Contamination of the kitchen unit
Regular cooking leads to greasy stains appearing on kitchen furniture.
Most often, surfaces near the stove and sink are contaminated with grease. Where food is prepared, it is difficult to avoid grease splashes and drips. As a result, the work surface and cabinets become dirty. If you do not wash off greasy stains in time, they will turn into greasy stains that cannot be removed without special means.
After each cooking, housewives clean the work surface and some kitchen cabinets. However, sometimes there is only enough time and effort to wipe the surface with a damp cloth. This is not always enough. Gradually, dirt will accumulate, dust will stick to greasy stains, and more thorough cleaning will be required.
Important ! It is recommended to thoroughly clean your kitchen unit at least once a week.
When removing grease stains, it is important to choose a product that is not only effective, but also gentle on furniture. Depending on the surface of the headset, a suitable cleaning method is selected that will not harm the surface.
Chlorine bleaches or stain removers
Any chlorine-containing detergents will help whiten plastic surfaces. | Photo: tutknow.ru. Such products must be used very carefully and carefully (remember personal protective equipment and try to avoid inhaling vapors). Naturally, we do not take pure bleach or white, but chlorine-containing bleaches or stain removers at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water. Soak the plastic elements in this solution for 10-12 hours, then rinse thoroughly and do not forget to wipe.
Rating of products for removing grease from kitchen furniture
The most common materials from which kitchen furniture is made are chipboard, MDF, plastic and natural wood. Each of them requires a special approach when cleaning.
MDF and chipboard
When cleaning a set of MDF or chipboard, choose gentle cleaning products. If you use aggressive abrasives, the delicate surface may be scratched.
The surfaces in question can be cleaned with substances that the housewife always has:
- glass cleaning composition;
- dishwashing gel;
- liquid soap.
If the above remedies do not help, you can use stronger household chemicals. Before using the cleaner, you should familiarize yourself with its composition.
You cannot clean furniture made of chipboard and MDF with the following types of substances:
- liquids containing alcohol;
- abrasive powders;
- concentrated solvents;
- solutions containing a lot of alkalis and acids.
The most popular cleaning products for cabinets made of MDF and chipboard are:
- “Mr. Muscle";
- Cream "Shumanit";
- "Sillit Beng anti-fat."
After removing grease from a chipboard or MDF cabinet, rinse it with clean water and wipe it dry. This will prevent streaks and maintain gloss.
Advice ! After cleaning veneered MDF, you can treat the surface with a special polish to make it shine.
Natural wood
When cleaning natural wood, be as careful as possible. The material is easy to spoil, and a set made of valuable wood is expensive.
Important ! Use only cleaning products designed specifically for natural wood.
After cleaning, it is advisable to treat the furniture with wax or polish. This way the headset will be protected from dust and soot settling.
When choosing a cleaner for natural wood, make sure that it does not contain acetone or silicone components. After exposure to them, the wood quickly ages and the varnish coating is destroyed. It is recommended to choose sprays and wipes containing beeswax, olive or linseed oil.
Common products for cleaning natural wood furniture:
- “Presto clean” wipes;
- spray "Furniturewaxcleaner";
- "Wood Reviver";
- restorative oil "Danish Oil".
It is not recommended to use the listed products to clean natural wood furniture more than once a month. Using chemicals too frequently can damage the material and make it unattractive.
Plastic
The main advantage of plastic is that it is not afraid of moisture. Therefore, for cleaning you can use liquid products and solutions with the addition of cleaning powders.
However, a kitchen set with a plastic surface may lose color if exposed to the wrong product.
To carefully clean a plastic kitchen, you should not use substances containing:
- solvents and acetone - they provoke tarnishing of the surface;
- aggressive impurities - lead to indelible stains and clouding of the plastic;
- chlorine - discolors facades;
- wax - makes the surface sticky, provokes rapid contamination;
- abrasive particles - scratch the surface.
The listed substances can damage the top layers of plastic. Many of them are toxic and dangerous for children.
Dishwashing and glass cleaners are suitable for cleaning fresh grease stains on plastic. If the stains are old, you will need stronger cleaning products in the form of pastes, gels and sprays.
