Wooden cabinets are a common part of any home, whether they’re found in the kitchen or bedroom. They look great, but they can also get dirty pretty easily, and it’s not uncommon to find some sort of sticky residue on them. Luckily, removing the residue is easy, as long as you use the right approach.
You can remove sticky residue from wooden cabinets using cleaning products that break down grease, such as white vinegar, dishwashing soap, baking soda, or even toothpaste. Avoid using plain water, alcohol, or ammonia-based products. These can cause damage to the wood.
Let’s take a closer look at how to effectively remove and prevent sticky residue on your wooden cabinets. That way, you can keep your cabinets in tip-top shape for as long as possible.
What Causes Wooden Cabinets to Become Sticky?
Sticky cabinets aren’t unusual, especially if they’re located in the kitchen. That’s because the main culprit of sticky wooden cabinets is cooking. For example, if you use oil in a frying pan, it’s likely to splash on your cabinets.
Cleaning your cabinets after each cooking session can seem like a chore. However, the more often you clean the grease away, the less scrubbing you’ll need to do to get the cabinets clean.
It’s also possible to experience sticky wooden cabinets if you don’t wipe them efficiently or if the humidity in the room is too high. So, to prevent sticky residue, make sure to use the correct cleaning techniques and ventilate the house when you’re cooking.
What Are the Best Products for Cleaning Sticky Residue?
You can try several cleaning combinations to clear sticky residue from wooden cabinets. You may need to try a few to see which one works best for you.
White Vinegar and Hot Water
White vinegar is a product that many people turn to for stripping grease and dirt away from various parts of the home. The natural ingredients are highly acidic, which makes them great for degreasing.
Simply mix the white vinegar (on Amazon) with hot water (use a one to one mix) and add it to a spray bottle. Spritz the combination onto the sticky surface and wipe clean with a wet cloth.
Dishwashing Liquid
Dishwashing liquid is another household cleaning product that can do more than what it says on the packaging. Its ingredients are highly effective for cutting through grease, which also makes it ideal for removing sticky residue.
Add a few drops of warm water to utilize this product, and soak a sponge with the solution. Scrub the affected area until clean and wipe again with a clean wet cloth.
Baking Soda and Lemon
Baking soda and lemon are incredible cleaning products, and they’re effective at removing thick layers of grease.
Simply add one part baking soda to two parts hot water and add a drop of lemon juice. Give the solution a good mix and add it to a spray bottle.
Spray the affected area with the robust solution and let it sit for a few minutes. Wipe the residue and product away with a wet cloth to remove the stickiness.
Citrus Cleaners
Citrus is another food product that’s great at removing greasy marks. Citrus oil is a natural degreaser. Hence, add cirtrus oil or use a multipurpose citrus product to the affected area and remove the residue with a wet cloth.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is another product that offers amazing degreasing benefits. To make it more effective, it’s recommended to use baking soda too.
Combine one cup of water with a teaspoon of toothpaste and two tablespoons of baking soda. This solution can be spread and wiped away with a damp cloth.
Which Products Shouldn’t Be Used on Wooden Cabinets?
Knowing what products work to break down sticky residue on wooden cabinets is ideal for resolving the solution. Furthermore, knowing what products to avoid will ensure you don’t accidentally make the issue even worse.
It’s best to avoid using plain water on the wood as it can damage the wood by causing it to swell. Plain water also won’t be effective enough to remove dirt.
Alcohol or ammonia-based products also should be avoided as these harsh ingredients can strip the finish from the wood.
It’s a smart idea to always use a damp cloth when wiping your wooden cabinets. A dry cloth might just push the cleaning product around rather than wipe it away effectively.
The cloth should be moderately damp — damp enough to mop up your product and the grease, but no so wet that it drips and makes a mess.
How to Prevent Sticky Build-Up on Your Wooden Cabinets
Now that you know how to get rid of sticky residue on your wooden cabinets, let’s take a look at how to prevent it in the first place. Doing so is simple and fuss-free with the right advice.
Clean The Cabinets Frequently
Regular cleaning of the wooden cabinets, using the recommended solutions, will prevent excess build-up. The more often you clean the cabinets, the easier they will be to maintain.
Using the recommended products with a damp cloth is also essential if you want to make the most use of your cleaning time. It’s worthwhile investing in the right products as it will maximize the efficacy of your grease-busting cleaning routine.
Furthermore, regular cleaning of the rest of the space will also help reduce grease build-up. For instance, cleaning other parts of the room and putting things back when they’re not in use will help to keep the space as clean and hygienic as possible.
Wipe Up Spills Right After They Happen
Should you spill or drop something, it’s important to wipe it up straight away. Leaving dirt or bacteria for too long can easily grease build-up. Plus, it will be much more challenging to clean up later on.
Leaving spills on the floor or cabinets can cause bacteria to spread, which is not hygienic or safe. The sooner you wipe up a spill after it happens, the better.
Wiping up spills should involve using the right products. For example, if you drop sauce on the cabinet, using plain water won’t be enough to remove the grease. Hence, use the recommended solutions to maximize the efficacy of the cleaning.
Wash Your Hands After Cooking or Baking
Dirty and greasy hands could be a cause of your sticky cabinets. If you don’t wash your hands before or during cooking, you can easily spread germs and grease.
Therefore, before you begin cooking, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. When you get dirty and greasy hands during cooking, wash and wipe them before you touch the cabinets. This will prevent grease build-up and keep your space as clean as possible.