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Ensuring Your Kitchen Cabinets Last- How to Care for Wood Cabinets in the Kitchen
Wood kitchen cabinets can add value and beauty to any home. However, with frequent use, spills and the inevitable splatters, they can show wear faster than they need to. Properly caring for the wood cabinets will ensure a long cabinet life and higher resale value for the home. The tips below will help you keep your wood kitchen cabinets looking great.
Wood kitchen cabinets can add value and beauty to any home. However, with frequent use, spills and the inevitable splatters, they can show wear faster than they need to. Properly caring for the wood cabinets will ensure a long cabinet life and higher resale value for the home. The tips below will help you keep your wood kitchen cabinets looking great.
First Things First
The most basic and easiest step to caring for wood kitchen cabinets is to wipe up spills immediately after they occur. If the blender goes wild and fruit puree ends up on the cabinets, wipe it off right away. If a glass of wine spills on the counter and drips down the front of a cabinet, be sure to clean it up without delay. Removing the everyday spills and drips when they happen will prevent the food or drink from staining or warping the wood cabinet surface.
Weekly Wipe Down
Even if the kitchen is straightened and counter tops are wiped down daily, once a week cleaning of the cabinets will help keep them in great shape. Since spills and food drips are wiped up immediately, the task should not be too difficult. If, however, there are dried chunks of food found on the cabinet doors, use a clean rag with a miniscule amount of dish soap to scrub it off. For general weekly cleaning, use a slightly damp, not soaking wet, sponge or rag to wipe the cabinets down starting with the wall cabinets and moving to the base cabinets. Pay particular attention to the area by knobs, handles and at the base of the lower cabinets. Follow the wipe down with a soft, dry rag to make sure that there is no water left on the cabinet surfaces that could warp the wood. If the cabinets are unfinished, use water sparingly.
Unfinished Business
Unfinished wood cabinets may hold a certain rustic charm, but for kitchens that will be actively used, they are impractical. If you want to retain the beauty and look of the wood grain, use clear shellac, as opposed to a stain, to finish them. For a stained look, visit local paint and home improvement stores to peruse the options available. Stains usually come in a variety of natural wood shades, as well as, rustic paint colors that will add a certain charm to a kitchen. Adding a protective coating to the cabinets will help prevent moisture and stains from discoloring and warping the cabinet surface. When applying the protective coating, be sure to remove the cabinet doors from the cabinets, so that they do not stick together.
About The Author:
Home design expert, Alyssa Davis of Metal-Wall-Art.com, is particularly skilled in designing with large wall sculptures and wall decor art.