Effective substances for cleaning plastic kitchens:
- "Mr. Proper";
- "Edelweiss";
- "Sun Klin";
- "Grass Acid Cleaner";
- "Bref"
- Comet.
Advice ! Before using a new cleaner, apply it to an inconspicuous area of the plastic surface. If the color is preserved, you can start cleaning the entire headset.
Friends and enemies of MDF
Before purchasing a batch of cleaning products, we will decide what will suit us and what will not.
You should immediately exclude:
- any alcohol-based cleaning products;
Note! An exception to this rule is ethyl alcohol; it will not damage the protective coating of the MDF set.
- Cleaning old stains with steam works well, but in the case of MDF it’s better to forget about a steam cleaner . Even if the coating is not damaged externally, peeling of the film and other problems may occur in this area in the future;
The steam cleaner is suitable for metal and tiles, but not for delicate MDF
- such folk remedies as vegetable oil, toothpaste, soda (the last 2 are abrasives, so we exclude them). You can make a good cleaning product with your own hands, but this requires special care; more about “traditional medicine” below;
- all substances containing acids, alkalis, sodium and chlorine . Usually on the packaging the manufacturer indicates the area of application of the cleaning product; if the list does not include MDF furniture, then it is better not to take risks.
As for household chemicals, furniture cleaning products are quite suitable; their composition is most often neutral, there are no abrasive particles, so the set will remain intact. If small scratches do occur, polish can help.
Cleaning using traditional methods
When wondering how to remove grease from kitchen furniture, many modern housewives immediately turn their minds over household chemicals. However, at home you can prepare compositions that can easily clean your headset from greasy stains.
Alcohol against grease in the kitchen
You can clean greasy stains from the surface of the kitchen unit using alcohol or vodka. Such products are especially effective for cleaning glossy surfaces.
A solution is prepared for work. Add a tablespoon of alcohol to a liter of water. Using a rag or sponge, apply the composition to the contaminated surface and leave for 30 minutes. Then remove with a damp cloth.
Important ! Vodka can be used for cleaning in its pure form, without diluting it with water.
The solution in question not only removes grease from the surface of furniture, but also disinfects the surface.
Citric acid for all types of pollution
Using citric acid, various stains, including greasy ones, are removed from kitchen cabinets. To prepare the cleaning product, dissolve 15 g of citric acid in a liter of water and add a tablespoon of dishwashing detergent. The resulting liquid is applied to the dirt and wiped with a damp cloth.
Advice ! Citric acid does an excellent job of removing scale in kettles and on plastic and metal products.
A mixture of clay and vinegar
If there is vinegar and clay on the shelf, you don’t have to think about how to clean kitchen furniture from grease at home. These two ingredients make an excellent product that can be used for more than just cleaning furniture.
The gruel obtained by adding a small amount of vinegar to the clay will also remove stains from walls, tiles, pots and even the floor. After cleaning the surface, wash it with warm water.
Important ! Clay in the mixture under consideration acts as an abrasive substance. Therefore, it is important to use clay without pebbles to avoid scratches on the surface of the set.
Essential oils for cleansing and pleasant smell
When deciding how to clean wooden furniture in the kitchen from grease and dirt, remember that natural wood is sensitive to various types of cleaning agents and requires a delicate approach. Essential oils are perfect for treating wood.
When using eucalyptus or spruce essential oil, the tree is carefully cleansed of contaminants. At the same time, the room is filled with a pleasant smell.
To prepare a solution for cleaning wooden furniture, add 4-5 drops of oil to a liter of water. The resulting product is applied to the surface of the headset using a sponge.
To enhance the effect of essential oils, you can use vodka and vinegar instead of water. To do this, take half a glass of vinegar and half a glass of vodka. Add 5 drops of eucalyptus and a teaspoon of orange oil to them. The solution is mixed and poured into a spray bottle. Apply the product to greasy stains and leave for 20 minutes. Then wash it off with a damp cloth.
This way you can remove stains from wooden and plastic surfaces and deal with limescale deposits on ceramic and metal elements.
Baking soda and sea salt
Surfaces that are not afraid of abrasive compounds can be thoroughly cleaned of grease with sea salt and baking soda.
