| So, your kitchen cabinets are a mess, and you dread | | | | to get to work. Either cover or remove anything |
| forking out all that cash for new ones. Well, maybe | | | | around the cabinets that you don't plan on cleaning. |
| new ones are not what you need. The first place to | | | | This includes cabinet hardware, countertops, floors, |
| start, may be with a thorough cleaning of the ones | | | | walls, and small appliances. If you can empty the |
| you have. A good amount of elbow grease may be | | | | cabinets as much as possible, it will facilitate cleaning |
| just what you need to get rid of all that cooking | | | | inside as well as out. Be sure to wear gloves while |
| grease and accumulation of muck from over the | | | | doing this job, as to avoid any damage to your skin. |
| years. Particularly if all the drawers, hinges and | | | | Removing cabinet doors may be helpful as well, |
| hardware are still in good working order. A simple | | | | depending on how flexible you are, when it comes to |
| solution of soapy water and effort may do the trick. | | | | reaching inside to the deepest recesses of your |
| Make sure to wipe all the soap off before drying and | | | | cabinets. As before, removing the hardware and |
| replacing the cabinets. Removing hardware handles | | | | washing it separately is a good idea, plus you get |
| and pulls first, gives you a chance to clean them | | | | better access to the small sections of cabinet that |
| separately and an opportunity to remove any gunk | | | | were underneath the hardware pulls and hinges. Wipe |
| that may have built up between the hardware and | | | | all the cabinet clean with a rag dipped in your cleaning |
| the cabinets themselves. | | | | solution. Use a different clean rag to dry the surface, |
| Maybe you still like the look of your cabinets, but | | | | once all the old gunk has been removed. Once |
| their just a little grungy. If your cabinets are made of | | | | everything is clean and dry, replace all the hardware, |
| solid wood and need a little more cleaning than just | | | | and put the kitchen cabinet doors back on. |
| soap and water, then there is another approach you | | | | Hopefully your cabinets look just like new, and you've |
| can try. It's a bit more of a caustic approach, but will | | | | saved yourself a few thousand bucks in replacement |
| do the job when something a little tougher is | | | | costs. If your still not to keen on how they look, |
| required. You'll need a combination of 3 tablespoons | | | | then maybe it's time to consider a fresh coat of |
| turpentine, 3 tablespoons boiled linseed oil, and 1 quart | | | | paint or varnish to brighten things up. We repainted |
| of boiling water. You have to be very careful with | | | | our dark old cabinets with a fresh coat of while |
| this recipe, as it is a somewhat flammable mixture. | | | | melamine paint and new updated hardware. While we |
| Any brushes or rags that come in contact with this | | | | did eventually replace them, the paint and new |
| stuff will be somewhat flammable as well. Be sure to | | | | hardware made them bearable for a few more |
| dispose of them per your local city ordinances. | | | | years. |
| Once you've got your little concoction ready, it's time | | | | |