Use a nylon bristled hand or vegetable brush, along with a mild liquid detergent-and-water solution or household cleaner. Clean the soiled area using a rotating motion. Finish by rinsing with water, and dry the surface.
Clean With Mild Dish Soap
Like with wood cabinets, you shouldn't need to resort to abrasive cleaning products like vinegar or baking soda to remove dirt and grease from your laminate kitchen cabinets. A bit of dish soap in warm water applied with a good dose of elbow grease should be more than sufficient.
Use oil soap, such as Murphy Oil Soap ($4, Target) to both clean and shine your cabinets. This non-abrasive solution will make your cabinets look like new without causing any damage. Always use damp, not soaked, cloths when cleaning wood cabinets.
Use 50% water and 50% distilled vinegar for a streak-free look. If your kitchen glass cabinet has wooden mullions, then do not spray the distilled vinegar directly on the surface. Instead, spray onto a cloth and gently wipe.
Wash the laminate with a soft cloth and a solution of mild detergent and warm water. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean soft cloth. For minor repair of burns or other stubborn marks, apply a nonabrasive liquid kitchen cleanser with a soft cloth soaked in warm water.
The truth is, laminate, Formica®, and Wilsonart® are basically the same; laminate is the material while Formica® and Wilsonart® are the brand names. Both brands come in a wide range of colors and patterns and are widely marketed for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and bar counters.
Formica countertops are paintable so long as the correct primer and paint are used.
Refacing Formica cabinets is most easily done by adding a new fresh layer of Formica laminate over the old. This is an easy, cost-effective method of giving your kitchen a fresh look without doing a lot to the rest of the room. In some cases you will need to remove old Formica.
A water-based all-purpose cleaner is generally safe to use on laminate cabinets if you need a little more power than plain water. You can also use liquid hand soap or dish detergent to clean the surfaces. After cleaning the laminate with any cleanser, go over it with a clean cloth to remove the remnants.
The sticky residue found on your kitchen cupboards is usually caused by cooking grease and dirt, but it may also be the residues left by some cleaners. No matter what its source, a sticky residue is unappealing and damaging to 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.
Most of these products contain acids that can damage Formica® laminate. Instead, simply use dish soap or a mixture of water (2 cups) and vinegar (one tablespoon). Leave the solution on the surface for 2 minutes before wiping it down. If the stains are especially stubborn, use a paste made of baking soda and water.
You can also use a white vinegar and water solution to clean formica. Mix together equal parts white vinegar and water and then apply to the surface. Spray high gloss surfaces with glass cleaner.
It's important to note that original Windex offers no disinfecting or cleaning properties, notes Gregory. However, Windex Disinfectant Cleaner Multi-Surface does and is a good choice for laminate countertops and glass stoves—areas you want to be disinfected since they're where you cook.
Formica is non-porous, which makes it a smooth material, and hence it is not easy to apply paint on it evenly. Read on! Painting kitchen cabinets by hand is the best option for laminate cabinets. It makes them look a lot better than the original finish.
Paint your formica countertops with epoxy-based paint. Due to its dry nature, it is harder to use and more durable than other regular paints, and it will last longer. Epoxy paints are also available in a variety of colors and styles, making them an excellent choice for painting.
Make sure to choose a semi-gloss or high-gloss enamel paint. This will stand up well to knicks, dents, and scratches, and provide the toughest painted surface to sustain daily wear and tear.
Hot cookware can leave permanent burn marks on many countertop surfaces including laminate. That's why we always recommend using a protective barrier such as a trivet or a hot plate as a final resting place for oven- or stovetop-fresh pots and pans.
One of the most common sources of scratches in Formica and Laminate countertops is abrasive cleaning pads and harsh solid detergents. This is precisely why you are supposed to clean Laminate and Formica countertops with mild detergents only.
Matt Finish
So, using soap and water is perfectly fine for everyday messes like food splatters and fingerprints. Just be sure to rinse and dry afterwards with warm water and a soft cloth to avoid soapy build-up. Oily fingerprints and bigger splatter marks from some serious cooking can be much more stubborn to lift off.
Regular dusting with a soft cloth is the best way to keep the laminate surface of your furniture clean. For the purpose, use a microfiber cloth or your vacuum cleaner with a soft bristle brush attached to it . Avoid wet wiping – it will leave marks, and the moisture will warp the laminate.