One Of The Best (And Easiest) Ways To Stay On Top Of Wood Cabinet Care

Wood cabinets have many advantages — they're attractive, can fit many styles of décor, and often add value to your home. But like many good things, they also require you to take care of them. That's not hard to do: You can accomplish one of the basic maintenance tasks with simple tools like a screwdriver and wrench that most homeowners are likely to have on hand. If you put those tools to work with an annual tightening of your wood cabinets' hardware, you're well on your way to helping your cabinets look good and function well for a long time.

The reasoning behind this annual maintenance task is that, although you may think of your wood cabinets as hardily resistant to everyday wear and tear, loose hardware may wobble enough that it knocks against the cabinet face with repeated use, causing dings and scratches that could build up over time. Such damage to kitchen cabinet finishes could force you into a refinishing project before you're ready. Loose hinges can cause cabinet doors to sag, impeding their functioning. An annual review of your cabinet hardware, with screwdriver or wrench in hand to tighten loose screws and bolts, can head such problems off at the pass and keep your wood cabinets looking — and functioning — well for much longer.

In addition to tightening, you'll want to check if the hardware itself has suffered any damage as you're conducting your annual review. Metal hardware may be susceptible to rust, brass to tarnish, or ceramic to chipping. Some years, during your cabinet maintenance tasks, you may want to take a deeper dive and remove your cabinet hardware entirely to do a deeper inspection. When you do that, make sure to put your hinges, screws, pulls, and more into small containers or plastic bags so you don't lose any of the pieces. If you do find any damage, you can sometimes fix broken cabinet door hinges or other fasteners.

This may also be the time for a deep clean of your cabinet hardware. Dirt and buildup can cause hinges to stick or lead to tarnish on metal knobs and pulls. You can clean your hardware with mild soap and water or a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. You can use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach areas. When done, make sure you thoroughly dry your hardware. You might also consider adding a protective coating, like wax, lacquer, or polyurethane, to your hardware before reinstalling it. If your hardware is too damaged, however, or even if you're just tired of the look, you might consider it time to upgrade your kitchen cabinet hardware. It's an easy way to update the look of your cabinets, and you can find ways to repurpose your cabinet pulls around your home or garden.