Cleaning Old Wood Cabinets

Here are his recommendations for cleaning woodwork properly.

Cleaning old wood cabinets.

Rub the surface down with a soft cloth and your chosen cleaner. Here s how to clean wooden kitchen cabinets with stubborn stains like syrup or chocolate. Dip a toothbrush into the paste and lightly scrub the stained area. Don t scrub too hard or use steel wool as it will scratch the wood.

You may also want to use an old toothbrush to get into crevices. If your cabinets are really grimy let the cleaner sit for up to 10 minutes after spraying. Nothing major i just used sponge with a little dish soap and water. Keep wiping the surface with the same rag until the rag no longer picks up new dirt or debris.

Rinse the paste off with clean water and dry with a clean towel. If possible remove the hardware from the cabinets and drawers before cleaning. Murphy oil soap gets deep into grime to break up dirt particles and it s safe to use on wood products like cabinets. First clean the cabinets.

Scrub with soap and warm water. Heat a damp micro cloth in a microwave for 35 seconds then use it to quickly wipe away the grease layer. Don t assume that tired woodwork has to be stripped and refinished. For metal hardware on wood cabinets dip a toothbrush in a 50 50 solution of vinegar and warm water and scrub the hardware the surrounding wood and the crevices of ornate trim.

Next gather another cloth or sponge. This step is optional. Remember to wipe cabinet handles knobs and pulls. Instead prepare your own gentle cleaner.

Make a paste of vinegar and salt. Sometimes a good cleaning is all it takes to bring it back to life says wood finisher john thomas. Mix a 50 50 solution of vinegar and warm water and put into a spray bottle. All purpose orange oil cleaner.

Mist on cabinets let sit for a minute or two and then wipe clean with a soft cloth. If the detergent strips or ruins the finish do not use it. Take a damp cotton ball add 1 drop of liquid dish soap then wipe it on a hidden location like the inside of a chair leg. Leave the abrasive cleaners and scrub brushes to your sink.

Afterward wipe the cleaner off using a warm damp micro cloth. To start wet a rag with a light amount of your chosen cleaner. Vinegar is the go to natural cleaner when faced with how to clean greasy cabinets. Harsh scrubbing can damage kitchen cabinets finish or paint.

Before you clean your old wooden furniture with dishwashing soap you need to test it out to make sure it won t damage the wood or the finish. Do use a gentle cleaning solution.