All-white cabinets and countertops have a tendency to turn yellow over time when exposed to high amounts of direct sunlight. If not properly protected, the jaundice-like effect can cause major regret after only a few years.
To keep your white cupboards looking bright and fresh, create a cleaning solution with one cup of vinegar, one tablespoon of baking soda, and two cups of warm water. Dip a rag in this solution, wring out the access liquid, then wipe down your cupboards. Do this at least once a month.
To clean white laminate cabinets, create a mixture of 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 gallon of warm water. Allow the baking soda to dissolve in the water. Then, use a soft cloth to rub the mixture on to the cabinets to scour away grime and stains.
Water-based polyurethane is well-suited for low-sheen flat, eggshell or satin latex paint. If you painted your cabinets with any of these paints, apply a water-based poly over the top to prolong the life of the finish. Do not apply water-based polyurethane over the top of gloss latex and acrylic enamel.
It is worth the time to do this on painted shelves. Once the paint is dry (24 hours) roll on 2 light coats of Polycrylic on the top of painted shelves on the interior cabinets This seals the latex paint so you will never hear that latex sticky sound when you remove objects on the shelves.
So, to recap the answer to this question: You should always use a clear coat on painted cabinets unless you feel like doing a lot of repainting.
Writer Lorna Hordos suggests removing a yellow tinge this way: Wash your cupboards with a fizzy mixture of 1 cup vinegar, 2 cups warm water and 1 tablespoon baking soda. To keep cabinets white, give them a monthly “bath” with a solution of warm water and a grease-busting dish soap.
Avoid These Cleaners on Painted Cabinets: Magic Eraser or similar sponges, abrasive powder or scrubbing pads, cleaners with abrasive particles, intense detergents, or ammonia oil soap, spray polishes containing silicone, petroleum products, or wax citrus/orange cleaner.
Mix a half cup of all-purpose cleaner, white vinegar or wood cleaner with half a cup of water in a spray bottle. Spray the cabinets with this solution. Scrub the surface with a soft sponge in a regular motion. Rinse the sponge, wring it, and wipe the cabinet to remove the cleanser.
However, if the veneer is made from a synthetic composite material such as melamine resin, the white tends to take on a yellowish hue over time, greatly diminishing the initial appeal. Understanding the cause of the tarnished tint provides insight into both prevention and maintenance of white veneer.
Don't Use Vinegar and Water
Vinegar is acidic and will damage your wood cabinets. While it is true that if heavily diluted, vinegar will lose much of its acidity, but when diluted it will also lose much of its properties that make it an effective cleaner. Diluted vinegar is no more effective than dish soap.
Yellowing is often a natural and common side-effect of the drying process and the aging of oil paint. Aging is a common cause of white painted cabinets turning yellow and white paint turning yellow on wood.
Apply a marker to flaws that match the color of the cabinetry staining. Fill in dents and worn spots with a putty. Apply a new coat of paint, or re-stain the cabinets to restore its former look and feel. Use a polyurethane coating to assist with the removal of cabinet imperfections.
My favorite sealer for painted furniture is General Finishes High Performance Top Coat and this would also be my first choice for sealing cabinets. It is water-based, non-yellowing, and extremely easy to work with (unlike many other sealers).
To prolong the lifespan of your cabinet paint job, then, finish the job by sealing your cabinets with a transparent top-coat. These sealing options include varnishes composed of polyurethane, polycrylic, spar urethane, nitrocellulose, waterborne acrylic, and more.
Use a good, primer such as Cover Stain. Primer not only ensures good adhesion of paint, but it also increased the paint durability. Did you know primer has plastic in it? It helps your projects be more durable!
The formula has an acrylic base; polyurethane is added for better adhesion and durability. Polycrylic is not as durable as polyurethane and is meant to be used only on interior surfaces such as cabinets, furniture, and trim.
PROTECT WOOD SURFACES – Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish protects and adds beauty to your interior wood projects, including woodwork, furniture, doors and cabinets. The clear top coat protects against scratches, spills, dirt and more.
Use a good quality synthetic brush to apply the polycrylic to painted surface. Apply the polycrylic with the synthetic brush with long slow brush strokes to painted surface. After applying the first coat of polycrylic, let it dry for 2 hours. Before applying second coat, lightly sand the surface again.
The distilled white version is the most-often vinegar used as a household cleaner, but, according to the Gerson Institute, the apple cider type works equally well. Both types are adept at killing germs, preventing the growth of bacteria and eliminating unpleasant odors in your kitchen cabinets.
Gently rub the cabinet door, and then open the door to wash around the frame. Do the same with the drawers, washing the drawer front, and then opening it to wash the frame. Use a second rag dipped in the clean water and wipe down the cabinets again to remove cleaner and leftover grime.