How to Clean Wood Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets become disorganized quickly. From cake batter to olive oil, your family spills all kinds of things on them while cooking.

Fortunately, numerous methods exist for cleaning wood cabinets without harming their finish. But first, test any cleaning solutions on a small wood patch before thoroughly cleaning.

1. Vinegar

When it comes to cleaning wood cabinets, vinegar is an ideal solution. Not only does it effectively remove stains and grease, but it won’t harm your cabinet’s finish, either.

Vinegar is an effective natural disinfectant safe for pets and humans since it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals like many commercial wood cleaners.

Mix vinegar with water to create a cleaning solution for cabinets. However, only use a small amount of vinegar, as too much can cause permanent damage to the wood.

In addition to vinegar, other effective ingredients for cleaning wood cabinets include baking soda and vegetable oil. You can find these items at your local grocery store or online.

2. Baking Soda

If you want to clean wood cabinets without harsh cleaners or damage to the finish, baking soda is an effective alternative. This natural cleanser cuts through dirt and grease lifts grime, and deodorizes kitchen surfaces without harming surfaces.

Baking soda is excellent for food splatters, paint splotches, and watermarks. It also removes black scuff marks on wooden kitchen cabinets with minimal effort.

Another way to remove stubborn stains is with vinegar. The acidic nature of vinegar breaks down organic compounds that leave stains on kitchen counters, tubs, and sinks.

Make a spray from baking soda and vegetable oil using two tablespoons of olive oil and white vinegar in a 16-ounce spray bottle; shake before each use for optimal effectiveness.

3. Vegetable Oil & Vinegar

Vegetable oil is an efficient cleaner for painted and finished cabinets that won’t leave behind a filmy residue or dull the wood’s finish. Additionally, it helps remove fingerprints or smudges that may have formed on metal door hardware due to frequent usage.

Vinegar is another effective household product that can help clean and deodorize kitchen cabinets. It easily cuts through grease and grime, so you don’t need to thoroughly soak the cabinets before wiping them away.

It’s essential to avoid using harsh abrasive cleaning products and tools on your cabinets, as they can damage their finish. Instead, create a gentle cleaner by mixing one part mild dish soap with two parts hot water or distilled white vinegar.

4. Distilled Water

Distilled water and white vinegar mixed in a spray bottle are effective cleaners for wood cabinets that are heavily stained. It’s an all-natural, gentle way to get kitchen cabinets sparkling clean without damaging their finish or paint.

You can effortlessly eliminate grease, food splatters, fingerprints, and grime from cabinets with a spray. Add a few drops of dish soap for tougher messes for even faster removal.

You can also use warm water and distilled white vinegar as a cabinet degreaser. This solution works exceptionally well on greasy cabinets, eliminating food splatters, fingerprints, and grime from metal door hardware.

If your cabinets have hard-to-reach spots, try dipping an old toothbrush in some cleaning solution and scrubbing them. It also works great for reaching those hard-to-reach places that a rag cannot, such as corners of doors.