Cleaning yourkitchen cabinetsrids them of the dirt, dust, andsplatters of greasethat collect on the surfaces every day.

If left uncleaned, this residue sticks to cabinet surfaces like a tacky glue that becomes difficult to remove.

In addition, bacteria likeSalmonellacan easily contaminate cabinet handles and knobs.

woman putting jars into cabinets

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

Learn how to quickly clean your kitchen cabinets to remove those tough messes.

Cabinets need a deeper cleaning every few weeks.

Tackle one cabinet at a time to make it easier and less overwhelming.

how to clean kitchen cabinets

The Spruce

Work From the Top Down

Begin at the top and work your way down each cabinet.

Remember to clean the edges and sides of your cabinets.

Wipe Off the Cleaner

Rinse thoroughly with another clean cloth, before drying with a final cloth.

supplies for cleaning cabinets

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

Water left sitting on your cabinets can discolor and damage them.

Wipe Handles, Knobs, and Pulls

Clean cabinet hardware.

Empty Each Cabinet

Start at the top.

woman dipping rag into soapy water

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

Beginning with the highest cabinet, empty the contents andremove any torn or discolored shelf lining.

Vacuum the cabinets to get rid of crumbs and residue before wiping them down.

Rinse With a Damp Cloth

Rinse with another clean damp cloth.

woman beginning at the top of her cabinets

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

Wipe dry with an additional cloth to double-check no standing water is left to damage the cabinet surfaces.

Throw out any items that have expired.

Dry items thoroughly before replacing them in the cabinets.

woman drying off cabinets with a dry rag

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

Leave the cabinets open for one to two hours to fully dry before replacing the contents of the cabinet.

It’s possible you didn’t rinse thoroughly enough if your cabinets are still sticky after cleaning.

Cleaning wood cabinets with vinegar can strip the finish due to its acidic properties.

woman spraying cleaner onto a cloth

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

woman using a toothbrush to scrub hardware

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

using baking soda to clean grease off cabinets

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

woman emptying out cabinets

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

woman wiping down cabinet interior

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

woman wiping down interior of the cabinets

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

woman wiping outside of jars

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

woman drying off cabinets

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu