How to care for your kitchen cabinets

Kitchen cabinet doors have a significant impact on the appearance of the entire kitchen, and it is very important to keep the doors in the best shape possible to give your kitchen a well-maintained and polished feel. Most are fabricated from wood or wood products, because of the look and durability of wood cabinets has been a standard design element in kitchens for many years. Those made from wood are also easy to maintain. Even the best materials begin to show their age over time, so it’s vital to keep them in good repair and functioning properly.

The kitchen is typically the heart of the home, a location that sees considerable activity, so naturally accidents are bound to happen. Cabinets in the kitchen are subjected to a constant series of openings and closings, especially if there are children about searching for snacks, so it is no wonder that they experience their fair share of wear and tear. Therefore, it is not at all surprising to discover scratches and chips on the cabinet doors from time to time.

Keeping your kitchen interior wood doors clean and in proper working order will prolong their life and prevent the expense of having to replace them because they are falling apart. Cleaning your them regularly with a mild detergent or wood cleaning product can prevent the accumulation of grease and dust that can build up into a sticky mess over time, requiring an extraordinary amount of elbow grease to remove. Unsightly scratches and small chips can be diminished in appearance by using wax pencils available in hardware stores. These wax pencils can be purchased to match the color of the wood of the cabinets. If any handles or knobs are loose, they should be tightened with a screwdriver. If any are broken, they should be replaced, since they can be not only unsightly, but hazardous as well. Injuries can occur by brushing up against a sharp corner of a broken knob or handle. Cabinet door hinges should be checked regularly for signs of wear, especially if the door is not closing properly.  The hinges may be tightened with a screwdriver, and may be replaced if they are excessively worn.  These small steps can allow your cabinet doors to maintain their functionality and appearance over many years.

Unfortunately, there are occasions when damage to the cabinet door is severe. Contact a carpenter or woodworker, and find out if it can be satisfactorily repaired.  For large chips or cracks in the door, replacing the entire door might also be considered. More expensive than repairs, and depending on the cabinets’ age, it might be difficult to locate a cabinet door that matches exactly in style and finish.  Perhaps the entire kitchen could use a facelift, there are companies that will reface all of the cabinetry, replacing the doors and laminating the cupboards.