A Few Simple Ways to Protect Your Kitchen Doors

Getting a new kitchen can be an exciting time. And after all that planning and anticipation, you want to make sure it looks good for as long as possible.

Kitchens are working spaces, though, and everyday things like heat, steam, spillages and certain cleaning products can damage kitchen doors over time. This can mean before you know it, your kitchen has stopped looking as fantastic as it did after installation.

The good news is that there are some simple hacks to ensure your kitchen maintains that showhome glow. If you’re spotting some wear appear, you might find this useful…

Use Gentle Cleaning Products

When cleaning kitchen doors, it’s best to use lukewarm water with a small amount of soap and a soft cloth.

Avoid spraying anything directly onto the doors, including cleaning solutions. Instead, apply it to the cloth first before gently wiping the surface clean. This helps to avoid excess moisture sitting on the surface or around the joints which can damage the finish over time.

Also, make sure you dry the doors with a soft cloth after cleaning to avoid those residue marks. If you have timber doors, our top tip is to always wipe in the direction of the grain. It makes such a difference.

Wipe Spillages and Marks Quickly

Cooking marks and spillages should always be cleaned away as soon as possible. Even the simplest of spills can leave a lasting legacy if they’re not treated quickly enough.

It’s also important not to allow liquids to seep into the joints of the doors, so wiping away any spills quickly can help protect the finish.

Be Careful with Heat and Steam

Despite the fact that you need heat and steam to cook, these elements can ultimately damage kitchen fascias.

One simple way to stop the damage is to make sure your small appliances, such as kettles and toasters, are not used too close to kitchen doors or panels. The repeated exposure to heat can affect the surface, but just keeping these appliances away eliminates this issue.

Kitchen doors should also not be exposed to extreme temperature changes, and this is a great thing to discuss with your designer in the early stages.

 Avoid Harsh Cleaning Products

There are certain products that should not be used on kitchen doors, as they can damage the surface or leave marks behind.

These include:

• Wax furniture polish
• Bleach or chlorine-based cleaners
• Abrasive cleaners
• Solvents
• Multi-purpose cleaners
• Alcohol-based cleaners
• Ammonia
• Scouring pads or abrasive cloths

Regular Top Up Cleans

While you might do a thorough clean of your kitchen quite often, doing more regular mini cleans, even just wiping down surfaces as you cook, can make a massive difference to the long term look of your kitchen.

Time to Start Afresh?

No matter how much you clean, though, a kitchen can’t last forever. We recommend that with a good cleaning routine, a new kitchen should last around 15 years. But after that, deeper problems can appear, meaning updating things ultimately becomes inevitable.

If you’re planning a new kitchen and would like advice on design, materials or caring for different finishes, you’re always welcome to pop into our showroom or get in touch with the team.

To see more real kitchens we’ve designed and installed, please visit our Projects Page.