How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets — This Genius Trick Will Save You So Much Time

Most of us think we know how to clean kitchen cabinets, but a closer look might tell a different story – and it could be a dirty one. While wiping down your countertops and rinsing the sink are likely already daily cleaning habits, kitchen cabinets often get neglected for much longer. The result is an icky (and less-than-sanitary) film of grease, dirt and grime – but it’s actually easier than you think to get them (and keep them) clean with the right strategies. These cleaning tips will help you get your cabinets sparkling clean – on the inside and out.

contemporary kitchen with handless-free wood upper cabinets and white lower cabinets

Getty Images

1 / 10

Countdown to Clean Doors

Cabinet doors take on the brunt of kitchen grime, so you’ll want to clean them regularly. Luckily, a weekly surface clean of kitchen cabinets should only take a few steps. First, apply your preferred cleaning solution (you can use a cabinet cleaning product, or a natural solution – more on that next!) and rub in circles to release any grime. Second, dampen a clean cloth with warm water to rub away the cleaner. Rinse your water cloth frequently to keep it clean. Third, use a soft, dry cloth to wipe cabinets dry – leaving them wet can cause damage over time.

clean kitchen with dark upper cabinets and pink flowers on counter

Unsplash

2 / 10

Vinegar for the Win

Cabinet doors are high-touch areas, which makes grease stains, fingerprints and other touch-based smudges super common – and leaving these materials on your cabinets for long can lead to lasting stains. The solution? Try this natural cleaning hack: make a 50-50 mix of water and vinegar and use it to dampen a soft cloth. Rub the damp cloth on stains (or all over) on your cabinet doors and then buff the surface clean with a polishing cloth. The vinegar makes for quick, easy and natural cleaning (that’s not overpowering). Is there anything vinegar can’t clean?

blue cabinets in spacious galley kitchen

HGTV Canada

3 / 10

The Case for Colourful Cabinets

If you’ve embraced the luxe look of colourful cabinets (as Jonathan and Drew Scott did with these true-blue stunners on Property Brothers: Forever Home), then you’ll want to keep them at their colour-pop best. However, painted cabinets require an extra-gentle touch, with the added potential for scratched paint (definitely resist the urge to pull out a magic erasing sponge). Wash them using the same method as you would for wood cabinets, but use a mix of dish soap and warm water instead of any harsh cleaning products. Dish soap is designed to deal with food grime, and it should leave your cabinet colour intact (it’s always a good idea to test any cleaning product on a discreet area first, of course!).

clean modern kitchen with patterned rug and wood cabinets

Unsplash

4 / 10

Have Baking Soda on Hand

Cooking can get messy, especially if you’ve got a taste for bubbling stews and saucy casseroles. If you notice a splatter stain on kitchen cabinets that are made from a porous material (such as wood), eradicate it as soon as possible – before it sets in – with the help of regular baking soda. First, wipe away any residue with a damp cloth. Next, create a paste of baking soda and water, and apply it to the stained area. Wait a few minutes to let the baking soda do its magic, and then wipe the paste away with a clean cloth. You can also use baking soda to add extra power to your natural grease-busting cabinet cleaner (here’s the recipe).

top view of woman taking dishes out of kitchen cabinet

Unsplash

5 / 10

Inside Issues

Bad kitchen habits like dirty cabinets are about more than just aesthetics – they can affect your health, too. To keep your cabinets at their best, it’s smart to do a deep clean of your cabinet interiors a few times a year. Start by clearing out the contents – take the opportunity to get rid of anything that’s broken or no longer sparks joy. Next, clean all the interior surfaces (you can use the same vinegar solution from before) and make sure it’s completely dry before putting anything back inside.

White kitchen cabinets with glass doors revealing a mix of dishes and cookbooks

Unsplash

6 / 10

Suck it Up

Most people think of scrubbing when it comes to how to clean kitchen cabinets, but don’t forget about your other trusty cleaning tools. Cabinet interiors tend to accumulate a lot of debris and crumbs, so a quick vacuum before you start wiping or washing can be a big time saver when you’re cleaning cabinet interiors. Your best strategy is to clear out your cabinets, then use the vacuum’s extension wand attachment or angle crevice cleaner attachment to suck up dirt and clear out any hard-to-reach nooks or crannies.

elegant dark kitchen cabinets with dark tiled backsplash

Unsplash

7 / 10

Think Top Down

Whether you’re cleaning the inside of your kitchen cabinets or you’re wiping down your cabinet doors, always work from top to bottom. This ensures you’re not accidentally dirtying an area that you’ve already cleaned, and having a structure to your cleaning method will help you tackle the task faster. Need some inspiration to start scrubbing? Here are some clean and tidy homes for inspo.

assorted cleaning brushes and cloth hanging in white room

Unsplash

8 / 10

Wipe on, Wipe Off

While you don’t need any special gizmos or gadgets to keep your cabinets in tip-top shape, what you use to clean does matter. First of all, ditch any abrasive sponges (these can damage the finish of your cabinets); a soft cloth is likely your best bet when it comes to cleaning power that won’t scratch or scuff your cabinets, and a microfibre cloth will work best on glossy-finish cabinets. Also, while keeping your kitchen cabinets clean is important, avoid using a lot of disposable paper towels to do the wiping. Instead, consider one of these waste-reducing, money-saving alternatives to paper towels.

light grey cabinets with gleaming metallic hardware in modern kitchen

HGTV Canada

9 / 10

Preserve Your Precious Metals

Metallic cabinet hardware (like the gorgeous gold-tone handles Samantha Pynn and Sebastian Clovis used in this Save My Reno kitchen) is a big cabinet trend – it’s basically jewelry for your cabinets. However, these high-touch areas can get dull and dirty quickly. To help metallic pulls, knobs and handles stay clean and shiny, use a soft cloth to clean and polish them every time you wipe down your cabinet doors. If you know the exact metal and finish of your hardware, you can look for a specialized cleaning product. If not, mix up a non-abrasive vinegar-water solution to remove grime before polishing. Another tip? When you do a cabinet deep clean, remove your cabinet hardware and let it soak in a water-vinegar solution (you can throw in a few lemon peels for a fresh scent). It will be easier to scrub into any crevices, and you can give your cabinet doors a more thorough clean before you pop the hardware back on.

clean white kitchen with white and glass cabinets

Unsplash

10 / 10

Set a Schedule

Once your kitchen cabinets are sparkling clean and sanitary, set a reminder to do it again – and be consistent. You don’t have to clean your cabinets every day, but a seasonal deep-clean inside and out and weekly exterior touch-ups should do the trick.