Your kitchen cabinets hide your best dinnerware, pots, and pans. You would understandably want this area clean, but just how do you start cleaning your kitchen cabinets? Our article presents how to clean and organize your kitchen cabinets using our helpful step-by-step guide to get your kitchen to a pristine condition.
What You'll Need
Cleaning kitchen cabinets takes some work, so it is best to separate the tasks into three categories: Clearing, Cleaning, and Organizing. Clearing prepares your kitchen cabinets for cleaning, while organizing will make sure you keep all your dinnerware in a systematic way. Here's what you'll need for each:
Clearing
- Boxes - to store dinnerware, pots, and pans temporarily
- Dry microfiber cloth
- Scissors or Cutting tool
Cleaning
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Damp cloth
- Clean cloth or Sponge
- Spray bottle
- Rag or Paper towels
- Commercial glass cleaner (optional)
- New paper or laminate liner
Organizing
- Storage baskets
- Storage dividers
- Pull-out shelves
- Labels
How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets: A Step-by-step Guide
Clearing
Step 1: Remove All Contents
Carefully remove all items from inside the cabinet, and place them in separate locations. You need to clear the cabinet before cleaning it, and keeping all the contents out of the cabinet will make organization easier later on.
Step 2: Wipe Each Item and Place in Labeled Boxes
Give each item a good wipe, even if they look visibly clean. Due to staying in storage for quite some time, your items may have a thin layer of dust on them. It is better to use a dry, soft cloth to wipe these items. Carefully place them in labeled boxes as a temporary storage area.
Step 3: Remove Old Liner
Remove the old liner by cutting it out using scissors. cutting the liner will make it easier for you to remove each piece one by one instead of yanking out the entire kitchen liner in one go. Be aware of any adhesives or tape that may be holding the liner in place, and carefully unstick the liner.
Cleaning
Step 1: Wipe with Damp Cloth
Wipe the bare kitchen cabinets with a microfiber cloth dampened with a bit of water. Wipe all over each surface, and reach around the corners and the exterior of your cabinets. Make sure your cloth is damp, but not soaking wet as too much moisture may damage wood cabinets.
Step 2: Create Cleaning Solution Spray
Create a cleaning solution spray using baking soda, dish soap, and some warm water. Mix together 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 a teaspoon of dish soap, and 2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle. Use this to clean wood cabinets.
Step 3: Spray Cleaning Solution, and Wipe with Cloth or Sponge
Lightly mist the cleaning solution all over the inside of your cabinet. Use a cloth or sponge to wipe the solution, evenly distributing the cleaner around the inside of the cabinet. The cleaning solution should both clean, deodorize, and get rid of soap scum, stains, and other grime from your kitchen cabinets.
Step 4: Dry Cabinet Surfaces with Paper Towel
Take a clean rag or paper towel, and use it to dry the inside of your kitchen cabinet. You'll notice the grime lifting off the surface, especially in hard to reach areas. Keep wiping until you no longer collect any dust on your towel.
Step 5: Clean Glass Windows
If your kitchen cabinets have glass windows, use a commercial product to clean it. Glass cleaners can bring the shine back onto your windows, and get rid of fingerprints with ease as well.
Step 6: Secure New Liner
Add the new liner by rolling it out to fit the cabinet shelves. It is a good idea to line both the top and bottom of each shelf to protect the material from scratches and bumps. Add waterproof liners even in laminate cabinets.
Organizing
Step 1: Secure the Storage Rack, Organizer, or Shelves
If using storage organizers, add them into your newly-lined cabinet before you place all the items inside. You may need to measure the inside of your cabinet, as well as the cabinet shelves, to get a suitably-sized organizer or rack for your kitchen.
Step 2: Divide the Dinnerware
Divide the dinnerware, utensils, or pots and pans into different categories. Special sets should go to the back, while more frequently-used items should be accessible up front. Organizing your kitchen cabinets this way will avoid the need to reach at the very back of the cabinet often just to get a glass for water.
Step 3: Store Dry Items
Place your items back into the cabinet one category at a time. Optimize the available space you have inside the cabinet, and use labels to keep track of where everything is.
Kitchen Cabinet Organizing Tips
- Whenever possible, separate your dinnerware from pots and pans. Placing fragile dinnerware with heavy pots and pans is a recipe for disaster. It is best to place each category in a different cabinet to prevent accidents and breakage.
- Always line your cabinets, especially wood kitchen cabinets with a waterproof liner to protect the material from moisture. Do the same for laminate and glass cabinets.
- Dividers will help avoid mixing up dinnerware sets, especially if you tend to keep separate sets for special occasions.
- Portable shelves are great for storing more items in your cabinets, while being able to view them in an instant without having to rummage through the contents.
- When storing items in the cabinet, make sure all items are completely dry.
- Add some silica gel around the corners of the cabinet to lower moisture levels inside, and protect the porous material of your cabinet from water damage.
Clean and Organized - The Easy Way
Keep your home clean and pristine with our handy cleaning services at Luce Home. We'll get your kitchen, as well as the rest of the house, in a spotless, tidy condition quickly and efficiently! You don't have to worry about the cleaning chores as our cleaning professionals will handle the grime.
Give us a call today, and we'll get to organizing your home!
