Cleaning Older Cabinets

Updated on October 03, 2009
D.H. asks from Hartford, WI
18 answers

We are moving into a home that was built in the 70's. The kichen cabinets are CAKED with 30+ years of grime. Especially where you grab the cabinet to open it. They are thick with "stuff" on them!!! Any ideas to get that off? I tried an SOS pad and sprayed them with wood cleaner but it still is there!

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L.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

Before you try anything that sounds toxic, first try baking soda, water, and elbow grease. Use a plastic scrubbie.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Lincoln on

There is a cleaner called Awesome. You can find it at Dollar General or Dollar Tree. It is in a spray bottle and it is yellow. It is a great degreaser and cleans just about anything. The only thing I would be cafeful of it might take off the finish off the cabinets. I have cleaned houses for 14 years and I swear by this stuff. The other thing would be depending on the finish of the cabinets would be Mr Clean Magic Erasers too.

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K.S.

answers from Green Bay on

I would spray them with Shaklee's Basic H2, let it sit for 5 minutes, then use Shaklee's Scour Off. Scour off is not abrasive, but works soooo well. I cleaned the inside of my oven this way and it was almost effortless!

www.shaklee.net/K.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

I am guessing you might need some type of degreaser or I was even thinking maybe a magic eraser? Seems to work on everything but I believe it has mild bleach in it.

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E.B.

answers from Duluth on

There is a cleaner/degreaser called Crud Remover that works on greasy kitchen residue.

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V.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

Try Orange Glo. The citrus in it will cut thru the greasy finger marks on the opening.
V.

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L.H.

answers from Milwaukee on

Try goo gone/goof off or possibly the stuff mechanics use to remove greese from your hands may work.

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J.M.

answers from Sheboygan on

I used a product called Krud Kutter to clean my cabinets when we moved into our house. We were in a very similar situation - the previous owners had lived here for 40+ years and had not been able to clean the cabinets in the last 10 or so years that they had lived here. It works great. I got it at Menards. Make sure to read the label carefully before use.
Good luck!

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J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

l

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J.B.

answers from Madison on

TSP...

there is a box of stuff called called TSP (trisodium phosphate) that you can get a home depot, ace, etc.

Isn't very expensive...just follow the directions and it should work for you.

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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

We had to do the same exact project and used a product called KRUD KUTTER that we bought at home depot. We had a use a little elbow grease, but our cabinets look great. It wipes the grease and grim right off.

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B.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

There is a cleaner that I use for cleaning the stove its called AWESOME I think? I can only find it at the dollar store. It really does the trick on the stuck on grime. Sometimes I need to apply it more than once but I usually let it sit for a few mins if it did not all come off after the first application. I would def reccomend trying it. Its kinda strong... so if you are a "green" household, it may not be for you. Try to use gloves and the hottest water you can stand.

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T.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

I would try some dawn dishsoap it sounds like grease. Good Luck

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J.L.

answers from Davenport on

goo gone seems to work well. or u could go to the "how clean is your house website for suggestions. BBC i think is the channel. Hey do mind me asking how your family was put together? We've talked about adopting after our 3 kids. Did you go through foster care, or private adoption? How has it worked out?

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L.C.

answers from Saginaw on

Paint scraper. You need to get the crud off before you can clean the cabinets, and it sounds like it's ground-in oil and dirt. Mmmmmm...

If the cabinets are wood, you can even sand them, using a large grit paper to begin, getting smoother and smoother over three or four passes. I used a sander to get roofing tar off our hardwood floors (it was used to glue tiles on, if you can imagine!) and it gummed up the first sheets of paper well, but it came off fast -and completely.

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D.L.

answers from Rapid City on

D. ...
"Goo Be Gone" is AWESOME!!! You can get it at WalMart, KMart, Lowe's, Menard's and Home Depot places. It will take whatever grime, goo-ey mess there is off in no time. I use it on my stove back splash and the wall behind all the time along with the kitchen cabinets. It even takes tar off of your car bumpers too!!! You can't go wrong with this stuff.

Best of luck,
D.

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K.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

wd/40 works great...or try scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner..both do a great job...good luck

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C.L.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

I didn't read the responses, but as I read this there was a magic eraser commercial on. too perfect. Stock up. they sell them in bulk at costco/sam's club but I find Hy-Vee or store brands work just as well and are quite cheaper. I use them to clean the "grime" off my cabinets.

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