Dial-a-Maid
Grime builds quickly on cabinet doors, especially around handles, and that buildup can be particularly stubborn, says a 40+ year old Residential Cleaning Company servicing Highland Park, Il. Typically, a good cleaning with mild dishwashing liquid and water, as part of your regular routine is all that's required to undo the damage and prevent further buildup.
The best way to clean tough grime, however, is to remove the hardware itself. Unscrew it, and soak it in warm, soapy water for thirty minutes. Scrub lightly with a softy brush if necessary. Let hardware dry completely before replacing it.
In order to clean cabinet boxes and doors, the approach you take will depend largely on the material, although gentle treatment is best. As part of your weekly cleaning routine, wipe cabinet exteriors with a soft damp cloth or a damp microfiber cloth. Try a mixture of several drops of mild dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm water, applied with a soft cloth or sponge, before working your way up to anything stronger. For stubborn stains, wipe with an undiluted all-purpose cleaner. Whatever product you use, always read the label carefully, follow all instructions, and test a small area inside a door- where any mishaps will be inconspicuous- before tackling the fronts of your cabinets. Rinse surfaces thoroughly with a clean, damp cloth after washing. To avoid streaking, dry with a clean, absorbent cloth.
At the beginning of each season, clean the insides of cabinets, first removing everything within, including liners if possible: wipe interior surfaces with the mild dishwashing liquid solution mentioned above. After washing, wipe interiors well with a clean, damp cloth. Dry completely with a clean absorbent cloth before replacing liners and the cabinets' contents. All of the above are in Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook and followed by a 40+ year Residential Cleaning Company servicing Highland Park, Il.
