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.
To remove sticky residue from wood cabinets, use a simple solution of a few drops of liquid dish soap, 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 1/4 cup of water. Use a soft nylon scrub brush dipped in the soapy solution to scour the area where the adhesive hasn't lifted from the surface.
The sticky residue is usually caused by cooking oil, fat from foods and dirt. It begins when you cook and even a spoon of oil in a hot pan will cause some of the oil to evaporate into oil vapour.
Mix equal parts baking soda and water in a bowl to combat stubborn sticky residue that the vinegar may not have removed. You want to make a thick paste, so add more baking soda if necessary until you have a consistency that is thick and won't drip down the cabinets.
Wet a paper towel or clean rag with rubbing alcohol, and rub the residue to lift it off. For stubborn stickers, lay an alcohol-soaked rag on the area, and let it sit for several minutes to soften the residue.
Dawn dish soap is famous for being an excellent degreaser, and this simple tip might be the best way to clean wooden cabinets. It is also mild enough that it won't ruin your wood cabinets or their finish. You can even use dish detergent as the best way to clean painted kitchen cabinets, too.
Murphy® Oil Soap gets deep into grime to break up dirt particles and it's safe to use on wood products like cabinets.
Vinegar: Although vinegar is a fantastic natural disinfectant, it's also an acid. If used undiluted or mixed with water, it can ruin a wood's finish on contact.
White vinegar
One of the many uses of vinegar is to dissolve wood glue. Consider using white vinegar to remove dried glue from a varnished wood surface such as a tabletop or some other finished wood. It is a natural solution that makes it easy to remove dry glue from wood without damaging the finish.
All-purpose cleaner is the easiest way to remove Goo Gone residue from a hard surface. Use a generous amount of all-purpose cleaner on the effected area. Wipe with a clean, dry cloth. Dry the surface thoroughly with a paper towel.
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.
Vinegar's acidity helps cut through grease easily. Spray some vinegar and water mix onto a splattered stovetop, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then scrub down with soapy water. It should wipe right off.
Whether it's from a creative craft project or an extensive woodworking job, glue has knack for stubbornly sticking to floors, tables, shelves, furniture and every other kind of finished wood. Luckily, Goo Gone Original excels at breaking down the adhesive in glue and keeping your finished wood safe.
It's even safe to use on wood surfaces. WD-40 can also loosen the hold of strong adhesives such as super glue. So, if you drop some glue on the floor or bench, spray a little WD-40. In no time you'll be able to wipe the glob right of your bench surface.
The WD-40 Multi-Use Product will need a bit of time to soften the sticker adhesive for all the residue to be removed by a rag, so allow several minutes for the formula to sit on the area. Once the product has loosened the adhesive, use a clean rag to wipe away the rest of the sticker residue and the excess product.
Rubbing alcohol or vodka can safely remove sticker residue from plastic, wood, glass, or fabric. Soak the adhesive with your alcohol, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then wipe it off.
Bottom line — if you need an effective yet gentle formula to remove adhesive and sticky messes around the house, Goo Gone is your best bet. If you have a tough household job or need adhesive remover for pro-level jobs in the workplace, Goof Off's more potent formula is a better option.
Both of these cleaner products are adhesive removers but Goo Gone is much more potent and should be used with care. Goof Off is a better choice for a wider variety of surfaces without the need to worry about potential damage.
After wetting your brush with warm water, add a little baking soda, then scrub away on the cabinets. Follow with a damp, warm cloth to remove the residue. Not only will the baking soda cut through the grease, but it's also non-abrasive, so it won't harm your wooden cabinets.
The distilled white version is the most-often vinegar used as a household cleaner, but, according to the Gerson Institute, the apple cider type works equally well. Both types are adept at killing germs, preventing the growth of bacteria and eliminating unpleasant odors in your kitchen cabinets.