Cabinets are the crucial point of almost every kitchen, so when they're dirty, you and other people will notice. The everyday fingerprints, food splatters, and watermarks are the main culprits, but tougher stains can build up over time too – and they’re all eyesores.

Fortunately, our easy tips for how to clean kitchen cabinets can help you tackle all types of messes and marks, including grease stains and sticky cabinets.

When it's time for cleaning, use our tips for the best way to clean kitchen cabinets tailored to individual cabinet styles. After all, what works on a painted cabinet might not work on a glass cabinet.

But before anything, please read through the steps and ensure you have all of the necessary cleaning supplies on hand. As you may already know, we’re big fans of using common household supplies, like vinegar and baking soda, in the cleaning tips we provide in our blog content.

You'll also want to double-check what cabinet material you're working with. The difference between wood and laminate, for example, can sometimes be tricky to spot straight away. You can find this information online, in the manual or speak with a professional if you're unsure.

How to Remove Stains on Kitchen Cabinets

Your cabinets are home to various items and ingredients, meaning they get a lot of daily use. Here are some of the most common kitchen cabinet stains/marks and how to remove them.

• Fingerprints: The oily residue on fingers can leave unpleasant looking marks on your cabinet doors and shelves. We recommend cleaning the kitchen cabinets with vinegar to easily remove fingerprints. Simply dampen a clean cloth in a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar, apply to where the fingerprints are, and buff clean with a polishing cloth. It’s that easy!
• Food splatters: Maybe you’ve spilt something on the side and the countertop spill has trickled down to the base cabinets or there are splashes of ketchup that have landed in the wrong place after you shook the bottle too vigorously - whatever it may be, food splatters are very common messes found on kitchen cabinets/cupboards. We recommend you wipe up any and all food messes as soon as possible with a damp cloth before cleaning kitchen cabinets with baking soda. This is especially true if you're working with a porous material, like wood. The key is you don't want to give the stain a chance to set in. Apply a paste of baking soda and water to the spot and let it sit for a few minutes. Then wipe the solution away. Finally, polish the area with a clean cloth and bring that sparkle back.
• Water marks/ stains: If you live in a hard water area, water stains on cabinets can be a common problem when cleaning kitchen cabinets. The best way to prevent water spots is to switch tap water for distilled water whenever you clean the cabinets in your kitchen.
• Grease: Cabinets/cupboards directly above the oven or hob are prone to grease stains. But cleaning kitchen cabinet grease doesn't have to be tricky. Like oil-based fingerprints, you can clean greasy kitchen cabinets with diluted vinegar. That’s right, a 50/50 ratio of vinegar and water is he secret behind removing grease stains in the kitchen. Because the grease splatters are likely to reach further distances than fingerprints, you’ll have to repeat the process, but it won’t take you long.

How to Clean Wood Cabinets

It can be tough to determine the best way to clean wood kitchen cabinets because they come in many different finishes with various seals. Some seals are more forgiving than others but stick with gentle kitchen cleaners on wood cabinets to be on the safe side. Find below our tips to cleaning wood kitchen cabinets/cupboards:

1. Use an oil soap, like Murphy’s Oil, to both clean and shine your wood cabinets. This non-abrasive solution will make your cabinets look new without causing any damage to the material.
2. Always use damp cloths when cleaning wood cabinets. Too much liquid saturation will damage the wood.
3. Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to buff and polish the wood - and always wipe with the grain of the wood.
4. Monitor the cabinets in high-moisture parts of the kitchen, such as directly above or below the hob. These will need the most care as they're regularly exposed to steam and condensation. Might be worth considering an extra coat of sealant for these cabinets, to be on the safe side too.

How to Clean Laminate Cabinets

One of the best things about laminate as a material for your kitchen cabinets is that it’s very forgiving. The material responds well to most cleaners and requires very little maintenance -simple weekly wipe downs can be enough if you don’t naturally create a lot of mess in the kitchen. Follow these tips to clean the laminate cabinets in your kitchen:

1. Wipe down every cabinet in your kitchen with an all-purpose cleaning wipe or diluted vinegar. Then dry thoroughly with a clean cloth.
2. As with painted cabinets, you can remove stains found on laminate cabinets with a paste made from baking soda and water. All you have to do is let the mixture set into the stain, and then wipe clean after a few minutes.
3. Always avoid using abrasive cleaning pads, as they can scratch the surface of the cabinet and leave marks that can be buffed away.

How to Clean Glass Cabinets

Glass cabinets are often mixed with another material, such as wood or laminate, to create a paned door. Though the glass is simple to clean, make sure you choose a cleaning product that won't harm the adjacent cabinet material. Follow these tips to clean the glass cabinets in your kitchen:

1. For the glass part of the cabinet, use a glass cleaner and a polishing cloth to remove all fingerprints and other marks from the glass panes.
2. Open the cabinet door and clean the inside too. You'll still need to remove individual marks on the front, but this method lets you wipe down the entire pane in one full swipe.
3. Avoid any oil-based cleaners on the adjacent cabinet material as they can leave residue and streaks on the glass that are tricky to remove.

How to Clean Painted Cabinets

Having painted cabinets are common features in kitchens, especially over the last 5-10 years or so. They're an easy way to inject new colour and warmth into a space without a total remodel – win, win. But just like any other painted furniture or storage space, painted cabinets require some maintenance to look their best, 24/7. Follow these tips to clean painted kitchen cabinets properly:

1. Mix one-part water with two parts baking soda. Dab the paste onto the stain, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe clean. Buff out any remaining residue with a new clean cloth.
2. To clean any grease off the painted kitchen cabinets, use a damp cloth with diluted ammonia. Gently wipe the cabinet until the stain is removed.
3. After several years of wear, consider repainting the cabinets/cupboards in your kitchen. It’ll be around this time you notice that the paint is beginning to chip and look unsightly.

When to Clean Your Kitchen Cabinets

You know us by now, we love a regular cleaning schedule – that’s why we recommend a two-part cabinet cleaning agenda that incorporates both weekly and seasonal cleans to save time, energy and most importantly, money.

• Weekly: You need to do more than a simple wipe down every week – we recommend buying a multi-purpose cleaner and using it every 7 days. All you have to do is spray the multi-purpose cleaner onto a microfiber cloth, and wipe away all fingerprints, spatters, and other marks you see. Also, make sure to disinfect the cabinet and any materials you use to clean it with.
• Seasonally: Give your cabinets a deep clean four times a year. To do so, empty the cabinets of all contents. Then dab a microfiber cloth with a mild cleanser. Wipe down the shelves and the inside and outside of the door. Then, we recommend using a clean toothbrush to get in all the nooks and crannies of the cabinets in your kitchen. Let dry completely before restocking with your glasses, plates, cereals, rice, appliances like blenders, slow cookers etc.

Or get a professional cleaning service to do the job for you

Specialising in deep kitchen cleans, the Crystal Oven Cleaning specialists are fully equipped to put the sparkle back into every inch of the kitchen, no matter the material of the cabinets or the size of the oven, all at competitive prices. Our customers rate us 5* and are delighted by the results we can achieve... so why not treat yourself to a professional oven clean. Simply give us a call on 01832 730404 for more information or book in for a clean HERE.