Clean Ikea high gloss cabinets using a soft microfiber cloth and a mild solution of warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Wipe away grease and fingerprints, rinse thoroughly with a damp cloth to avoid streaks, and immediately dry with a separate lint-free cloth.
Usually, a clean, soft cotton cloth —or microfiber cloth for laminate and high gloss cabinetry — dampened with warm water will do the trick!
Use mild detergent.
Mix two tablespoons of dish soap into two cups of warm water. You can also use a mixture of vinegar and water. Apply the mild cleaning detergent of your choice to your cabinets using a clean, soft cloth. TIP: If using a commercial cleaning product, buy one made specifically for wood cabinets.
While some people may avoid a gloss kitchen for fear that it would be hard to clean, this is a common misconception. Due to the slick, shiny surface, gloss kitchens can be wiped regularly with a damp, non-abrasive cloth to get rid of any pesky stains, fingerprints, or smudges.
Yes, you can use Murphy Oil Soap on kitchen cabinets. However, it is specifically designed for natural wood and relies on proper dilution.
To restore the shine to your kitchen cabinets, you need to strip away the dulling layer of kitchen grease and grime. Once completely clean, condition and protect the surface with a quality polish or wax.
For Water Based Finishes
Cleaners such as Pledge and Murphy's Oil Soap are not recommended because they leave a dull residue on the finish. Water based surfaces may be cleaned with a damp cloth or General Finishes Orange Oil.
Microfibre cloths are excellent for cleaning with. More persistent marks can be removed using a solution of 50% methylated spirits with 50% lukewarm water. Once cleaned the gloss surface should be wiped over with a damp cloth to remove any excess and finally dried with a soft, clean cloth.
Kitchen cabinet colors that feel dated include stark, clinical all-white, cool minimalist grays, and red-toned woods like cherry or honey-oak. Flat, one-dimensional brown-on-brown color schemes and overly bright primary colors have also fallen out of style.
Noticeable marks and scratches
Because of its reflective property, light fingerprints, dirt, and even scratches can be easily spotted on these kinds of cabinets in comparison to matte or semi-gloss cabinets.
Refreshing laminate cabinets involves a thorough cleaning, scuffing the slick surface with 220-grit sandpaper, applying a high-adhesion bonding primer, and finishing with durable enamel paint and new hardware. Alternatively, for a no-sand option, you can use specialized all-in-one paints or a peel-and-stick vinyl refacing film.
A sure way to recognize wood laminate is when the grain does NOT follow through your piece. Wood Veneer is a sheet or thin layer of 'quality-natural-hardwood' that is adhered to a lesser quality wood surface. Wood Veneers give the impression of a more desired quality wood without being as costly.
GRIMSLOV
The 20-minute rule in cleaning (often combined with the 10-minute break as the 20/10 Rule) is a productivity method where you set a timer and clean as quickly and intensely as possible for 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, you immediately stop cleaning and take a mandatory 10-minute break.
Always wash gloss doors with a gentle detergent and water. Follow this up by drying it with a soft cloth, towel or kitchen roll. You might find that soapy water will leave ugly streaks on the doors, so you should try using glass cleaning spray to remove these – vinegar diluted in water is also known to help.
Yes, you absolutely can clean kitchen cabinets with Dawn dish soap. It is highly effective at cutting through cooking grease and sticky residue. Because it is a concentrated formula, a little goes a long way.
In 2026, kitchen color trends are moving away from stark white and cold gray, shifting toward warm, nature-inspired, and earthy tones. The aesthetic of "warm minimalism" dominates, favoring softer hues like creamy white, taupe, mushroom, terracotta, muted olive green, and deep teal-blues.
Joanna Gaines' go-to paint colors for kitchen cabinets emphasize natural, earthy tones. She frequently uses warm, creamy whites on upper cabinets for an airy feel, and balances them with bold, deep greens, blues, or grays on lower cabinets for depth.
Avoid high-maintenance stark whites, trend-heavy brights like candy apple red or lime green, and oppressive jet blacks which highlight every fingerprint. Instead of fleeting fads or clinical shades, opt for muted, versatile tones that bring warmth and longevity to your space.
Clean high gloss kitchen cabinets safely using a soft microfiber cloth dampened with warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap. Avoid abrasive sponges and harsh chemicals. For a streak-free, flawless finish, buff the surfaces dry immediately.
But eight places you should never use vinegar include:
Yes, you can use Dawn dish soap to clean paint brushes, particularly for natural or synthetic brushes used with oil-based paints. It cuts through oil effectively. However, it is not recommended for latex or water-based acrylic paints, as dish soap is not formulated to dissolve these types of paint.
For most kitchen cabinets, the best and safest cleaner is a simple mix of warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap (like Original Dawn Dish Soap). This solution effectively cuts through daily grease and cooking oils without stripping or damaging paint, laminate, or wood finishes.
Generally, using an old bar of soap isn't harmful, but it may not be as effective at cleaning. If the soap is discolored or smells strange, it's best to replace it to ensure optimal hygiene.
Yes, you can use Dawn dish soap to wash walls before painting. Because it cuts grease and grime, it is highly effective at prepping surfaces so your new paint adheres properly. However, because Dawn is highly concentrated, you must dilute it properly and ensure you rinse the walls afterward so you don't leave a slick soap residue.