Wood Cabinetry Care and Cleaning
How can you properly care for your cabinets?
Proper care and maintenance is critical to protecting and preserving your cabinets.
Here are some precautions you should take.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Keep cabinets in a temperature-controlled environment with minimal exposure to humidity. Oftentimes, changes to cabinets, including joint expansion, panel shrinkage and warpage, are accelerated in humid environments.
SPILLS
Clean spills quickly with a damp cloth and mild soap. Wipe dry with a clean, soft cloth.
We advise against using detergents, soap pads, or steel wool. These can damage your cabinetry. Any type of harsh abrasive will scar the wood’s finish.
DUSTING
Dust cabinets often with a soft, lint-free cloth. You can dampen the cloth slightly with water or a spray- type dust remover.
POLISHING
We recommend that you clean and polish cabinets at least once each year. Finish by adding a light coat of quality furniture polish.
It’s best to avoid the use of polishes or paste wax that contains silicone. These products cause wax build up that is difficult to remove. The resulting residue tends to attract dust.
THERMAFOIL CARE
Occasionally wipe down the exterior and interior surfaces of the door using a soft, damp cloth. We recommend dampening a soft cloth with Simple Green or a Formula 409 type product for cleaning tough stains.
MULLION GLASS DOORS
Mullion glass doors can be cleaned using any type of commercial cleaner. The glass may either be cleaned while mounted or can be removed for easier access, if preferred. If cleaning while mounted, we advise against spraying cleaner directly onto the glass, as the cleaner can seep into areas behind the mullions and cause discoloration. In either scenario, we advise spraying a small amount of cleaner onto a lint-free cloth or paper towel rather than directly onto the glass itself.
DON’TS
Detergents, soap pads, or steel wool can damage your cabinetry. Any type of harsh abrasive will scar the wood’s finish.
It’s best to avoid the use of polishes or paste wax that contains silicone. These products cause wax build up that is difficult to remove. The resulting residue tends to attract dust.