How to Clean Laminate Cabinets

Co-authored by Ashley Matuska

Last Updated: April 28, 2021 Approved

Laminate cabinets are sleek, practical, and economical, making them a popular choice for many kitchens. Kitchen cabinets are known for becoming layered with grease, grime, and food splatters, but fortunately, laminate cabinets are easy to clean. By performing some general cleaning, removing grease and grime, and scrubbing stubborn stains, you can keep your laminate cabinets looking great.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Performing General Cleaning

1
Dust. Oil and grease particles settle on all the surfaces in your kitchen--including your cabinets--and then attract dust. You can reduce the need for a deeper cleaning by dusting your cabinets with a lint-free cloth or duster 1-3 times per week.^{[1]
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2
Wash with mild dish soap. Mix 1 Tablespoon (14.7 ml) of dish soap with 1 quart (946 ml) of warm water. Soak a clean washcloth in the water for 3-5 minutes and wring it out. Then use the damp wash cloth to wipe down your cabinets.
- Wipe down both the front and back of the cabinet doors.
- Pay careful attention to handles and hinges.
- In a busy kitchen, cabinets may need to be wiped daily. In less used kitchens, cabinets may only need to be wiped down once per week.
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3
Rinse with warm water. After you have finished wiping your cabinets down with soap and warm water, fill a bowl with clear warm water. Then use a clean washcloth to wipe your cabinets down again, rinsing off any remaining detergent.^{[2]
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Dry with a soft cloth. Excess moisture can damage your laminate cabinets. Use a soft cloth or towel to carefully dry your laminate cabinets. Do not allow them to simply air dry.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Grease and Grime

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Mix vinegar and water. If your cabinets have accumulated a layer of grease and grime, you may need to perform a deeper cleaning. Mix together 1 cup (240 ml) of white vinegar with 2 cups (480 ml) of warm water. Soak a clean washcloth in this solution for 3-5 minutes and wring it out. Use this washcloth to wipe the grease from your cabinets.^{[4]
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Go back over sticky spots with straight vinegar. If there are any greasy or sticky spots remaining after you have wiped the cabinets down, pour a dab of straight white vinegar onto a washcloth and wipe down these locations again.^{[5]
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- You can also place white vinegar in a spray bottle and mist sticky spots.
3
Rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth. Fill a bowl or bucket with clean warm water. Dip a clean washcloth into the water and wipe down your cabinets to rinse away any remaining vinegar. Dry your cabinets with a soft towel.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Scrubbing Stubborn Stains

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Create a paste from vinegar and baking soda. Mix together 1 Tablespoon (14.7 ml) of baking soda with 1 Tablespoon (14.7 ml) of vinegar to make a thick paste. (Add a bit more more liquid or powder as needed to create a consistency similar to peanut butter). Grab a clean wash cloth, rinse it with warm water, and wring out completely. Then use your washcloth to pick up some of the paste.^{[6]
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Apply this paste to stubborn stains. Dab the paste onto any location with stuck on food or stains. Allow the paste to sit for 3-5 minutes. Then scrub these spots using a soft-bristle brush until the food/stains are gone.^{[7]
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- If you do not have a soft-bristled brush, you can use a damp washcloth or the textured side of a kitchen sponge.
3
Rinse with warm water and dry. Wipe down any places where paste was applied with a clean washcloth and warm water. Be sure to remove any remaining paste. Dry using a soft cloth or towel.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I make my laminate cabinets shine?

Ashley Matuska
Professional Cleaner
Ashley Matuska is a Professional Cleaner at the Founder and Owner of Dashing Maids in Denver, Colorado. Ashley has over seven years of experience in the cleaning industry. She and her team specialize in offering sustainable deep cleaning and maintenance cleaning services.

Ashley Matuska

Professional Cleaner

Expert Answer

Moisture and grease in the air cause dust to stick to everything in your kitchen. Start by dusting up high to get the cobwebs on the tops of the cabinets and corners, then wipe down the cabinet doors.
Question

Can I use a kitchen cabinet polish to shine white laminate cabinets?

Milesjmiles

Community Answer

Yes it should be okay, depending on what is in the cleanser. Make sure the cleasner does not have any solvents that could cause de-lamination or damage.
Question

Yellowed laminate kitchen cabinet. What to use to bring it back to white?

Hongyue Wang

Community Answer

Mix one cup of baking soda with a half cup of water to make a paste. Use brush scrub into the paste. Then scrub the yellowed spot gently.