Maintaining a new kitchen enhances the active life of the cabinets. It also increases the life of appliances, wall coverings, and floor. If you maintain the space regularly, you will better enjoy your cooking.
Taking care of cabinets
With proper and daily care, cabinets can provide years of satisfaction and service. Proper care mainly includes cleaning and polishing. Besides, you should not use any damaging harsh abrasive cleaners. This applies even more to cherry kitchen cabinets. The beauty of any wood lies in its variation in hue and graining. Wood is a natural product having inherent variations. These variations include natural characteristics owing to the growth patterns of the respective tree. The difference in color and grain takes place because of the forest growing conditions. Regular cleaning and occasional polishing bring out the sheen of the wood.
Installation
Once the installation is done, wipe the unit with a damp soft cotton cloth. Dry it immediately with another soft clean rag. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain. Now apply a thin layer of good quality polish. The polish shouldn’t contain wax or silicone. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application. A superior quality polish helps to protect the cabinets from minor scratching, excessive moisture, and staining.
Cleaning
Grime buildup can badly damage kitchen cabinets and ruin the look and appearance of your new kitchen. To remove this buildup, use a soft cloth moist with warm water and rub the surface gently. Do this once every 14 days. You can repeat this process if necessary. This repetition depends on the amount of your kitchen activities. If water alone is not enough to do the cleaning job, you may add a mild dishwasher with the warm water. Wipe down wooden kitchen cabinets in the direction of the grains. Once you clean the surface, dry the same with a soft cloth and eliminate residual moisture.
Sometimes, routine cleaning is not enough to remove tough stains and grime. For tough stains, make a paste of water and baking soda. Take it on a sponge and scrub the stain gently until it goes. Now rinse the paste with water and then dry it with a soft cotton cloth. You can also use a solution of water and vinegar for tough stains and sticky film from the cabinets.
Here are the products that can damage your wooden cabinets:
- Bleach
- Petroleum products
- Strong soaps and detergents
- Solvents
- Nail polish removers
- Hard plastic brushes
- Paint thinners
- Steel wool
- Ammonia
- Scoring pad
Nicks and scratches repairing
Usually, the manufacturers provide a touch-up kit so the customers can keep up the beauty of the kitchen. If you have renovated the kitchen and didn’t have a touch-up kit, you should get one. Ask the showroom to give you one. This touch-up kit is needed to repair nicks and scratches.
Wiping spills and splatters
Some substances are hard to remove. They can badly stain the surface. They can also damage the wood upon prolonged contact. Thus, if there’s a spill, wipe it instantly with a damp sponge or cloth. Now dry the surface fast. You better blot it rather than wiping it to eliminate the stain.
No-no to excessive moisture
Moisture is the worst enemy of any kind of wooden finish. Cabinet units near the dishwasher, sink, or baseboard are prone to moisture. So, dry off the areas promptly wherever water is spilled. Don’t drape dish towels or any wet cloth over the doors. Don’t place a coffee maker where the steam can vent directly onto the cabinet surface.
No humidity and temperature extremes
Extremes in humidity and temperature cause wood to contract and expand. It also makes it warp and swell. In a nutshell, it can damage the finish of the cabinets. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the humidity and temperature in the home across the year. For minor warping, don’t go for immediate replacement. Give at least one heating cycle before you consider a change.
Avoiding damages due to light
Direct exposure to sunrays has a ruining effect on the wooden discount kitchen cabinets. The effect is even worse if the item is made from natural wood. However, painted wood cabinetry and laminated cabinets are also prone to fading owing to continued exposure to sunlight. To avoid this, use window coverings.
No-no to harsh cleaners
These can damage the finish of the furniture. So, avoid any cleaner that contains bleach, ammonia, or citric acid. Organic solvents should also be avoided.
No-no to wax exposure
Self-polishing waxes often damage the finish. Use high-quality cream polishes for wooden cabinets.
Guarding against abrasion
Clean the cabinets with a damp soft cloth whenever necessary. Don’t use scouring pads or any abrasive cleaner onto cherry wood kitchen cabinets. These can dull fine wood finishes.
These are the key ways to take care of wooden kitchen cabinets.
