How to Keep Your White Kitchen White

Becky Dietrich, Houzz Contributor

White kitchens bring a clean, light feel to any home, but many homeowners express concern about how to keep those cabinets looking pristine. In reality, the best way to maintain that sparkle is to never use your kitchen, but if you insist on actually cooking, you are likely to encounter yellowing cabinets, accumulations of grease, and stained and marred sinks and countertops. What fun.

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The truth is, you don’t need to be nuts to own an all-white kitchen. Just a little diligent, and armed with the tips below.

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Why do those sparkling white cabinets start to yellow? The first culprit is exposure to direct sunlight, which tends to jaundice or fade painted wood (and laminated surfaces). You should consider draperies, blinds or window film to shield your cabinets from direct sunlight.

The second culprit is actually using your cooktop. As soon as you start cooking, those mouthwatering aromas rise into the air in the form of microscopic food or grease particles, and since they have to land somewhere, why not on your white cabinets? The result? Cabinets that turn yellow.

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To prevent this, you can’t let grease accumulate on your cabinets. As soon as you begin boiling, broiling or deep-frying, turn on the exhaust fan or range hood to filter out at least some of those minuscule bits before they reach the surrounding surfaces.

Writer Lorna Hordos suggests removing a yellow tinge this way: Wash your cupboards with a fizzy mixture of 1 cup vinegar, 2 cups warm water and 1 tablespoon baking soda. To keep cabinets white, give them a monthly “bath” with a solution of warm water and a grease-busting dish soap.

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Then there is the inevitable muck and grime that accumulate from oil and grease splatters. The folks at Kemper Distinctive Cabinetry remind you to not use abrasive cleansers or scouring pads on painted cabinets, as they can scratch or dull the finish. A soft cotton cloth dampened with warm water is usually sufficient.

If more thorough cleansing is required, use a solution of mild dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water. After cleaning, wipe all surfaces with a clean, damp cloth. Dry immediately using another soft, clean cloth.

White sinks take approximately five minutes to look yucky, but you can brighten them and remove stains with common household bleach. Experts suggest laying paper towels flat across the bottom of the sink and wetting them with bleach. This prevents the bleach from running straight down the drain. Leave the paper towels in place for half an hour to allow the bleach to do its job, then remove them and rinse the sink thoroughly with warm water.

For a more natural solution, fill the sink with club soda and lemon juice and let this mixture lift the stains as it soaks in. After you empty the sink, apply straight lemon juice directly to any stubborn stains.

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White tiles with white grout? Really? Here’s the deal: The cleaner your white tiles, the grubbier the grout will appear, so this is an important part of cleaning your white kitchen. Writer Tami Mason offers this remedy: Combine baking soda and vinegar with water to create a paste. Pour a little vinegar into a spray bottle. Apply the paste to the grout and then spray a light coat of vinegar onto the paste. Scrub with a scouring pad or toothbrush and rinse thoroughly.

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Plastic laminate has gone from being the poor stepchild of kitchen design to a great and economical choice. But it can still stain, especially if it is white. Hordos suggests this process to clean laminate stains:

1. Mix a mild household detergent with baking soda to create a firm paste. You should be able to achieve the right consistency with approximately 1 part detergent per 3 parts baking soda.

2. Apply the baking soda solution directly to the stain and scrub with a firm-bristled nylon brush. Stop after about 20 strong brushstrokes to avoid weakening the laminate finish.

3. Rinse the countertop with a damp cloth. Laminate is particularly sensitive to excess moisture, so don’t soak the cloth. Use water to wipe away the baking soda and stain residue, and then buff the counter dry.

Stains show up easily on white marble or granite counters. Prevention is the best cure, so blot spills immediately, before they penetrate or dry on the surface. If that is not convenient, you can make stains disappear with a solution of hydrogen peroxide with a few scant drops of ammonia added.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens