Yes, you can use Murphy Oil Soap on kitchen cabinets. However, it is specifically designed for natural wood and relies on proper dilution.
Murphy® Oil Soap gets deep into grime to break up dirt particles and it's safe to use on wood products like cabinets.
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.
Using a Magnum airless paint sprayer will provide the fastest way to achieve a perfect finish. When this project is done right, you'll get a durable, smooth finish, without any brush strokes or other imperfections. It's also important to get even coverage on the doors and in all the corners and grooves.
The best and safest way to clean wood cabinets is using a simple mixture of mild dish soap (like blue Dawn) and warm water. This cuts through everyday cooking grease and grime without stripping the wood's protective finish or causing water damage.
When wiping your cabinets clean, it's also important to avoid abrasive rags or pads—and to clean the surfaces of your cabinets gently. Scrubbing too hard can damage the finish of your wood cabinetry over time.
To make old wood cabinets look new, choose the approach that fits your budget and the cabinet's current condition. The most effective methods range from simple polishing and re-staining to a complete overhaul with paint.
While prep is also important for rollers or brushes, it's crucial with a sprayer to ensure a clean workspace. If you're ready to practice and invest time in proper preparation, a sprayer can be an excellent choice for achieving a professional-looking finish on your cabinets.
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.
The 1/3 rule in cabinet design is an interior design guideline stating that a cabinet pull or handle should be approximately one-third the width of a drawer or one-third the height of a cabinet door. This ensures hardware is visually balanced and functional.
To naturally clean wood cabinets and bring back their shine, use a simple mix of warm water, white vinegar, and mild dish soap to safely cut through grease. Finish by moisturizing the wood with a 2-part olive oil and 1-part vinegar polish to restore its natural, healthy luster.
Our Top 5 Kitchen Soap Picks
To use Murphy Oil Soap, dilute 14one-fourth14 cup of the concentrated soap in 1 gallon of warm water (or 12one-half12 cup for heavy cleaning). Apply it using a well-wrung microfiber mop or cloth to prevent moisture damage, and wipe the area clean. It requires no rinsing on most surfaces.
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.
To dilute Murphy Oil Soap for wood cabinets, mix 14one-fourth𝟏𝟒 to 12one-half𝟏𝟐 cup of soap per 1 gallon of warm water. Do not use more soap than recommended, as over-soaping leaves a sticky residue.
Murphy Oil Soap is specially designed to clean both finished wood and non-wood surfaces so they maintain their beautiful shine at all times. The Murphy Oil Soap aims to bring out wood's beauty in a gentle and natural* way. 98% Natural* Wood Cleaner.
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.
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.
The top kitchen cabinet color trends include "new neutrals" (warm off-whites, creams, taupes, and mushroom), deep earthy greens (sage, olive), dramatic darks (navy blue, deep charcoal, soft black), and sunset-inspired warm tones (terracotta, rust).
What makes it look cheap: A lack of continuity disrupts the home's visual and physical flow, subtly cheapening the overall experience. Mismatched flooring, abrupt ceiling changes, or lighting that feels disconnected from nearby spaces can make the kitchen feel compartmentalized instead of cohesive.
Back rolling after spraying is a technique where a painter rolls over freshly sprayed paint while it is still wet. It is done to improve paint adhesion, ensure uniform texture, and smooth out imperfections.
Recap: Painting Kitchen Cabinets
White kitchens are not out of style, but the stark, "all-white" monochromatic look is. Designers are shifting toward softer, warmer whites, paired with organic wood tones, natural stone, and contrasting elements to add depth and personality.
Yes, you can stain old cabinets to refresh their look, with gel stain being the most popular, efficient method for DIYers to go darker without completely stripping the old finish. While traditional staining requires extensive sanding to bare wood, gel stain sits on top of the existing finish, making the process much faster while allowing the wood grain to remain visible.
No, using Pledge on kitchen cabinets is generally not recommended. While it provides an instant shine and hides fingerprints in the short term, it contains silicone and wax that build up over time. This creates a sticky residue that traps dirt and creates massive headaches if you ever want to repaint or refinish your cabinets.