How to Clean Laminate Cabinets to Remove Grease and Grime

Laminate cabinets are popular for good reason: they’re budget-friendly, durable, and fairly easy to maintain. But using the wrong products (or over-scrubbing the surface) can result in scratches, loosened laminate, and a dull finish. To keep your cabinets looking new, we chatted with two cleaning experts who shared their go-to laminate cleaning methods and the common mistakes to avoid.

How Often to Clean Laminate Cabinets

Laminate cabinets don’t require daily maintenance, but a quick clean removes pesky grease spots before they have a chance to fester. ​Ryan Knoll, cleaning expert and owner of Tidy Casa, recommends thoroughly cleaning laminate cabinets every two to four weeks, but notes that all homes are different. "If you're cooking with a lot of oils that like to splash on the cabinets, we'll want to step up the cleaning cadence," he says.

Marisol Rivera, professional cleaner at Sparkly Maid Austin, says to go the extra mile and clean the tops of your upper cabinets, the hinges, and any other areas that may develop sticky spots every three to four months.

How to Clean Laminate Cabinets with Soap

The best (and safest) method for cleaning laminate cabinets is also the easiest—simply wipe them down with soap and water. Our experts share how they go about the process:

1. Using a dry duster, dust the surface of your laminate cabinets. "This will keep any dirt from getting rubbed in," Knoll says.
2. Lightly wet a microfiber cloth with warm water, being careful not to over-soak it.
3. Add a few drops of a mild dish soap to the same cloth.
4. Using this microfiber cloth, wipe the surface of the cabinets in the direction of the grain. Rivera says this will help prevent scratches.
5. Wet a second microfiber cloth, ensuring it is damp and not oversaturated with water.
6. Wipe the cabinets in the same direction as earlier with the second microfiber cloth. This will help remove any leftover soap residue, Knoll shares.
7. Use a soft towel to gently dry the cabinet. Make sure you get all areas of the cabinet, including the seams and edges (to prevent bubbling).

Related Stories

How to Paint Laminate Cabinets the Right Way, According to Experts

8 Ways to Make Outdated Wood Cabinets Look Fresh and Stylish Again

How to Clean Laminate Cabinets with Vinegar

Knoll recommends using vinegar sparingly when cleaning laminate cabinets. "It is a strong acid, so we don't want it to pool around seams or edges," Knoll adds. Instead of using vinegar as a weekly or monthly cleaning solution, try this sparingly when your cabinets are extra greasy:

1. Mix equal parts vinegar and water into an empty spray bottle.
2. Lightly spray the mixture onto a clean microfiber cloth.
3. Gently wipe down the laminate cabinets with the vinegar-water solution.
4. Lightly dampen another microfiber cloth with water (do not saturate).
5. Wipe down the cabinets again with the damp microfiber cloth.
6. Using a clean, soft towel, dry the cabinets immediately. There should be no moisture on the surface when you’re done.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

To avoid ruining laminate cabinets, you’ll want to be particularly mindful of how you clean them. "Laminate doesn't fail because it wasn't cleaned," Knoll says. "Laminate fails because it was cleaned the wrong way." These are the mistakes our cleaning experts see regularly:

• Using anything abrasive: Rivera recommends avoiding using anything abrasive that could potentially scratch the laminate. This includes cleaning solutions such as bleach and tile cleaner, as well as tools like steel wool or scrubbing pads.
• Spraying cleaner directly on the cabinets: "Refrain from spraying any type of cleaning agents directly onto the cabinets or using steam cleaners because excessive moisture and heat can create bubbling, peeling, or swelling in both the laminate and the underlying board," Rivera says.
• Getting the surface too wet: When you get the laminate too wet, the moisture can get under the surface, which can cause the cabinet to warp or bubble, says Knoll.
• Trying to fix scratches with cleaning: Once you’ve scratched the top layer of laminate, Knoll says you can’t clean your way out of it. That’s why it’s important to clean the surface gently (and with products that work with the material) to avoid damage.