Shaker style RTA cabinets are among the top choices of many homeowners due to their classic look and functionality. An cost-effective and efficient choice for a kitchen is ready-to-assemble. However, proper maintenance and cleaning are required if they are to shine at best. Let’s get into some excellent tips that will help your cabinets look like new for many years.
Why Choose Shaker Style RTA Cabinets?
Before we go into cleaning and taking care of them, let’s see briefly the popularity of Shaker RTA cabinet. Shaker style is known by sleek lines, recessed panel doors and simplified design. These very popular cabinets can be applied in modern as well as in classical interior decoration of homes.
And on top of all these, Shaker RTA cabinets are also easy to assemble and install for those owners who prefer to save labor costs. These are also durable and long-lasting ones that will serve you for a long time if cared for properly.
So now that we know their worth, let’s get into how you can take proper care of them.
Shaker RTA Cabinet Maintenance Tips
Maintaining the Shaker RTA cabinet does not require any more hassle than other cabinets, but some good habits will make a huge difference. The maintenance is essential to the beauty of the cabinets while leading to a longer life span. Here is what one needs to do.
1. Clean Up on Surfaces Regularly
Dust and dirt may only have the chance to collect on your cabinets if you live in the kitchen. Habituate yourself to dust your cabinet surfaces weekly using a soft microfiber cloth to prevent dust from settling into corners, which would later become hard to remove.
2. Loose Hardware
Also, due to time, the hardware mounted on Shaker RTA cabinets, including knobs, handles, and hinges, can lose grip. Make it a routine for yourself to check your cabinet hardware, tightening any loose screws. It will avoid door misalignment and go on using your cabinets much longer.
3. Avoid Overloading Your Shelves
Although Shaker RTA cabinets are mighty tough, overloading the shelves can cause them to sag or even crack. Use cabinet organizers to guarantee that weight is distributed evenly, and avoid stacking heavy items directly on top of the shelves. Simple actions such as these will go a long way toward preserving the structural integrity of your cabinets.
Cleaning Your Shaker Style RTA Cabinets
Cleaning Shaker RTA cabinets requires maintenance regularly to ensure they remain attractive. Even though they are flat-panel cabinets, poor cleaning can mess up the finishing. Here is how to clean your cabinetry without actually marring it.
1. Gentle Cleaners
Avoid using harsh chemicals, abrasive scrubbers, or bleach products when you clean your cabinets. The harsh chemicals, abrasive scrubbers, and bleach products could damage the finish, cause discoloration, and make it look rough. It is safe to clean them with a gentle cleaning solution of mild dish soap and warm water. Most finishes, both hoodooed and wood-framed cabinets, can tolerate this combination.
2. Spot Clean Stains Immediately
Spills are inevitable and kitchens can be filthy. For food or liquid that spills on your cabinets, cleanup immediately. Do not let stains stay; they will probably result in marks hard to take away. Most of the stains you can work with a damp cloth, but tough stains might require your mild soap solution.
3. Stop Excessive Moisture
The worst enemies of wood and wood-like finishes are probably moisture. When cleaning your Shaker RTA cabinets, make sure your cloth is damp not wet. So much water could seep into the joints of your cabinets and cause warping or damage. When you are done wiping them with a damp cloth, dry the cabinets right away with a clean cloth. That way, any moisture that was used in cleaning will evaporate.
Deep Cleaning Shaker RTA Cabinets
Alongside regular wiping of your cabinets, you should periodically deep clean the cabinet at least once or twice a year. Such a process removes all types of accumulated grease, dust, or grime that regular wiping might miss. Here’s how to deep clean your Shaker RTA cabinets effectively. That will be discussed in detail. Step 1: Remove All Contents
1. Remove All Contents
Clear all contents from the cabinets before you deep clean them. You will then be able to clean every surface of every part of the cabinet and could easily get to all the tucked away spaces.
2. Clean Inside the Cabinets
Clean the inside of the cabinets with your mild soap solution. Be sure to pay special attention to the corners as they tend to accumulate dust and crumbs. Remove all cabinet organizers or drawer inserts, clean them by themselves thoroughly, and dry before you return them.
3. Clean Grease Build-Up
Grease can form on cabinets next to the stove if not cleaned daily. A homemade degreaser can be made by mixing equal parts water and vinegar for greasy spots. Spray the mixture on the greasy spot, let it sit a few minutes, and buff out the greasiness with a damp cloth. Do not scrub too hard as you do not want to ruin the finish.
Protecting Your Shaker RTA Cabinets
Prevention is better than cure, but most importantly, when your cabinets are concerned for damage. Here are a few tips on how to preserve your Shaker RTA cabinets from the usual wear and tear at home.
1. Use Cabinet Liners
Cabinet liners can protect your shelves from scratching and spillage. It also makes cleaning easier as you can take off the liner and clean it instead of scrubbing the shelves.
2. Cabinet Organizers
The cabinet organizers are going to help in making sure that everything gets stored in its proper place and helps prevent clutter in your kitchen. The installation of drawer dividers, spice racks, and other pot organizers can help prevent the movement of things and rubbing against the cabinet doors and shelves.
3. Gentle Opening and Closing
Slamming cabinet doors or drawers might damage the hinges over a period of time or the doors might go out of alignment. Use soft-close features where available; otherwise encourage family members to handle the cabinets with care. Your cabinets will last longer if you do this.
4. Prevent Cabinets from Heat
Heat can warp or even fade the finish on your cabinets. Avoid direct installation of appliances like toasters or coffee makers under your cabinets. If you have to install them near, ensure you take proper ventilation measures so that no heat damage occurs in that area.
Precautions When Caring for the Finish of Framed Cabinets
Many Shaker RTA cabinets have framed construction, adding added durability and support to the cabinet structure. Framed cabinets require care slightly different from their frameless counterpart. If not cleaned properly, dust, dirt, and grease collect along the edges of the frame. Make sure to follow these extra steps with framed cabinets.
- Clean the frame edges: Brush out the edges of the frame or sweep them clean with a soft cloth where dirt tends to collect.
- Check the joints: Regularly check the joints between the door and the frame for proper security and gaps.
Conclusion
Maintaining and cleaning your Shaker RTA cabinets is a simple procedure. If you are led through simple tips you can keep your kitchen cabinets looking as good as new for years. Clean your cabinets regularly, avoid harsh chemicals, and protect them with preventive measures from damage. Regardless of whether you have framed or frameless designs, if you take the right care, then their beauty and functionality will remain intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How often should I clean my Shaker RTA Cabinets?
A. Wipe your cabinets down on a weekly basis to keep the dust and grime at bay, but deep clean them at least twice a year.
Q. What are the best cleaning products for Shaker RTA cabinets?
A. Cleaning Warm water, milder dish soap, and no abrasive scrubbers or harsh chemicals that could not harm the finish.
Q. How to avoid scratching and potentially damaging your cabinets?
A. Use cabinet liners and organizers to avoid overloading shelves and prevent scratched surfaces and spills.
Q. Can I use vinegar as a cleaner on greasy spots on Shaker RTA cabinets?
A. YES. Use equal parts of water and vinegar to clean grease spots without stripping the finish.
Q. How do I keep the finish on framed Shaker cabinets?
A. Regular cleaning of the frames and inspection of joints for security with a soft brush for dust and avoidance of excess moisture.