Now that spring is approaching in the Hudson Valley, it is time to think about spring cleaning. What better place to start than in the kitchen? This annual task may seem daunting, but N-Hance Wood Renewal of the Mid-Hudson Valley and Northern Westchester, who specializes in the refinishing of hardwood floors and kitchen cabinets, has set out to help educate the consumers in our area how they can get their kitchen cabinets looking like new again. N-Hance cares about our community and we have been making cabinets look like new for 11 years across the country. Over the three years we have been operating in the Hudson Valley region of New York, how to clean cabinets is the most common question we get.

“Your kitchen is the heart of the home. The cabinets are the most visual part of your kitchen, and when they look shabby, it tends to make your entire kitchen look shabby,” said Trevor Kaftan, owner of N-Hance Wood Renewal of the Mid-Hudson Valley. “Often, it only takes a little cleaning to give them a fresh look. Just the other day we made a kitchen look like new in Valhalla, near White Plains, in 2 days.”

N-Hance of the Mid-Hudson Valley offers the following do-it-yourself techniques that will help keep kitchen cabinets in their best condition:

For regular dusting, dampen a microfiber cloth and lightly wipe the cabinet door.

Use the power of soaking to remove built-up finger oils and grease. Use water/dishsoap combination and allow it to sit on the surface for about 30-60 seconds and then wipe off. If the build up is heavy, it could take a long time to break it down – but try to avoid scrubbing with harsh sponges as you will likely end up removing the finish and color coat.

If you need to clean cabinet hardware, remove them from cabinet doors and drawers in order to protect wood surfaces from harsh chemicals.

In fact, avoid harsh chemicals and degreasors completely. Many times, when people feel they need these products the wood is so worn that the cleaning products end up absorbing into bare wood and change the color permanently.
For tougher buildup on the kitchen cabinets, N-Hance sells a cabinet cleaner that is a natural product that will clean wood cabinets with ease. You can easily spray it on and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. To order, call us toll-free at (888) 474-8442.

To keep your cabinets from getting dirty or worn, avoid these damaging elements:

Water and Grease: Water and grease may seem harmless, but over time they can eventually break down the protective coating and the finish may start flaking away from the wood surface. Never allow water to stay on your cabinets. Quickly remove it with a towel by blotting, not wiping.

Damp Towels: Avoid draping a damp towel over your cabinet doors. This traps the moisture and will eventually penetrate through the finish. Flaking and cracking will most certainly happen if towels are not removed.

Steam: Steam from the dishwasher or shower will also permeate through a finish, resulting in cracking, discoloration and peeling. To help prevent steam damage, wipe down wet surfaces and clean regularly with N-Hance Cabinet Cleaner.

If it turns out that your cabinets need more than a cleaning, N-Hance is here to help! You can contact us for a FREE in-home estimate at (888) 474-8442, or visit our webpage at www.nhance.com/dutchess for more information.