Your kitchen cabinets protect your dinnerware, food items, and utensils from dust and dirt, and can get dusty themselves. Here are 4 ways your can clean your kitchen cabinets using homemade cleaning products that are natural, inexpensive, and food-safe, yet efficient in removing grime.
How to Make a Homemade Kitchen Cabinet Cleaner: 4 Ways
#1 Everyday Cabinet Cleaning Solution
Start with an everyday cabinet cleaning solution that is perfect for all-around cleaning, and can be used to clean everything from the kitchen sink to glass shower doors . All you'll need is equal parts water and vinegar, and a spray bottle. Place both ingredients in the spray bottle, give it a good shake, and spritz this solution around your cabinets to clean them.
Vinegar is an acidic solution that deodorizes, removes stains from most surfaces, breaks down oils, and kills mold and mildew spores. Ants and other insects are deterred by the smell of vinegar as well, making it an ideal ingredient for cleaning wood cabinets, laminate cabinets, and even PVC cabinets. However, steer clear of using acidic solutions to clean natural stone cabinets.
Not a fan of the vinegar smell? You can also add other ingredients to the cleaning solution to mask the smell of vinegar. Add lemon and orange rinds, rosemary sprigs, and other fragrant ingredients to your natural cleaner for a pleasant scent, or use lemon juice in place of vinegar. Keep in mind that lemon juice tends to spoil quickly, so you will need to use the cleaner immediately.
#2 Dry Cabinet Deodorizer
Some wood kitchen cabinets can't be cleaned with liquid solutions, yet can get particularly grimey, moldy, and foul-smelling. Deodorize your kitchen cabinets with a dry cabinet cleaner made with baking soda, and a few drops of essential oils.
Mix together a cup of baking soda with 20 drops of your preferred essential oils. Use oils that deter pests, such as eucalyptus, peppermint, or lavender, or oils that have antibacterial properties like tea tree oil. This creates a powerful powder that acts like a magnet to attract dirt and dust, while deodorizing the cabinets. It leaves a fresh scent too!
To use the cabinet cleaner, sprinkle the baking soda solution over your kitchen cabinets, and let it sit for 5 minutes, then use a brush to scrub out any grime and dust, and vacuum up the cleaning powder. Use a damp cloth to wipe away any excess powder. This should leave your kitchen cabinets smelling fresh and clean.
Using a dry cabinet deodorizer helps to clean greasy kitchen cabinets as well, and is ideal for cleaning wood cabinets that have been exposed to moisture. Baking soda picks up traces of oils, such as vegetable oil used in cooking. You can even place a small bowl of deodorizing powder to keep your wood cabinets from smelling.
#3 Mild DIY Cabinet Cleaner
Using warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap is an excellent way of cleaning kitchen cabinets, and is the best option to clean cabinets made from natural stone. Mix together 2 cups of water and a few drops of mild dish soap. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the cabinets clean, making sure to get into the corners of the cabinet. Dry the cabinet with a soft cloth.
This mild cabinet cleaner will remove soap scum, hard water stains, residue from vegetable oil, mold, and dust. Because the solution is wiped on the cabinet instead of sprayed, it is safe for use to clean wood cabinets without drenching the material.
#4 Germ-busting Cabinet Cleaner
Mix together 1/3 cup of bleach in a gallon of water, and use this to clean dirty kitchen cabinets. While bleach may be harsh on most materials, especially dyed wood kitchen cabinets and painted cabinets, it is effective in killing germs, viruses, and bacteria from your home. Use this solution to disinfect the cabinet surface.
Simply spray the solution onto a microfiber cloth, and use the cloth to spread the mixture around the kitchen cabinets. Not only does this solution remove grease and grime, it also deodorizes, removes stains, and keeps the cabinet germ-free.
Tips on Maintaining Your Kitchen Cabinets
- Use olive oil to seal clean wood cabinets, and prevent moisture and dirt from seeping into the material.
- Clean grease and grime with a vinegar or dish soap solution.
- Avoid storing wet dinnerware in cabinets. The moisture will encourage mold to grow.
- Wipe down greasy cabinets with paper towels to remove excess oils.
- Line cabinets with a paper, foam, or cloth liner to prevent scratches, and to protect the material of the cabinet.
Don't have time to clean? Don't worry! Luce Home can tackle those household chores for you, so you can sit back and relax in a completely clean, sanitized space. Our cleaning experts will get the grease and grime out of your house for good, and our spring cleaning services offer home organization as well to upkeep your cabinets.
Contact us today to schedule your next home cleaning service session!
