With the growing popularity of minimal homes, white kitchen cabinets are becoming common.
These brilliant light cabinets will surely brighten up your kitchen.
But is it difficult to keep white kitchen cabinets clean?
Keeping White Kitchen Cabinets Clean
White kitchen cabinets are no more challenging to clean than any other colored cabinets. However, they can be unforgiving as they show even the smallest of stains.
Here’s everything you need to know about white kitchen cabinets and how to maintain them.
So, read on before designing your perfect kitchen.
How To Choose Easy-To-Maintain Kitchen Cabinets?
The main issue with white kitchen cabinets is that they show stains easily.
This means that they need constant maintenance.
So you should look for a type of cabinet that’s relatively low maintenance.
There are many things to consider when getting white kitchen cabinets.
To ensure they’re easy to clean, you should check the following.
1. Cabinet Material
There are two main cabinet materials to choose from, PVC and wood.
Each offers an entirely different look and requires different maintenance.
When it comes to cleaning, PVC cabinets take the lead as the easiest to clean.
They don’t stain and can simply be wiped in case of any spills.
Wood, on the other hand, is incredibly easy to stain and requires a lot of maintenance.
To maintain them for a long time, you need to choose a durable finish for your white wood cabinets, use special wood cleaners, and avoid any harsh chemicals.
2. Cabinet Style
The style of your cabinets can make or break your entire kitchen design.
It can also affect how easy it’s to clean the cabinets.
If you want a low-maintenance kitchen, go for a flat design like the shaker style or the slap front.
These designs don’t have any nooks and crannies that dirt can get stuck into.
3. Finish
The finish paint is the exterior surface of your cabinets that will be exposed to any stains.
Naturally, the type of finish makes the most difference when it comes to cleaning your kitchen.
PVC cabinets are simple. They’re finished with latex paint, which is easy to clean with just soap and water.
On the other hand, there are a lot of finishes to pick from for your wood cabinets.
Semi-gloss oil-based finishes are popular for their easy application and high durability.
They offer a shiny surface that’s resistant to water, mildew, scratches, and dents.
For a gloss finish, lacquer paint is the best as it’s extremely durable.
It penetrates through the wood layers, protecting your cabinets from the inside out.
However, unlike PVC latex, it may turn yellow over time.
Satin finish has a velvety appearance, often resembling flat paint.
Most imperfections don’t show up on this type of finish, and it’s by far the easiest wood finish to clean and touch up.
4. Stains
The type of stain on your cabinet is what determines the cleaning process.
You can simply wipe your cabinet if it’s only a juice spill, but other stains require some serious scrubbing!
Oil stains, for instance, are some of the hardest to clean, especially if the stain has dried up.
To make for the easiest cleaning process, make sure to wipe any stain instantly.
5. Cleaning Products
The most important aspect of cleaning is the cleaning products.
Some are tough on stains, while others are better for leaving a shiny surface.
This again comes back to the type of your cabinets. Each cabinet type requires special cleaning products.
Homemade cleaners are the best ones to use on wood cabinets to avoid damage.
You can make your own water and vinegar mixture, which is the safest to use.
However, you can clean PVC cabinets with almost any cleaner.
Even the water and vinegar mixture would clean it perfectly since PVC is already resistant to stains or stickiness.
What’s The Best Way To Clean White Kitchen Cabinets?
Now that you know the best and easiest types of kitchen cabinets to clean, how can you clean them effectively with as little stress as possible?
The go-to kitchen cleaning mixture consists of:
- 1 cup of vinegar,
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and
- 2 cups of warm water.
Get your cleaning mixture, gloves, and spray bottle, then proceed as follows:
- Spray the mixture over the dirty cabinets, focusing on stains.
- Allow the mixture to sit for about 10 minutes to penetrate the stains fully.
- Use a cotton cloth and wipe away all the dirt.
- Use a kitchen sponge or a soft toothbrush and softly scrub the stains if there are some stubborn stains.
- Repeat the spraying and scrubbing as needed.
Keep in mind that when you’re scrubbing the stains, you should avoid using stainless steel scrubbers.
These scrubbers can scratch your cabinets or remove the finishing paint.
What’s more, if you have PVC cabinets or regularly clean your kitchen, you probably won’t need any heavy-duty cleaners or extra scrubbing anyway.
How To Keep Your White Kitchen Cabinets Clean?
The most crucial part of maintaining your white kitchen is keeping it clean.
Not only will this ensure your kitchen stays bright for years, but it will also cut down the time you spend cleaning it!
Here are some ways to keep your white cabinets clean for a long time.
1. Turn On The Exhaust Fan
Whenever you’re cooking, microscopic food and oil particles spill all over your kitchen.
Over time they’ll dry up, leaving tough, sticky stains on your cabinets.
Exhaust fans are great for keeping grease from accumulating on your cabinets.
Make sure to turn your fan on the moment you start cooking.
2. Keep Away From Direct Sunlight
Natural sunlight is any white kitchen owner’s worst nightmare.
Sure, it’s a great interior design concept that makes your kitchen appear larger.
Still, over time, it’ll cause your white cabinets to turn yellow.
To avoid this, you might need to install tinted glass windows or invest in some curtains.
3. Immediately Wipe Away Any Stains
If you clean your kitchen often, you won’t have to deep-clean it at all!
Make sure to wipe any spills the moment they happen.
Most of the stains on the cabinets are built up over several months.
If dirt or food is wiped away immediately, it surely won’t leave any stains.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you clean white cabinets without removing the finishing paint?
To clean white cabinets without scratching or scrubbing off the paint, only use cotton or microfiber cloth to clean the cabinets.
You should also stay away from any abrasive detergents and harsh stainless steel scrubbers.
How can you clean white cabinets that have turned yellow?
If your cabinets have turned yellow over time, you can restore them to their brilliant white color by using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.
Spray the cleaning mixture on any yellow stains and leave it on for 5 minutes.
Then, gently scrub with a toothbrush or a nylon-bristled scrub.
Do all-white cabinets turn yellow?
Unfortunately, it’s inevitable for all-white kitchens to turn yellow.
This yellowing is usually due to sunlight, heat, and the usual wear-and-tear.
However, it takes years for yellowing to happen and can be prevented by all of the tips mentioned above.
