The best cleaner for cabinet hardware is a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap (such as Dawn) for routine cleaning. For deeper cleaning or to remove heavy grease buildup, a mixture of white vinegar and water or Bar Keepers Friend is highly effective.
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.
Easily Renew Wood Cabinets Without Actually Refinishing
Rejuvenation's Aged Brass is a "living finish" designed to develop a rich, antique patina over time. Because it is a raw, unlacquered finish, it will naturally darken and oxidize. You can either accelerate this aging process or restore its original warm gleam using simple techniques.
With the exception of the valves, brass instruments can be cleaned with water and Dawn dish soap or similar mild cleaner. The felt pads at the top of the valves should remain dry so they don't warp.
Yes, Murphy’s Oil Soap is a trusted and highly recommended choice for cleaning and restoring wood cabinets. It is a gentle, vegetable-based cleaner that safely breaks down kitchen grease, grime, and food residue without stripping the wood’s natural finish.
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.
Yes, you can use Dawn dish soap on wood cabinets, but only highly diluted in warm water. Because Dawn is an aggressive degreaser, using it straight or without thorough rinsing can strip the wood's finish or leave a dull, hazy residue over time.
DIY Wood Cabinet Cleaners
Some options include: Vinegar and Olive Oil Solution: Vinegar and olive oil are wood-safe ingredients that can help boost shine and eliminate dirt or grime. Dish Soap and Water: You can dilute the soap with water to create a sprayable mixture that helps cut grease effectively.
No, you should not use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on wood cabinets. Magic erasers are made of abrasive melamine foam that acts like ultra-fine sandpaper. Using one will permanently strip, scratch, or dull the protective finish, paint, or stain on your cabinets, creating permanent, unsightly spots.
The best all-around homemade wood cleaner combines 1/2 cup of white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar for dark wood), 1/4 cup of olive oil, and 111 tablespoon of lemon juice in a spray bottle. It cleans grime while moisturizing the wood grain to restore shine without harsh chemicals.
I like to take a cup of white vinegar and 1/2 a cup of baking soda and make a paste to use while scrubbing the hardware. I've tried it with the paste and without the paste and the paste seems to help get the hardware cleaner, faster and with a bit less effort.
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.
While white vinegar is an excellent natural cleaner, its acidity means it can damage certain surfaces, strip finishes, or cause rust. You should generally avoid using it on:
Cool gray is being replaced by "mushroom" neutrals (warm taupes and greys with subtle green or violet undertones), warm earthy khakis, and soft, natural sages.
Neutral Colour Palettes
Soft whites, warm greys, muted greens and natural wood tones create a calm, elegant backdrop. They pair well with changing accessories, so you can update the look with new bar stools, pendant lights, or splashback tiles without replacing the whole kitchen.
An Overview of the Top Kitchen Cabinet Color Trends This Year. If you just want the quick list: warm “new neutrals” (cream, warm white, mushroom, warm stone), deeper greens, inky blues, soft blacks, and carefully planned two-tone combinations are leading the kitchen cabinet color trends for 2026.
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 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.
To make your house smell amazing while mopping, use a simple DIY mix of hot water, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and 5–10 drops of essential oils (like eucalyptus and lavender, or lemon and peppermint). If you prefer pre-made options, heavily scented commercial products like Clorox Scentiva Floor Cleaners work beautifully.
Many Amish households use standard, commercially available detergents like Tide or Gain, as they often shop at the same local supermarkets and bulk stores as non-Amish communities. However, many others prefer to live sustainably and avoid harsh chemicals by using simple, natural, and highly effective DIY detergents.
Yes, you can clean brass with toothpaste. Because toothpaste contains mild abrasives, it is an effective DIY method for removing light tarnish and polishing solid brass. However, it is only recommended for solid brass, as the abrasives can easily scratch or strip thin brass plating.
Whether Dawn or Palmolive is "better" depends on your cleaning priorities. Dawn is the undisputed champion of grease-cutting power and versatile stain removal. Palmolive is gentler on the hands, generally more budget-friendly, and doesn't leave a lingering scent on sponges.