Maintenance And Care For Millwork And Custom Cabinets

Investing in custom cabinetry and millwork represents an incredible opportunity to elevate the function and aesthetics of your Winnipeg home. From kitchen cabinets to feature walls, there are endless ways to incorporate stunning custom designs that reflect your personal taste and vision for your space.

A transformation takes place when custom cabinets and millwork are installed - in fact, many of our clients say it completely revolutionizes the way they feel about their home. At True Millwork, we're committed to keeping that moment of magic alive by ensuring that our clients know how to properly maintain and care for their woodwork over time.

Like anything else in your home, custom cabinetry and millwork benefit from regular care and maintenance and in this post, we've shared our top tips for keeping it in excellent condition. With proper care, it's not tough to ensure your cabinets and millwork remain pristine, but knowing what to do - and what to avoid - is key.

How To Clean And Maintain Wood Cabinets

As an organic substance, even the highest quality wood is prone to gradual change and degradation over time - especially when exposed to common household factors like heat, steam, smoke, grease, and dust. The good news is that a simple, consistent cleaning regimen is often all it takes to greatly prolong the lifespan of wood cabinets and keep them looking like new.

At True Millwork, we recommend that our clients clean high-use wooden cabinets and surfaces frequently. Exactly what that means for each household can vary (a busy family kitchen might need cabinet doors cleaned daily, while weekly cleaning might suffice for a less-used cooking space), but the important thing is not to let spills, grease, and grime build up.

All you need to properly clean wood kitchen cabinets is a simple cleaning solution you can easily make yourself and a soft, cotton cloth. Here's a step-by-step breakdown you can use for any room in the house:

• Start by combining equal parts vinegar and warm water or mixing a few drops of mild dish soap (not dishwasher detergent) into a bowl of warm water (this is the best option for grease). If you're feeling ambitious, you could also try making your own natural wood cleaner and conditioner.

• Next, wet a soft cotton cloth in the solution and wring it out until it is just damp (not dripping or soaking wet).

• Gently wipe over dirty or greasy kitchen cabinets, following the grain of the wood (no need to scrub). Repeat as needed until all traces of grease and grime are removed.

• Get a fresh cotton cloth and fill another clean bowl with warm water. Wring the clean cloth out until damp and use it to remove any remaining grease/cleaning mixture from wooden surfaces.

• Dry surfaces with a clean, soft cloth to ensure no moisture is left to damage the wood.

  
  

Preventing Warping And Damage In Wooden Cabinets

Beyond regular cleaning, wooden cabinets and millwork benefit greatly from a few essential dos and don'ts. In this section, you'll find our top tips for keeping your custom woodwork from warping or becoming otherwise damaged:

• Wipe Up Spills Promptly - Letting water or other liquids sit on wooden surfaces (including painted cabinets) can lead to stains/discolouration, mould and mildew, structural weakening, warping, and damage to the finish. For these reasons, it's crucial to take action the moment spills happen - and check your work from a variety of different angles to make sure you haven't missed any spots.

  
  

• Never Scrub - Though it may seem counterintuitive, vigorous scrubbing is never the best way to remove moisture or stains from custom woodwork. Instead, use gentle blotting or wiping motions to avoid damaging wooden surfaces and keep them looking their best.

  
  

• Make Use of Knobs and Handles - This one seems obvious - and yet it's surprisingly common for people to make a habit of directly grabbing a cabinet door or drawer face instead of using knobs and handles. The more you touch wooden surfaces, the more grease and dirt get deposited - and the more likely they are to sustain damage.

  
  

• Don't Use Harsh Cleaning Products - When it comes to custom woodwork, it's best to avoid potentially damaging cleaning products such as bleach, ammonia, silicone, waxes, polishes, and cleaners that contain abrasive additives. Abrasive cleaning sponges are also off limits.

  
  

• Don't Clean With Dishrags - The main reason for this is that dishrags and dish sponges may have residual grease and/or harsh cleaning solutions on them - even when you think you've rinsed them well. It's best to dedicate a soft, clean cloth for wood surface cleaning rather than using dishrags for multiple purposes.

  
  

• Avoid Heat Damage - To prevent heat damage to woodwork, take proactive measures like protecting surfaces from hot appliances/cookware (this can be as simple as consistently using a trivet). When designing your kitchen layout, aim to minimize heat/steam exposure to custom cabinets.

  
  

Refinishing And Restoring Older Custom Cabinets

If you're satisfied with the layout and quality of your kitchen (or other) cabinets but are looking to give them a facelift, getting them professionally painted or refinished could be the perfect solution.

At True Millwork, our painting and refinishing services offer an affordable way to customize cabinets and millwork while also extending their lifespan. We take care of everything from start to finish - prepping, painting/refinishing, adding hardware, and cleaning up once the job has been completed correctly. Contact us directly today to learn more!

Repairing Scratches And Dents In Wood Cabinets

While minor scratches and imperfections in custom cabinets can sometimes be addressed with simple DIY solutions like wood filler sticks or touched-up with pencil crayons/markers, it's always best to call our experienced team when bigger issues arise. We can help you assess the extent of damage to custom woodwork and make a plan to flawlessly restore it.

In cases where wood damage is extensive, cabinet refacing may be the best route to take. Call us today to explore your options!

Seasonal Maintenance Tips For Wood Cabinets And Millwork

The cleaning and maintenance tips outlined in this post will keep custom wood cabinets and millwork looking fresh in every season. To learn more about installing custom cabinets in your Winnipeg area home, contact our professional team at True Millwork today. We look forward to working with you!