Cleaning Cabinetry

Most cabinets manufactured today have a clear coat lacquer or varnish finish applied over the top of the stain to help protect the finish as well as give the stain a more desired sheen. To clean your cabinetry, it is recommended to use a damp cloth with ordinary water. You do not want to soak the cloth or have enough water to drip into any crevices or joints of the cabinet doors. Water is wood’s worst enemy and will find a way into any exposed areas. If your cabinets have not been cleaned in a long time, you can add 1 part Murphy’s Oil Soap to 10 parts water and apply this to the cabinetry on a damp cloth. After this application, wipe down the area with ordinary water on a cloth. Finally wipe the area with a dry cloth to remove any excess water. It is important to wipe down your cabinetry regularly to help keep the greases and oils from you fingers from building up on your cabinets. Do not apply any furniture polish, waxes, etc. to your cabinets. This will dull your finish and leave a layer of film on the surface of your cabinets. If you are not sure of your finish, you can test the inside part of the door to see how your cleaning application is working.