Algorithm for cleaning furniture with soda and salt:
- soften the fat on the headset by walking over the surface with a sponge dipped in hot water;
- grind 100 g of sea salt in a coffee grinder;
- add baking soda (100 g) to the salt;
- dilute the mixture with water to obtain a thick mass;
- apply the product to a sponge and treat contaminated areas;
- wait 15-20 minutes;
- Wash the surface thoroughly with cold water.
Advice ! Before cleaning the kitchen unit from grease with salt and soda, test the product on an inconspicuous area. If after 15 minutes no scratches appear on the panel, you can clean the remaining surfaces.
Laundry soap and soda
Experienced housewives clean grease in the kitchen with soda and laundry soap. This product is suitable for plastic kitchen sets.
The soap is grated into shavings. Warm water is added to it and the solution is infused until it becomes cloudy. Next, the resulting solution is spread over the contaminated surface with a sponge. Apply a small amount of soda on top and wipe off the grease. Next, the surface is washed with water.
Important ! For glossy and varnish coatings, it is better not to use soap and soda, as soda can leave scratches on the surface.
Ammonia
Almost all types of surfaces can be cleaned with a solution of ammonia. For 1 liter of water take 10 ml of ammonia. The solution is mixed and poured into a spray bottle.
The resulting product is evenly sprayed onto the contaminated surface. After application, the solution with ammonia is not washed off, simply wiped with a soft cloth.
Hydrogen peroxide
For kitchen cabinets, use a solution with hydrogen peroxide. Take 10 drops of peroxide per liter of water and add 1 tbsp to enhance the cleaning effect. spoon of salt.
To clean, apply the solution to contaminated areas and leave for 20 minutes. Then the cabinets are wiped with a soft cloth.
Important ! Hydrogen peroxide can lighten the surface of kitchen furniture, so it is better not to use it for dark furniture.
Mustard powder
Plastic surfaces of kitchen units, ceramic and metal elements can be easily cleaned with mustard powder. Apply it to a damp sponge and wipe off greasy stains.
After removing the stains, the surface is thoroughly washed to remove traces of mustard. Next, the furniture is wiped with a dry cloth.
Important ! Mustard can scratch wooden and varnished surfaces, so it is not suitable for cleaning such sets.
Chic, shine, beauty: do you need to polish?
To ensure that glossy facades continue to shine, polish their surfaces after cleaning .
Choose wax-free polishes. Pay attention to those that contain antistatic agents. Thanks to it you will protect the surface from the accumulation of static electricity. With such a film, dust will be less likely to settle on the headset. Cinderella polishes receive good reviews ; buyers note their high quality and low price.
Products from the brands “Pronto”, “Homestar”, “Mebelux” are popular. The selected product is applied to a pre-cleaned surface with a clean cotton or microfiber cloth. Then they wait for it to dry and carefully rub it in until the shine appears and the streaks disappear.
To polish or not is up to you to decide.
The best equipment: rags and sponges for cleaning grease from kitchen units
For general cleaning in the kitchen, a large number of special equipment is produced. And housewives often buy the wrong devices that are suitable for cleaning kitchen units from grease.
Even when choosing an ordinary rag, a lot of doubts arise. After all, glossy kitchen surfaces should be cleaned so that there are not only greasy stains left on them, but also smudges and streaks.
Removing difficult stains using a melamine sponge
A melamine sponge is great for streak-free cleaning. This is an effective tool against difficult stains. However, such a sponge is made of hard material and is dangerous for “delicate” surfaces.
The sponge is moistened in a small amount of water, wrung out a little and wiped off traces of fat. Then the grains are removed from the surface. To do this, it is recommended to use a soft cloth.
Small grease stains often appear on the surface of kitchen cabinets. To wash them, it is recommended to cut off a small piece of melamine sponge and apply it only to the dirty area.
What surfaces can be cleaned with steam?
You can deal with dirt in the kitchen using a technique such as a steam cleaner. With its help, you can remove any dirt and disinfect the kitchen from germs.
