Dial-a-Maid
Kitchen cabinets should be cleaned on a regular basis, says Dial-A-Maid Cleaning service in Evanston, Il. 60201. Most of us are afraid of ruining them. You won't! Most cabinets are factory manufactured and finished, and even the wooden ones have enough varnish or other protective coating on them so that you can use a cleaning solution on them. The oil slick that builds up on cabinets, especially round the handles, is a combination of kitchen grease, food smears, skin oil, and hand lotion transferred to the door.
If your cabinets are plastic laminate or other plastic, metal, painted metal, or glass, you can wash them all over with a strong alkaline cleaner. Mix according to directions and apply the solution with a sponge. Let it sit a minute or two, then take a white nylon-backed sponge and scrub. Remove the grimy suds from the sponge by squeezing it into the sink. Rinse with a damp cloth and wipe dry with a terry cleaning cloth, which will remove any last traces of scum and leave the cupboards clean and glowing. Never use acids or powdered cleansers on cabinets. A good overall washing of your cabinets once every 6 months should be enough. Keeping a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner handy the rest of the time and spot clean after heavy kitchen use.
On wooden cabinets, you want to take a gentler approach. To get off the tough stuff, wash around all the handles and any other grease zones first with hand dishwashing detergent, then wash the entire cabinet,with Murphy's Oil soap solution. Just wipe lightly with the solution, don't saturate, and buff dry immediately with a terry cleaning cloth. Always wipe dry with the grain or pattern. If your cabinets are dull from wear or age, a light, spray of furniture polish once in awhile to fill in the pores and bring them back to life.
Dial-A-Maid Cleaning Service in Evanston, Il. 60201 suggests cleaning the insides every one year, because they don't get dirty. Make sure they have a good coating of protective finish and you won't need any shelf paper.
