How to Clean Your Kitchen Cupboards

So, while your kitchen floors may be sparkling and your countertops look tip-top, the reality is your kitchen may not truly be clean because less-visible areas, like the kitchen cupboards, could be harbouring dirt and grime. Fortunately, getting rid of grease, germs and grime in your cupboards for a brilliantly clean kitchen is easy with the right techniques and tools. Read on as we show you how to clean your kitchen cabinets to ensure that every nook and cranny in your home is hygienically clean.

Rid Your Kitchen Cupboards of Grime and Grease with Ease

Fortunately, whether it’s sticky spills, stubborn stains or cupboard clutter that’s got your kitchen cabinets looking a little worse for wear, getting them spotlessly clean is easy when you know what to do. To get started cleaning your kitchen cupboards though, you need to ensure you have the right tools and materials handy. Here’s what you need:

• Microfibre cleaning cloths

• Dishwashing soap

• Baking soda

• Warm water

• Old toothbrush

• Non-abrasive sponge (optional)

With these items handy, here’s how to clean your kitchen cupboards.

Quick and Easy Tips to Clean Your Kitchen Cupboards

#1 - Clear Out Your Cupboards

To be able to give your kitchen cabinets a thorough clean, you first need to empty them out. Start with the highest cabinets and work your way down, emptying out each cupboard in a methodical manner to make repacking them easier. If it’s a food cupboard, use the opportunity to check expiry dates and repackage any open products properly to help preserve the food items. For crockery cupboards, you can take the opportunity to pop items that haven’t been used in a while into the dishwasher or hand wash them.

#2 - Clean the Interiors

Next up, you need to wash or wipe down the interiors of your cupboards with your warm soapy water solution. Don’t forget to include the inside of the cupboard doors and the ‘ceiling’ of your cabinets in this step. If you notice any crumbs or a significant amount of dust, you should tackle those first by vacuuming, wiping or sweeping out the crumbs and dust with a hand broom. Then, dip a cloth or soft sponge into your cleaning solution of dish soap or a mild detergent with warm water. Ensure that the cloth or sponge is wet but not dripping as too much water can damage your cabinet surfaces.

#3 - Rinse and Dry Well

After washing the interiors of your kitchen cabinets, it’s essential that you rinse and dry them well to prevent excess water or residue from your cleaning solution from damaging your kitchen cabinet surfaces. So, once you’ve washed or wiped the cupboard shelves, interior doors and ceiling, use a damp cloth to rinse those areas and then follow with a towel or cloth to dry.

Once you’ve cleaned the interiors of your kitchen cupboards, if you can, leave the cupboards to dry a little before repacking them. Then next, it’s time to tackle the exteriors of your cupboards.

#4 - Clean Cupboard Handles, Knobs and Pulls

Dip an old toothbrush into your cleaning solution and then use it to scrub any cabinet hardware, hard-to-reach grooves and crevices, and cabinet trimmings. Go over the fixtures with a microfibre cloth to ensure your cleaning solution doesn’t seep into your cupboard hinges and cause them to rust.

#5 - Use Elbow Grease to Get Rid of Exterior Grime and Grease

Dried food splatter, cooking grease and steam can all result in a buildup of dirt and grease on the surfaces of your kitchen cupboards. To clean any stubborn, dried-in stains, dirt or grease from your cupboard exteriors, try the same method you used to clean the interiors of your cabinets with a cloth and soapy water solution. If that doesn’t work, you can clean the exteriors using a cloth dipped in a baking soda and warm water solution. Then be sure to rinse and dry again to finish the job.

Tip: When cleaning kitchen cupboards, it’s always good practice to first do a spot test in a less noticeable area of your cabinet to ensure your cleaning solution won’t damage the paint or finish of your cupboards.

With these tips and a little bit of time on your hands, you can give your kitchen cupboards the TLC they need to keep them clutter-free and brilliantly clean! So, follow these tips and if you’re in need of any more advice to keep your kitchen or home spic and span, visit Cleanipedia today.