Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle. Mist on cabinets, let sit for a minute or two and then wipe clean with a soft cloth. Add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to the vinegar and water solution to clean extremely grimy cabinets.
Water (with a pH of 7) and dish soap (with a pH between 7 and 8) are always good options. The best cleaner, the one that is less likely to do damage to the wood is good old-fashioned elbow grease. Applied with a damp cloth, elbow grease should be effective at removing dirt and dust and even oil and grease build-up.
Squirt the surface with straight white vinegar, sprinkle on some baking soda, and give it several minutes of dwell time. Scrub with a sponge, then scrape with a firm straight edge, like an old credit card, wiping off the gunk with a rag or paper towels. Spray again lightly and wipe dry with a clean cloth.
The Best Way to Clean Kitchen Cabinets without Removing the Finish. The best way to clean kitchen cabinets, no matter their finish, is with a simple mix of dish soap and warm water. Dish soap is strong enough to clean and degrease your cabinets but gentle enough that it won't remove the finish.
Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle. Mist on cabinets, let sit for a minute or two and then wipe clean with a soft cloth. Add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to the vinegar and water solution to clean extremely grimy cabinets.
Simple solutions of dish soap and water can do wonders for cleaning away grease, splatters, and food messes. Dawn® Platinum makes cleaning kitchen cabinets So Dawn Easy! The unique formula quickly breaks down grease particles while staying gentle enough to not cause any damage.
You'll want to get two buckets that are large enough to swish a rag around in the water to shake it of excess dirt, and you'll also want a good natural wood cleaner. Murphy® Oil Soap gets deep into grime to break up dirt particles and it's safe to use on wood products like cabinets.
Greasy Cabinet Cleaning Method: Vinegar Soak
The method: Soak a washcloth in distilled white vinegar, like this classic from Heinz. Apply to cabinets, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then wipe off with a damp sponge.
Cooking adds even more grime in the form of food splatters and oil-laden steam. Even if you have a vent hood or use a splatter guard when cooking, oils leave a residue on cabinets. Dust and dirt in the air get stuck in that residue, coating your cabinets with a sticky mess.
CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR WOOD FURNITURE
A gentle, water-based solution such as Murphy® Oil Soap Original works well when cleaning and protecting the finish on your wood floors, furniture and cabinets.
Ask any green-living expert or organic devotee and they'll tell you that the best natural cleaning products are regular white vinegar or baking soda with a little lemon or orange thrown in. “Truly the best way to clean wood floors is with simple white vinegar,” DiPrima says.
Dish Soap. Grease-cutting dish soaps, like Dawn, are the gentlest choice for degreasing kitchen cabinets. If extra cleaning power is needed, use a non-scratch abrasive sponge to help safely scour away sticky grease film.
And one guy knows the best way to clean kitchen cabinets and that's Mr. Clean®! He has just what you need to power through the tough grease, daily dust, and stuck-on food messes that make your cabinets feel downright lackluster.
Leave the abrasive cleaners and scrub brushes to your sink; harsh scrubbing can damage kitchen cabinets' finish or paint. Instead, prepare your own gentle cleaner by mixing one part mild dishwashing soap with two parts hot water, or the same ratio of distilled white vinegar to hot water.
Clear Finishes: Mix up equal parts of paint thinner and a mild soap, such as Murphy Oil Soap, and apply with a sponge or paintbrush. Wipe the solution away with a rag to clear the dirt; you'll likely remove a thin layer of varnish or shellac, too, because the grime has melded with it.
For heavy cleaning, dilute 1/2 cup Murphy per gallon. Clean well with wrung-out mop, and mop any excess water. No visible residue, no rinsing required.
You should absolutely NOT use Murphy's Oil Soap to clean your wood floors!
Our top pick is the Weiman Cabinet & Wood Clean & Shine Spray. It is an easy-to-use spray that conditions and cleans in one application. For a budget-friendly cleaner that can work around the entire house, consider the Favor Spray Furniture Polish Spray.
How To Clean Wood Furniture – Use Dish Soap. If you're wondering how to clean wood furniture, you can start with liquid dish soap. Put a few drops on a cotton ball dipped in a small amount of warm water then wipe it on the inside of the leg of your cabinet or chair to see if there are any changes to the wood stain.
Dilute ¼ cup of Pine-Sol® in one gallon of warm water. Dampen a sponge in the mixture, wring out so it's just damp to wipe away grease, grime and dirt. Optional: Scrub stubborn messes or stains with full strength Pine-Sol®, using a sponge or soft cloth. Finish by rinsing with water and wipe kitchen cabinets dry.
Polish/Wax — while we warned against using Pledge, wood furniture should be treated with a silicone-free polish or wax a couple of times a year. Waxes may also cause build-ups, so use sparingly. Make sure to use a paste wax or liquid wax made specifically for furniture.