The steam cleaner is suitable for:
- plastic;
- any type of wood;
- MDF, chipboard;
- walls;
- ceramics;
- accessories;
- cutlery.
The steam changes the structure of the stain. Under its action, the fat stain softens and becomes liquid.
Glossy facades need to be washed more often
Here a lot depends on the housewife: on her neatness and the concept of cleanliness of the set. Someone will not notice the prints for months, while others will wipe the facade every single day.
In addition, all this is summed up with other factors: the color of the facades, whether there are children, how often you cook and what size of the set.
Other types of dirt (dried marks from water and grease, felt-tip pens and paint) are visible on glossy surfaces in the same way as on matte ones. Another thing is how easy it is to wash them off later?
Special wipes for cleaning office equipment
If funds allow, you can purchase special wipes for cleaning plastic surfaces and office equipment. The use of this kind of napkins not only helps to maintain a decent appearance of office equipment, but also copes well with old stains. Naturally, they can be used to clean any other plastic surfaces, their effectiveness is undeniable, the only thing that stops many is the high cost. Spray paints for coloring plastic. There are situations when the quality of the plastic initially wanted to be better or obvious structural changes have already occurred, either from time or from improper use. Therefore, none of the above remedies brought the desired result, then it is advisable to simply paint the yellowed surfaces with white spray paint.
Many of us have encountered not only yellowing of plastic, but also permanent stains on kitchen towels, which are very difficult to remove, even using expensive detergents. But there is one unique way that will help restore the whiteness of washed towels by soaking them with vegetable oil.
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Polyvinyl chloride film
She is afraid of everything - high temperatures and humidity, rough mechanical and chemical influences and abrasive additives.
Under no circumstances should PVC film be washed with a very damp cloth.
Also, the formation of cracks and peeling of the film can be caused by:
- Exposure to bright lighting fixtures;
- Temperatures below -15° C.
To prevent the film from peeling off the facade, try to wipe the surface with a not very damp cloth.
Using heating devices
If the PVC film peels off from MDF kitchen facades, you can try replacing it with a new film or gluing the old material in place using available electrical appliances. This could be an iron, a powerful home or construction hair dryer. The film needs to be carefully warmed up: it should become quite soft and blurry, but not start to melt. If you have something to try, use these pieces or on an inconspicuous place on the façade. The device is pressed against the edge that is not glued for a few seconds. The film should stretch, the glue should warm up at this moment, and the material should protrude towards the back side of the facade and adhere firmly. If this can be done, then it will be possible to glue the entire facade in this way, in places where the film has retreated.
Advice: the film itself cannot be heated with a hairdryer at close range, as this will curl it and be damaged.
This DIY restoration of kitchen facades requires some skill, but is quite simple to perform and does not require the use of expensive tools or materials. If the inside and corners are poorly glued, you can use a metal rod comparable in size to the frame. First you need to warm it up. For this, you can use, for example, a gas burner.
Restoring coating using friction
Restoring kitchen facades from MDF using this method does not require any available tools at all. In order to glue the separated section of the film, you need to cover it with a rag and start rubbing it with your fingers, pressing the film. If there is adhesive underneath, the temperature from friction in a small area will be enough to activate a chemical reaction and cause the film to stick.
Advice: this method should be used carefully, as there is a high risk of damaging the film, exposing its edge or removing the top layer, which will ruin the appearance of the coating.
Application of glue
Restoring a glossy kitchen can cause some difficulties, since gloss does not tolerate strong physical impact, which is why it should not be roughly rubbed with your fingers or heated closely with any appliances. You can try a safer method - gluing the separated film using “Moment”. Most often, such a film peels off in the kitchen, since it is not affected by hot steam. It is necessary to restore the coating as quickly as possible, otherwise the furniture itself will be damaged. The glue must be applied to the untreated area of the facade and to the film itself along the edge so that it can isolate the seam from negative influences. All this must be done carefully, as the glue easily sticks and gets dirty.
Conclusion: inexpensive do-it-yourself kitchen restoration is quite accessible; it is advisable to look at photos of the finished results in advance. With a careful and competent approach, you can easily restore the appearance of the kitchen without resorting to replacing parts and without spending money and completely replace the facades.
