The Outdated Kitchen Cabinet Trend That's Making Your Space Look Dirtier

As you focus on cleaning your countertops and floors, don't overlook the smaller things in the space. Sponges, spice containers, and dish cloths are some kitchen items that you should clean more often because they harbor a lot of bacteria but typically get forgotten. Kitchen cabinet doors also fall in this category, especially when they are handleless, because they become smudge magnets. Handleless cabinet doors have been trendy for a while because of their chic, minimalist look in theory, however, they don't deliver on that look in reality since they allow stains to be more visible, making your space look dirtier.

Keeping the kitchen clean is a constant battle, because there's always something to sweep up or wipe down. Certain surfaces don't make this easier either. Dark colors and matte finishes, for example, tend to show smudges and streaks a lot more than others, so you need to take that into consideration when choosing countertops, appliances, and cabinets alike. Cabinets especially are constantly being touched, so when there is an absence of handles to hold on to, the stains will be clear on the surface. If you want the sleek look with your cabinets, consider discreet and simple handles instead of getting rid of them completely.

Handleless cabinet doors typically have a mechanism like a tip-on or magnetic latch that goes on the inside of the cabinet so it can be opened and closed with a light push on the door. In addition to the modern style it brings to the kitchen, the concept also helps to prevent the problem of things getting caught on the handles. Still, the trade-off is dealing with the stains left behind, especially if you've chosen a matte or glossy finish for the cabinets.

As you prepare food and handle ingredients, the stains will automatically transfer to the doors every time you need to grab that spice bottle or that plate from a cabinet, making your space look dirty and unkempt. This trend might not be worth it, because it's better to have a clean and spotless space rather than jumping on a potential fad that can make more cleanup work for you. Luckily, there are other handle options that can give you the sleek look you're after.

Before we get into alternatives to consider, here are some tips to help you clean and maintain your existing cabinets. The main thing to keep in mind is that you'll have to be wiping them down constantly. You can use a dry microfiber cloth for this, and if the stains are tougher, you can pour some dish soap and warm water on the cloth before wiping. This works for both matte and glossy cabinets. Never clean your cabinets with Windex or other chemical cleaners. 

Instead of handleless doors, get handles that take up less space and are a bit more discreet. Two types of cabinet hardware we recommend are cup pulls and edge pulls. They are stylish, simple, and you won't have to worry about things snagging on them. Knobs are also a good, classic choice. One unique handle type we found is the ring pull which is probably the easiest to grab among these options. Avoid long handles like bar pulls and arch pulls if style is your priority.