After you have your Kraftmaid cabinets installed, you'll want to do your best to keep them looking as good as new for as long as possible. Here, you'll find a few tips that'll help you keep the grease and grime from building up on your beautiful new cabinets.
Use Liquid Dawn Dish Soap
One of the best, gentlest cleaners that you can use in your kitchen is Dawn dish soap. For general cleanings, you can just add a few drops of soap to a gallon of hot water, but if the cabinets have become coated with grease above the stove, you may need to apply the soap directly to a damp sponge and apply it to the surface. Leave the soap sit for ten minutes or so and come back with the sponge wet with hot water and scrub it clean. The grease should wash right away with very little elbow grease.
Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning can also be very effective in safely cleaning your cabinets. One thing to be aware of is that the steam will be pushed into all of the small cracks and crevices. If you don't wipe away the moisture soon after you've applied it, it can cause the dirt to run down into the cracks and begin discoloring them.
When steam cleaning your cabinets, always keep two cleaning cloths on hand—one will be used to wipe away the dirty water and the second to buff the cabinets to a shine. Microfiber towels work best for buffing, but you'll probably want a terry or other absorbent cloth for the initial wipe.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is another safe cleaning product. You can mix one part white vinegar with 3 parts water and store it in a spray bottle. Then, when you want to clean the cabinets, spray the mixture onto the cloth and wipe the surfaces clean. If there's a heavy build-up of grime, you'll want to spray the mixture directly onto it.
Careful with Sponges
If you're used to cleaning with those sponges that have scratchy scrub pads on the back of them, be very careful. If you use the sponges that are extra rough on your cabinets, you could remove the clear finish on the wood. This will leave a dull spot on the cabinet and you'll need to have the door refinished.
As long as you keep up with the cleaning, it will not take long to get it done. Hopefully, these tips help make it easier for you.
