Cleaning wooden kitchen cabinets, regardless of the type of finishes they have, is really easy. All you have to complete is clean the surface area with mild soap and water. Just make sure the end of your cabinets doesn’t have any cracks exactly where water could seep into the wood. Also, you should avoid leaving puddles of water in the corners of your cabinets. To avoid any water incidents that could ruin your wooden cabinets, you can glaze their interiors to make them waterproof. This is really also recommended for homeowners who frequently keep any liquid inside their cabinets.
Cleaning your wood cabinets is one thing, keeping them shiny is another. This is exactly where your knowledge of wood cabinet finishes comes into play. Conversion finishes, lacquer, polyurethane, varnish, shellac, and water-based finishes are just a few of the more typical wood cabinet finishes. If you are not familiar with any of these finishes, it is advisable to seek the help of a professional.
While wood cabinets require only minimal maintenance to maintain their upscale appearance, they require special care depending on the type of finish they have. Take oil-finished wood cabinets, for example. They are effortlessly refinished by applying any type of oil available at any local hardware store or, for a much more expensive option, antique stores. Lemon oil can also be used to season wooden kitchen cabinets. However, refinishing furniture with lacquer and lemon conversion finishes is not recommended until 6 months of age.
Another typical end used in wood cabinets is Higher Tension Laminate, or HPL. The most common problem with laminates will be red stains, traces of the glue used to attach the laminate to the wood. These can be easily removed by rubbing nail polish, lacquer thinner, or acetone into the stained area.
The final painting will be the most conventional applied on wooden kitchen furniture. It’s also the easiest to maintain because you can effortlessly paint over the dirty old end. If you want a cleaner paint finish, it is suggested to seek professional help.
Cleaning and refinishing your wood kitchen cabinets is just the beginning if you want your wood kitchen cabinets to last a long time. You should also preserve your wood cabinets by avoiding unnecessary abuse, such as children hanging on the doors, or putting more load than the cabinets can handle. You can also avoid this by choosing wood cabinets made from hard-to-handle materials like oak. You should also be careful about the chemical content of your cleaning products, some of which can affect the wood and make it more brittle.