How to Keep Your Custom Cabinets Looking Like New
Custom cabinetry is not a purchase you make every year. When done right, a well-built kitchen should look and function beautifully for 20, 30, even 40 years. But like anything of quality, it needs a little care to stay that way. The good news is that maintaining your cabinets does not take much time or effort. It just takes the right habits. Here is what our team recommends to every client after installation day.
Wipe Up Spills Right Away
This sounds obvious, but it is the single most important thing you can do. Water and oil are the two biggest enemies of cabinet finishes. A splash of cooking oil near the stove, a drip down the side of a cabinet from a wet glass, condensation from a pot sitting too close to a door. Left even for a few hours, these can start to work their way into the finish or the substrate beneath it.
Get into the habit of wiping down cabinet faces and the areas around the sink and stove at the end of each day. A dry or slightly damp microfiber cloth is all you need most of the time. The few seconds it takes will add years to the life of your finish.
Use the Right Cleaning Products
Harsh chemicals are one of the most common causes of premature finish damage that we see. Bleach-based sprays, abrasive scrubbing pads, and strong degreasers can strip a lacquer or painted finish faster than you might expect. The same goes for anything with ammonia.
For day-to-day cleaning, all you need is a soft cloth with a small amount of dish soap diluted in warm water and be sure to ring out the cloth before wiping down the cabinets. Wipe with the grain on wood finishes, rinse with a clean slightly damp cloth, and dry immediately. For tougher grease buildup, a diluted white vinegar solution works well without damaging most finishes. When in doubt, test any new product on a hidden area first.
Never use steel wool, scouring pads, bleach sprays, ammonia-based cleaners, or silicone-based polishes on your cabinet surfaces. These can scratch, dull or permanently damage even the most durable finishes.
Watch the Steam and Heat
Steam is a silent problem in many kitchens. Boiling pots, the dishwasher door opening, a kettle sitting directly under an upper cabinet. Over time, repeated exposure to heat and moisture causes wood to expand and contract, finishes to blister and paint to peel away from edges.
Make sure your range hood is working properly and that it is actually vented to the outside rather than recirculating. If you have an upper cabinet directly above your cooktop, consider adding a small panel of heat-resistant material between them. And whenever possible, open the dishwasher door slowly and let the initial burst of steam escape before pulling out the racks.
Check Your Hardware Every Year
Hinges, drawer glides, handles, and knobs all do an enormous amount of work over the life of a kitchen. Doors are opened and closed dozens of times a day, and drawers are pulled in and out under the weight of pots and pans. Over time, screws can work themselves loose and hinges can shift slightly out of alignment.
Once a year, go through every cabinet and drawer. Tighten any loose screws. Check that doors are hanging level and closing flush. If a soft-close hinge has lost its dampening feel, most can be adjusted with a small screwdriver. Catching these small things early prevents bigger issues and keeps everything feeling as solid as it did on installation day.
Protect the Interior Too
Most people focus their care on the outside of the cabinets, but the interior matters just as much. We don’t recommend using shelf liners. Our cabinets are made with durable laminate, so the surfaces are already designed to handle everyday use.
For pull-out drawers that hold cleaning products under the sink, consider a waterproof liner that can be removed and wiped down easily. A small leak from a bottle or pipe can do a lot of damage to a cabinet box if the moisture sits unnoticed. Check under the sink every few months as part of your regular routine.
None of this requires a lot of time or effort. A few good habits, the right cleaning products, and a yearly check of your hardware is really all it takes. Treat your cabinets well and they will look as good in 25 years as they do today.
Thinking About New Cabinetry?
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