subject: Caring For Wood Cabinets [print this page] When homeowners purchase a fine piece of furniture, they often go to great lengths to care and condition the item to extend its appearance and durability. In the same spirit, your wood cabinet needs the same tender loving care to protect your investment. Heres how to keep your wood cabinets looking great.
If you have recently upgraded your kitchen cabinets, it only makes sense to do whatever you can to extend their life. While this might sound like a laborious, time-consuming task, neglecting your wood cabinets will magnify and accelerate wear and tear. But with just a little bit of effort and some know-how, you can preserve that like-new look that makes your wood cabinet unique. Here are some practical suggestions for keeping your wood cabinets fresh and attractive.
Caring for Wood Cabinets
* Watch for Damage. Keep your wood cabinet surfaces dry. To clean damp areas, its always best to dab at the spot as opposed to wiping, which may streak the moisture into the grain.
* Avoid Temperature Change. Excessive moisture from showers and cooking steam can compromise the finish and stability of your wood cabinet. Always attend to this moisture quickly.
* No Hanging. Draping wet towels and wash cloths can contribute to moisture build-up significantly. Never attach a towel rack directly to the surface of your wood cabinet.
Your choice of cleaning materials also has a direct effect on the life of your wood cabinets. With the vast number of commercial products that claim to work on wood cabinets, its critical to separate fact from fiction.
Solutions for Wood Cabinets
* Scouring Pads. Scouting pads, brushes, and other abrasive materials will cause irreparable damage to fine wood cabinets.
* Oven Cleaners. Avoid using cleaning agents expressly made for ovens. The ingredients, while good for metals, can be disastrous on selected wood.
As a rule of thumb, the wood cabinet that gets the gentle cleaning will outlast those that dont. In any case, less is always more.
