Your Sanitation Guide: How to Clean Wood Cabinets

There are lots of places in our homes that we might not think to clean. Some are more obvious than others, but we tend to neglect one specific area of our homes. Our cabinets! That’s right – you should be cleaning your cabinets. But, when you have wood cabinets, you might be concerned with ruining the wood finish or stain on them. However, there are lots of ways you can clean your wooden kitchen cabinets without ruining them. 

Why Clean Your Cabinets?

As with anything in your home, the surfaces in your cabinets can harbor bacteria or viruses. Some of the most common bacterias found in kitchens include Salmonella and E. coli. These bacteria can cause harmful side effects if ingested. And if you’re constantly touching surfaces that these bacteria grow on frequently, then you could easily pass it onto the handles of your cabinets. Plus, if you have kids or pets, your lower cabinets can easily appear dirty and unclean. Cleaning your cabinets helps to ensure you reduce your chances of spreading harmful bacteria to yourself, your family or any guests you have over. Plus, cleaning them ensures they stay in great shape for years to come. This way, you won’t need to replace or refurbish them as often. 

Best Tips for Cleaning Wood Cabinets

Your cabinets can be cleaned a lot simpler than you think. Here are some best tips for cleaning your wood cabinets.

• Gather your supplies. Pencil, paper, screwdriver, cloth and hot, soapy water are pretty much all you need to clean your wood cabinets. Be sure to gather all these items beforehand so you can be sure you have enough. If you’re running low, head out to get more of what you need before starting your cleaning project. No one likes a half-finished project!
• Empty your cabinets. Take out all the items in your cabinets. From dishware to non-perishables, everything in your upper and lower cabinets should be removed and placed somewhere safe for the time being (not the kitchen counter). It’s important you do this so you can easily clean all the insides of your cabinets as we’ll talk about in the next few steps. 

• Disassemble doors. If you installed ready to assemble cabinets, then just do the opposite of what you did to put the doors on. If your cabinets were installed pre-assembled, then use a screwdriver or drill to unscrew them. Make sure you number all the doors so that you can remember where to put them back on after you’ve finished cleaning.
• Take out shelves. Take the shelves out of the cabinets, number them and set them aside. This will make it easier to clean the inside of the cabinets and ensure that you get a deep clean. 
• Get your water ready. Fill a bowl with hot, soapy water. You can use any type of soap here, but an antibacterial soap would be best so that it can kill anything inside your cabinets or on your doors. You’ll want to let the water cool a bit until it’s comfortable. You’ll be dipping a cloth into it, after all!
• Dampen the cloth. Wet the cloth in the water, being sure to ring out all the excess moisture. Pooled water is what causes damage to wooden cabinets, so you’ll only want the rag to be damp, not soaking wet.

• Wipe everything down. Using the damp cloth, wipe down the inside of the cabinets, the shelves and the inside and outside of the doors. Take your time doing this, being sure to get corners and spots where you’ve noticed dirt buildup. This will ensure that you’re able to get a good clean and that your cabinets will look completely fresh. For areas that are really giving you trouble, you can add some extra soap to help break down the debris. Don’t forget to use a little elbow grease! If you’ve got drawers in your kitchen, now is when you wipe down the front and inside of them. 
• Reassemble your cabinets. After cleaning off all the parts of your cabinets, reassemble them. This is where the numbers come in handy. You can easily put all your shelves and doors back with the cabinet they belong to since they were numbered!

Know When to Replace

Sometimes, you just need to replace your cabinets. If they’re warped, moldy or cracked in a variety of places, then you’ll need to replace your cabinets. No amount of scrubbing will fix those issues. Our Woodline cabinets are perfect for homeowners who want quality cabinets without the fuss!