Murphy’s Oil Soap is an all natural cleaning solution that is safe to use on all finished wood surfaces including kitchen cabinets and floorings.
It is a non toxic solution made from pine oil and coconut and is very effective at removing everyday grime and gunk that accumulate on the surface of cabinets, leaving them feeling, looking and scenting refreshed.
In this article, we will show you how to use all Murphy Oil Soaps to clean your kitchen cabinets. We’ll also provide you with some tips on how to properly take care of your cabinets to keep them looking at their best.
Can I Clean Kitchen Cabinets With Murphy’s Oil Soap?
You know what Murphy’s oil soap is synonymous with?
Wood!
So heck yeah, you can use it on any finished wood surface including that of kitchen cabinets.
It’s a great way to keep your wood furniture in pristine condition and it can actually be used as a daily or weekly wood cleaner, since it has gentle formulations that won’t interfere with the wood’s finishing or coating.
If you have stubborn grease stains or any other type of stain on your wood however, you might need to tackle that with an alternative method since the formulation of Murphy’s oil might not be strong enough to tackle set stains or stubborn grease.
In the case of grease, a mixture of hot water and liquid dish soap like dawn would work perfectly well, and then you can go over the surface with Murphy’s oil afterwards.
How Do You Dilute Murphy’s Oil Soap For Kitchen Cabinets?
Murphy’s oil is offered in three varieties which are the spray formukated with orange oil, the concentrated wood cleaner which comes with a normal cap, and the squirt and mop which is works exactly as it’s name suggest.
If the three, the only one you need to be diluting is the concentrated wood cleaner. The rest of the two can be applied directly to surfaces and then spread over using damped cloth.
To dilute Murphy’s oil, mix ¼ cup of the oil with 1 gallon of water for normal stains, and for really tough ones, use ¼ cup for every 1 gallon.
This ratio would ensure that you have the perfect strength to be used regularly without any issues.
Ofcourse, you can use undiluted oil on your cabinets, especially for stubborn stains. But you should never use it regularly in this manner otherwise it could cause stripping of your wood coating or damage to the material.
How Do You Clean Kitchen Cabinets With Murphy’s Soap?
To clean kitchen cabinets with Murphy’s soap, first dust the entire surface with a dry rag or vacumm cleaner with soft brush attachement.
This will make cleaning much more easier and effective.
Next, make a solution of ¼ cups of Murphy’s oil and warm water and dip a clean rag into it.
Wring the rag thoroughly to make sure there no dripping water, and use that to go over the entire surface of your kitchen cabinets.
You’ll immediately notice an exciting sheen on your cabinets as you clean them with the solution. Allow the cleaned surface to dry on its own and resist ringin with a wet rag.
For the spray, simply apply it to the cabinet’s surface and use a range to go gover the area. Do this untill you clean the entire surface of the cabinet.
If you’re using the squirt product, simply apply a few drops onto a cleaning cloth and wipe it directly on the surface you want to clean.
To maintain the integrity of your cabinets, use Murphy’s oil soap at least once every week to keep them in good condition.
How To Maintain Kitchen Cabinets
Because kitchen cabinets are a major investment, you want to make sure you’re taking care of them properly in order to extend the longevity.
Here are important ways to make sure you’re taking care of your kitchen cabinet.
Thoroughly Clean Them Once Or Twice A Year
Aside from regular weekly cleaning of cabinets with vegetable and coconut based oil like Murphy’s oil, it’s essential to give your cabinets a thorough cleaning at least twice a year to make sure you’re disinfecting the surfaces and reducing grease build up which can make them look dull.
For grease build up, use a solution of dish soap and warm water. Dip a cleaning rag into it and use it to clean the affected spot. If that doesn’t work, use a toothbrush dipped in a semi-liquid paste of baking soda and water to scrub the grease off.
Afterwards, go over the surface with a wet rag to rinse the cleaning solutions away and then use a dry cloth to remove any remaining moisture.
To disinfect, use a sanitizer like Clorox wipes or by mixing water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio.
Whatever you’re putting on your kitchen cabinets, make sure that you check the instructions on the product to make sure it’s perfectly compatible with the kind of surface you have.
If you’re unsure, it’s better to stick with the products that we have mentioned in this article.
And one more thing about grease build ups; the moment you notice them, make sure you tackle them otherwise they could become even more difficult to remove when they mix with dust and other gunk.
Tackle Water Stains The Moment You Notice Them
Water stains are stains that occur on kitchen cabinets due to moisture seeping into the finishing of the wood and destroying its transparency, or even progressing further down to the wood material underneath and causing damage.
Depending on the severity of the stain, it could leave a white residue or a dark one.
If you have white residue, you can typically be able to get rid of it using techniques such as heating with a dryer or the applications of mayonnaise or petroleum jelly.
For the darker stains, they’re typically much more difficult to remove, and you might have to reface or replace the affected cabinet.
Polish Cabinets
Polishing your cabinets regularly would also help maintain their sheen as well as offer protection from damage. When polishing, make sure to use a high-quality polish and one that matches or works well with your specific type of finishing.
Take Care Of The Cabinet Hardware
It’s not just the cabinet surfaces that require cleaning, the hardware too needs to be cleaned because they are an integral part of the cabinet and can accumulate gunk on them over time.
When next you’re wiping clean your cabinets make sure to dust and remove any grime and gunk from the hardware like knobs and pulls too.
Avoid Using Harsh Materials On Your Cabinets
Using cleaning tools and supplies that are harsh can end up discolouring the cabinet, causing scratches or stripping it of its protection layer, which will cause it to damage faster. So avoid them as much as you can, and when using the softer materials, try as much as possible to go in the direction of the grain too.
Refresh The Inside too
Refreshing techniques are absolutely critical in order to bring back old cabinets to life. When you’re refreshing the inside of kitchen cabinets, you’re typically removing odor, installing new compartments or finding ways to better utilise the existing ones, thoroughly cleaning it, fixing loose screws and hinges, installing lightning etc.
All these will help improve your overall cabinet health and prevent it from early breakdown.
Open And Close The Doors Gently
Of course, this could be difficult to achieve when there are kids in the house, but whenever possible, make sure the doors of your cabinet are opened and closed gently to prevent loosening some of the hinge or hardware screws or damaging the door itself.