ammonia
-Products that include
bleach
-Silicone-based
cleaning, waxing or polishing products.
Happy Spring cleaning! Questions? Email me at
jessica@webbercoleman.com
