No matter what your kitchen style is, whether it’s sleek and modern, simplistic and warm, or both, a clean cabinet will give you a fresh, new feeling every day. But how to do it if you have painted cabinets?
If a cabinet is dirty, it looks like the day when you first installed it. This can fetch you a lot of concerns down the road. That is why you should learn how to clean your cabinet carefully. If you are looking for a snappy and convenient strategy for cleaning your painted cabinets, you’re in the right place!
But first, let’s talk about the build-up of grime and the reasons behind it.
~HOW TO PREVENT PAINTED CABINET FROM FADING~
Painting cabinets is a great way to breathe new life into your kitchen, but there is a downside. Paint can fade with time. The promising news is that there are actions you can take to stop this from happening. By heeding these uncomplicated tips, you will be able to protect your beautiful painted cabinets for years to come!
🟫 Reduce sun exposure from windows
You can reduce the amount of sunlight your kitchen cabinets are exposed to by keeping your curtains or blinds closed. The same goes for your windows in other rooms and even outdoor areas. Curtains and blinds can also help keep heat in during the winter, which will help prevent paint from fading. If you live someplace breezy, it might be a good idea to keep them closed as well so that air doesn’t blow around dirt particles that can stick onto the cabinet doors and shelves.
🟫 Give your cabinets a “break”
Avoid using the cabinets as often, especially ones that are prone to fading. Use them for items that don’t create a lot of heat or moisture. If possible, store food items in the refrigerator or pantry cabinet instead of on your painted cabinets. Avoid also storing greasy foods like oils and butter in these cabinets as well.
🟫 Balance humidity levels
It’s important to keep the humidity levels balanced in your kitchen. Dry air can cause cabinets to fade, especially those painted with oil-based paints. To calculate the humidity level, you can use a hygrometer or a whip-style hygrometer. If you notice that your cabinet is fading and you need to raise the humidity level, consider placing a bowl of water on top of a dehumidifier or use an airconditioner for increased moisture. If you find that your cabinets are too humid, place bowls of salt water across each room. When it evaporates, it increases airflow and reduces humidity levels.
🟫 Seal your painted cabinets
Sealers help prevent water damage. Water is the top rival of any painted cabinet, so sealing your furniture with a quality top coat sealer is a must if you want to protect the finish of your cabinets and maintain them looking fine for more years to come.
Also, sealers protect the finish of your cabinets. The use of oil-based or lacquer-based paint creates an extremely durable finish that can withstand even hefty use over time without exhibiting signs of wear or tear. Still, without proper care and maintenance, it will eventually dry out and lose its shine. Especially in areas where there is a lot of moisture or humidity, like bathrooms or kitchens! If this happens, then it will start chipping away quickly.
This means that refinishing your cabinets is going to be necessary sooner than later unless you take action now by sealing them properly first!
🟫 Paint on high-quality paint only
It would help if you used high-quality paint that is suitable for your surface type and climate. Low-quality paints will not hold up well in the long run, so you’re better off skipping this step and using a higher grade of paint instead.
Also, keep in mind that some paints are made specifically for indoor or outdoor use. So be sure you’re using the right kind of paint! For example, exterior paints need to withstand sunlight and rain. While interior paints typically don’t have any weatherproofing properties at all. If you live somewhere with harsh weather conditions like wind or rainstorms (or both), then it might be best to go with exterior-grade paint. But if not, then there’s no reason why an interior grade should break down over time either!
🟫 Heat-producing appliances
Don’t keep heat-producing appliances right next to your cabinets. Use a thermometer to estimate the temperature from inside and out of the cabinet. If the temperature is too high inside, move your heat source away from it. If it’s too hot outside, place a fan or window AC unit nearby to create airflow in the room and cool down both sides of the cabinet.
You can also try using a dehumidifier if you want to lower humidity levels in general. This can help prevent paint from drying out too quickly. If you have an air conditioner with a timer function, use it so that appliances don’t run all night long while you’re asleep!
🟫 Clean your cabinets
Cabinets are somewhat the most neglected part of the kitchen when it comes to cleaning. This is because cabinets are sometimes unreachable, or the grime is not visible. You can try running your fingers on one of your cabinets and see what I’m talking about. It’s disgusting, right? That is why I will teach you how to clean it using some cleaners you can find at your home. Jump to the next section!
