How to Care for Oak Cabinets

Hardwood Oak Cabinets

Oak is well-known for being a hard and long lasting wood. Any furniture made from oak is sure to last for decades especially if it is taken care of properly. If you have oak cabinets in your kitchen or living room, you will want to know how to take care of them to extend their life expectancy and to keep them beautiful.

Things You'll Need

• Polishing rag
• Furniture oil
• Furniture polish
• Ivory soap

Instructions

1. Rinse your cabinets with a polishing rag dampened with warm water for the first few months when some of the oak's tannins may still be leaching out of the wood. This is usual for wood that is oiled and not sealed with a hard poly coating.

2. Dust your oak cabinets at least once a week to prevent a buildup of dirt, especially in the cracks and crevices where the moisture and dust will accumulate and become sticky. Use a dry rag that has a tight weave such as in a microfiber polishing cloth.

3. Clean your cabinets once a month especially if you do a lot of cooking in the area of your cabinets. Use a mild soap like Ivory dish soap in a solution of warm water. Moisten the surface of the cabinets and wash in a circular motion to remove any dirt. Wipe the surface until clean and then dry with a dry cotton towel. Keep your rag well rinsed to keep from spreading any dirt.

4. Polish your oak cabinets with a silicone based polish to provide a scratch resistant surface. Spray it directly onto a cloth and not the wood and then rub it into the surface of the wood until a good sheen is obtained. If you do not want the buildup of polish, you can use an oil-based polish for a matte finish but it will not resist scratches.