Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing: A Maintenance Guide

If you love the look of your kitchen after LE Furniture Repair’s kitchen cabinet refinishing and dining room restoration services, proper cleaning and maintenance are essential to keep it looking new.

Make sure to ask Barry what kind of finish he used, and how to clean and maintain it. If you did your own kitchen cabinet refinishing, or other wood furniture restorations, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for that particular finish.

If you don’t know what kind of finish was used—on any wooden furniture, not just newly refinished cabinets or tables—then these maintenance hacks will help you out.

Daily wipe downs: Nothing reduces shine like dust and grime. Every day, you should take a few minutes to wipe down your refinished kitchen cabinets with a soft, dry cloth or slightly damp paper towel. Do not use sponges or other potentially abrasive materials as they could damage the finish.

Get rid of grease: For grease or oil based spills (butter, olive oil, etc.), Barry recommends immediately cleaning with a damp paper towel, and a tiny dot of mild dish soap. Not only is this fix safe for all finishes, it enhances glossiness, and doesn’t leave water stains.

The steel wool shiner: According to Barry, nothing revives the shine in an old finish like steel wool. (Aside from refinishing!) “Use 0000 steel wool on any old wooden furniture to make it look new,” he says. It cuts through grime without harming the finish, and enhances the wood’s natural sheen.

Avoid abrasive chemicals at all costs: Household cleaners like Windex, bleach, and acetone are kryptonite to wood furniture, eating through the hardener in finishes, and causing irreparable damage to woodwork.

 

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