Cleaning kitchen cupboard doors

How to Clean Kitchen Cupboard Doors

After splashing out on brand new kitchen doors, you have given your space a new lease of life. These crisp, clean, fresh doors are fantastic to look at but, as you know with the kitchen, this fresh new outlook won’t last forever. As you spend time in the kitchen preparing, cooking and eating food, the surface of the doors will take on some grease and grime. As you would with any household chores, you should be cleaning them regularly. This post looks at how to clean cupboard doors and the different cleaning products you should use. 

How to Clean Different Types of Kitchen Cupboard Doors

Depending on the types of kitchen cabinet doors you have – whether they are handleless, high gloss, natural wood, painted or slab – there are different cleaning methods required.

Gloss

Gloss kitchen doors are sleek and incredibly modern, with their smooth, shiny surfaces coming in a range of colours. Because of this shiny exterior, fingermarks, spots and spillages show up rather easily. However, cleaning gloss cupboard doors are the easiest material to clean, making them incredibly practical.

Always wash gloss doors with a gentle detergent and water. Follow this up by drying it with a soft cloth, towel or kitchen roll. You might find that soapy water will leave ugly streaks on the doors, so you should try using glass cleaning spray to remove these – vinegar diluted in water is also known to help. After applying the liquid of your choice, again dry the doors with a soft cloth which will ensure your doors remain beautifully shined.

Wood

Typically, real wood cabinet doors are finished with a layer of varnish or lacquer. This helps protect your natural wood doors from moisture, which can cause cracks and discolouration.

Use soapy water to clean your real wood doors with dishwashing liquid. Take time to dry them afterwards with a non-abrasive cloth or towel. Even though the wood has been treated to protect it from moisture, we always recommend you to take care. If any spots of grease or food are found on doors, you should clean them off as soon as you can. This is because damage can be caused by trying to remove marks after they’ve dried and hardened on the wood.

Some wooden kitchen cabinets won’t have been lathered with a layer of protection. If so, you must keep a close eye on these. We recommend you use cupboard door cleaner that have been specifically designed for wooden surfaces. If you find scratches and marks on your doors, you can easily sand them away.

Painted Doors

Detergent is the best cleaner for painted doors. However, you don’t want anything that is too abrasive to the surface. General purpose cleaners will freshen up painted cabinets well, however you should always check the label to ensure it is suitable for your painted kitchen doors. If you have a gloss paint finish, these will need wiping down regularly but you won’t have to worry too much about staining.

Doors with glass panels

For glass panel doors, a simple glass cleaner will keep these cabinet surfaces clean. Vinegar diluted in lots of warm water is also a great solution. The glass should be cleaned gently as you don’t want to damage its patterned surface.

Common Cleaning Problems

Removing grease and grime

Vinegar

Vinegar has fantastic grease-busting qualities so is worth recommending. Just ensure it is diluted with warm water.

Grease Melting Suds

Grease melting suds easily cuts through grease and be used to help clean cabinets. Fill your sink half full for as hot as possible for your rubber gloves to take. Squirt a tablespoon or two of dish soap into the water before using a sponge that is attached to a scouring pad. Wipe the grime in a circular motion to remove the grime. Just ensure you don’t wipe too much to ruin your cupboard finish. When the hot water cools, you must change it. Rinse and dry your kitchen cabinets to make them shine again.

Vegetable Oil

If layers of old grease and grime have built up on the cupboards, vegetable oil is great at fighting it. Mix the oil with 2-parts baking soda for even better cleaning results. Rub in the solution with a soft damp cloth. This paste can also be used to shine up any hinges and handles that have attracted some grime. Wash your cabinets with warm water alongside some dish soap before rinsing and drying them off.

Removing water stains

Water stains can be difficult to remove when on kitchen cabinets. By following these simple steps, you can be rid of these water stains:

  1. Place warm water in a bucket or bowl
  2. Mix dish soap to create only a light amount of suds. Adding too much will leave a residue that will attract more stains in the future.
  3. Add a cup of white vinegar per gallon of water. Stir this mixture.
  4. Soak up the mixture in a sponge.
  5. Use the sponge to wipe the cabinets down while rinsing the sponge at frequent intervals.
  6. Dry the cabinets with a clean towel.

Repairing heat damage

If your oven or dishwasher is placed close to doors either side of it, heat damage can occur. Chances are that the paint has bubbled or the door has started to warp out of its original shape. Fitting doors with a heat protector before you start using the appliances is recommended. If you haven’t and the damage has been done, you have to decide whether you want to spend money on buying a whole new fitted kitchen or replacement kitchen doors. The latter is a much cheaper option and can be done quickly. It can also give tired looking kitchen cabinets and units a refresh.

What cupboard door cleaning products can you use?

  • Vinegar and water
  • Detergent
  • Kitchen Cleaner
  • Glass Cleaner
  • Vegetable Oil

For more cleaning tips and other kitchen and DIY solutions, we’re here to help. Our stunning range of kitchen cupboard doors can give your kitchen a new look without the need to replace your entire kitchen. For more information on our selection and other kitchen solutions, please do get in touch with our experts.