Proper Cabinet Care and Cleaning

Proper cabinet care and cleaning is critical to protecting your cabinetry investment. Caring for you cabinets involves attentive cleaning and carefully avoiding damage while using household cleaners.

AFTER INSTALLATION

First, use a clean, damp, high quality micro-fiber cloth to wipe your cabinetry down, then dry it immediately with a clean high quality micro-fiber cloth.

BASIC CLEANING

When prepping food, cooking, or washing dishes, immediately clean any spills and water using the technique described above. Allowing food, water spills, or grease to accumulate on your cabinets may cause tough grime to build-up, which can lead to permanent damage. At the very least, it will make cleaning your cabinets very difficult.

Every other week (or more often depending on the level of use), clean all cabinets with a clean, damp cloth and dry them immediately. For wood cabinetry that shows the grain, be sure to wipe in the direction of the grain.

If using a damp cloth does not completely clean your cabinetry, mix a small amount of mild dish soap and water together, dampen your cloth with this mixture and repeat the instructions above.

Harsh chemicals should never be used to clean your cabinetry. Chemicals will damage the cabinet top coat, paint, stain and even the wood itself, which can lead to structural damage. Below is a short list of chemicals to avoid:

• Petroleum-based products
• Solvents
• Bleach
• Strong detergents and soaps
• Nail polish remover
• Paint thinners
• Plastic brushes
• Steel wool
• Scouring pads
• Ammonia

REPAIRS

Your installer will typically leave a touch-up kit for your cabinets after they are installed. If you nick or scratch your cabinets, be sure to touch them up to keep water or spills from damaging the top coat, finish or wood.

EXCESSIVE MOISTURE

Avoiding excessive moisture is important for any finish. Cabinets that are near a sink, dishwasher, trash can pull-out, and baseboards are most likely to suffer water damage. Dry any areas where water has spilled immediately. Dish towels or other wet items should never be draped over you cabinet doors. Do not place coffee makers where steam vents onto cabinetry surfaces.

AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

Extreme temperatures and humidity will cause wood to expand and contract. Expansion and contraction will cause your cabinets to warp. Year-round climate control is critical for the long life of your cabinetry.

GUARD FROM SCRATCHES AND ABRASIONS

Always use a soft, high-quality micro-fiber cloth. When laundering your micro-fiber cloths be sure not to wash or dry them with other laundry. This will prevent other fibers from attaching to the micro-fiber that could scratch your cabinetry.

Do not use paper towels to wipe spills or clean your cabinets. Paper Towels contain abrasive fibers that will leave tiny scratches in the top coat and dull the finish.

Proper cabinet care and cleaning will allow you to enjoy your investment for many years to come. Do you have a cabinet care question? Give us a call a 1-833-RcHappy. Our cabinetry experts would love to help!