Why do those sparkling white cabinets start to yellow? The first culprit is exposure to direct sunlight, which tends to jaundice or fade painted wood (and laminated surfaces). You should consider draperies, blinds or window film to shield your cabinets from direct sunlight.
Keeping your white cabinets white
Keep white cabinets out of direct sunlight to prevent them from turning yellow. To make a kitchen feel warm and inviting and useful you need plenty of sunlight and a functional space to cook.
Often, discolored kitchen cupboards are caused by grease, grime and time, but some cupboard finishes like vinyl can react to sunlight and become discolored. These kitchen storage spaces must not be exposed to direct sunlight at length and generally aren't warrantied for color-fastness.
To whiten your now yellowed cabinets, you can make use of bleach. However, make sure that you do not mix the bleach with any other substance. You can also use white vinegar, baking soda, and ordinary dish soap as whitening and cleaning agents.
Apply a marker to flaws that match the color of the cabinetry staining. Fill in dents and worn spots with a putty. Apply a new coat of paint, or re-stain the cabinets to restore its former look and feel. Use a polyurethane coating to assist with the removal of cabinet imperfections.
Wipe Cabinets with a Microfiber Cloth
Our first and most important trick for keeping your white cabinets clean is to wipe them down regularly. It might not be groundbreaking, but it works! Use a clean microfiber cloth and warm water to wipe splatters off the walls and cabinets as soon as you spot them.
When you cook, excess moisture and grease particles may form on the surface of the laminates. This may turn the white surfaces into yellow over time. Excess moisture can also affect the quality of your laminated cabinets.
To clean white laminate cabinets, create a mixture of 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 gallon of warm water. Allow the baking soda to dissolve in the water. Then, use a soft cloth to rub the mixture on to the cabinets to scour away grime and stains.
The Classic look that will never go out of style
This type of cabinet will still look good after five years, and some long-time homeowners have been content with this choice after 20 years, from traditional to modern homes, white kitchen cabinets can work with any home decor.
White kitchen cabinets are actually no harder to keep clean than any other. Sure, they aren't as forgiving as darker colors, but that doesn't mean they have to be any less durable or easy to clean and maintain.
Avoid These Cleaners on Painted Cabinets: Magic Eraser or similar sponges, abrasive powder or scrubbing pads, cleaners with abrasive particles, intense detergents, or ammonia oil soap, spray polishes containing silicone, petroleum products, or wax citrus/orange cleaner.
White kitchens get dirty.
Unlike darker cabinets that can hide everyday grime—like fingerprints and smudges—light colored cabinets will only make them more noticeable. Dust and dirt that you might not have even thought about in other rooms will show in a kitchen that's predominately white.
Vinegar is the go-to natural cleaner when faced greasy cabinets. 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.
Saturate a small cloth with the FEED-N-WAX Wood Polish and Conditioner and wipe evenly all over the wood surface. Let wax stand for at least 20 minutes and then wipe off all the excess. There you go, just like brand new!
-Like almost any product in this color scheme, white cabinets may easily show dirt, smudges, scratches or food particles from cooking. -They show signs of aging, such as cracks or discoloration, far more easily than cabinets in other colors.
Too much white can mean that a space feels clinical and cold, rather than clean and crisp. To avoid this type of situation, consider adding a splash of color or texture, mixing white cabinets with contrasting countertops or backsplashes.
REFINISHING IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN REPLACING OR RESURFACING
But, you'd be surprised how little you'll save when you choose to reface your cabinets instead. You might only save around 30%-50% of the cost of complete replacement by choosing to reface them.
Refacing is about 30 to 50-percent less than replacement. Expect to pay about $12,000 to $20,000 for contractor-grade cabinets. Best when the cabinet boxes are in solid shape and cost is an issue. Best when doing a whole-kitchen remodel or when cabinet boxes are in poor shape.
Clean With Mild Dish Soap
Like with wood cabinets, you shouldn't need to resort to abrasive cleaning products like vinegar or baking soda to remove dirt and grease from your laminate kitchen cabinets. A bit of dish soap in warm water applied with a good dose of elbow grease should be more than sufficient.