~CLEANER FOR PAINTED CABINET YOU CAN FIND AT HOME~
Do you know what’s great about having a painted cabinet? It’s easy to clean. You can just dab it down with some water and mild soap if you want. But there are times when you need a more powerful clean like if someone spills something on your kitchen island or the dog barks at the wall by your fridge. Those are both viable reasons to use this guide!
🟫 Dish soap and olive oil
Dish soap and olive oil are both excellent at cleaning tough surfaces (the former is especially effective on grease, the latter on dirt). Mix two to three drops of mild dish soap in a teaspoonful of olive oil, apply to the surface, and wipe off with a clean cloth. Repeat until you’ve removed all traces of paint from your cabinets.
🟫 Vinegar
Vinegar is popular as a natural cleaner that can be utilized to clean painted cabinets. In fact, vinegar is a mild acid and has antibacterial properties that make it ideal for cleaning. You can use it to clean windows and floors, but it’s also great for cleaning walls!
Vinegar is also very cheap. Many people already have vinegar in their kitchens, so why not try using it on your painted cabinets?
🟫 Baking soda
Baking soda is a great cleaner that you can find in your kitchen. Baking soda is also a natural deodorizer, so it’s perfect for cleaning painted cabinets.
It can be used to clean a variety of materials, including painted cabinets. To use baking soda to clean your painted cabinet:
- Spread baking soda on the externals of your painted cabinet, then dampen it with water until there’s enough water to form little bubbles of foam when you rub the surface with your hand (this will happen naturally).
- Use an old clean rag or soft sponge to gently rub over the foamy mixture until no more dirt or grime remains on the surface of your cabinet (you might have to do this several times). Then wipe off any residue and let dry!
🟫 Mild laundry detergent and water
>>Warm water
Using warm water helps to loosen the dirt and grime on the surface of your cabinets. It also makes it more comfortable for you to wipe off any stains that are on your cabinet.
>>Mild laundry detergent
Make sure that you use only pure laundry detergent or a similar product specifically intended for cleaning painted surfaces. Do not use dish soap or other cleaners that may contain stong chemicals that could deteriorate your cabinets’ finish.
>>Sponge/soft cloth
A sponge or soft cloth will help clean away any remaining dirt and grime once the water has been applied with a sponge/soft cloth dipped in a warm soapy solution. You can also use this method if you need to apply more of the soapy solution after wiping off one section of your cabinet since it will be easier than using paper towels every time you need more liquid on your rag or sponge
🟫 Castile soap
You can use castile soap to clean your painted cabinet. Castile soap is a vegetable-based soap, and it is a natural cleanser, so it will not harm your painted cabinets. The Castile soap has been around for centuries since the time of Queen Isabella I of Spain in the 1490s when she ordered her court physician to find an alternative to animal fats in order to manufacture bar soaps on a large scale (so they could be used by everyone).
🟫 Borax
Borax is a natural mineral and can be used as a mild abrasive, cleaner, disinfectant, mold and mildew remover, and deodorizer.
It is also used for washing dishes in the kitchen as it helps remove food residue from your dishes. As a cleaner, borax can also be used to clean your laundry because it’s pH neutral. This means that it doesn’t cause any discoloration on your clothes when you add it to the wash cycle.
Just sprinkle 1/2 cup of borax into hot water before adding clothes, or let them soak overnight in warm water with 1/2 cup of Borax dissolved in it (if using cold water). They will come out smelling great without having any residue left behind from detergent or softener fabric softeners which may leave residues behind if used too often or without proper washing techniques.
~BOTTOM LINE~
Cleaning a painted cabinet is easy, but it’s also important to keep in mind that you will need to clean the cabinet regularly. The first thing to know about cleaning painted cabinets is that you should only use products specifically designed for this purpose. You can’t just grab a bottle of bleach and call it good. On the final note, leave the bottle alone if you’re unsure of its purpose.
Aside from cleaning your cabinets, choosing the right handle is also part of maintaining it. Click here to know more!