How to clean kitchen cabinets and cut the grease
To clean kitchen cabinets, dust them first, then wash the doors and frames with warm water and a few drops of dish soap on a soft, well-wrung cloth. Use a paste of baking soda and water on sticky grease near the stove, rinse with a clean damp cloth, and dry right away so water doesn't sit on the finish. Do the handles, the edges and the tops, where grease hides.
Cabinets near the stove collect a film of cooking grease that dust sticks to.
What do you need?
- Dish soap and warm water
- Baking soda
- Microfiber cloths, several
- A soft toothbrush for corners and hardware
- A vacuum with a crevice tool
- A step stool for the cabinet tops, used carefully
How do you clean kitchen cabinets, step by step?
- Dust. Wipe the doors and frames with a dry microfiber cloth, top to bottom.
- Wash. Dip a cloth in warm water with a few drops of dish soap, wring it until it's barely damp, and wipe each door and frame. Start at the top so drips land on what you haven't done yet.
- Treat grease. For sticky spots, mix baking soda with a little water into a paste, rub it on gently with a soft cloth, and let it sit a minute.
- Get the details. Use the toothbrush along the edges of raised panels, around the hinges and on the handles.
- Rinse. Wipe everything with a clean cloth dampened with plain water.
- Dry. Go over each door with a dry cloth. Wood and painted finishes don't like standing water.
How do you clean each type of cabinet?
Painted. Gentle: dish soap and water, a soft cloth, no scrubbing pads. Scrubbing hard can wear through the paint or leave shiny patches.
Stained or sealed wood. Wipe with the grain. Dish soap and water first. A splash of white vinegar in warm water helps with grease, used sparingly. Test anything new on a hidden spot.
Laminate or thermofoil. Dish soap and water, or a mild all-purpose spray. Keep heat and steam away from the edges, where the surface can peel.
Glass-front doors. Clean the frames as above, then the glass with a glass cleaner sprayed on the cloth, not the door.
How do you clean cabinet hardware?
For a quick clean, scrub the handles and knobs in place with the toothbrush and soapy water, then dry. For a deep clean, unscrew them, soak them in warm soapy water for 15 minutes, scrub, dry and put them back. Wipe them weekly.
How do you clean the tops of kitchen cabinets?
The tops of upper cabinets collect a sticky mix of grease and dust. Stand on a sturdy step stool, never a chair, and work carefully. Scrape off what you can with a plastic scraper, then wash with warm soapy water and dry. Laying a sheet of wax paper or a liner on top afterward means next time you just swap it out.
How do you clean inside the cabinets?
Do one cabinet at a time. Take everything out, vacuum the crumbs with the crevice tool, wipe the shelves with warm soapy water and dry them. Check for crumbs in the back corners and under the hinges. A wipeable shelf liner under the oils and spices saves a lot of scrubbing later.
How often should you clean them?
| What | How often |
|---|---|
| Handles and the doors by the stove and sink | Weekly |
| Every door and frame | Every few months |
| Cabinet tops | Twice a year |
| Inside, emptied | Once or twice a year |
Our kitchen cleaning schedule fits these in with the rest of the room.
Want the kitchen deep cleaned?
Book Deep Cleaning online. If greasy cabinets or the cabinet tops are a priority, ask about them when you book and put them in your booking notes.
FAQ
How do you clean greasy kitchen cabinets? Wash them with warm water and a few drops of dish soap on a soft cloth. For sticky spots, rub on a paste of baking soda and water with a soft cloth, then rinse with a damp cloth and dry right away.
Can you use vinegar on wood cabinets? Use it diluted and sparingly. A splash of white vinegar in warm water helps with grease on sealed wood, but strong or frequent vinegar can dull the finish. Test a hidden spot, and dry the wood right after.
How often should you clean kitchen cabinets? Wipe the doors and handles near the stove and sink weekly, and do a full wash of every door, frame and the cabinet tops two to four times a year.
How do you clean the inside of kitchen cabinets? Empty one cabinet at a time, vacuum out crumbs with the crevice tool, wipe the shelves with warm soapy water, and dry them before putting things back. A wipeable shelf liner makes the next clean faster.
Book a cleaning
Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.
