So, you’ve had your new matt kitchen doors installed for a few weeks now.
Everything is still brand shiny new and every time you walk into the kitchen, it feels like you stepped into a show home, right?
Well, maybe not – if your home is like most people’s homes up and down the country, you’re more likely to trip over a kid’s toy, and errant piece of lego – or the dog – when you walk into the kitchen.
But, hey, that matt kitchen does look good, doesn’t it?
However, we hate to break it to you, but the honeymoon period is about to come to an end.
It’s getting to the time when you should be thinking of (*shudders) cleaning your new kitchen.
But don’t worry, you don’t need to get yourself fully kitted-up in a hazmat suit to clean your brand new matt kitchen.
And there’s no need to start typing ‘industrial-strength cleaning solutions’ into the Amazon search bar.
No, all you need to do is read this article!
So, How Do you Clean a Matt Kitchen?
As well as the understated, elegant and textured look that a matt kitchen provides; a lot is made of the fact that with matt kitchen cupboards, scratches, fingerprints and smudges will be far less visible than they will be on a gloss or high gloss cabinets.
This much is true – and, of course, this is certainly an advantage.
But, sadly, it doesn’t mean that a matt kitchen doesn’t need to be cleaned every once in a while – and here’s how to do it…
Here’s how you clean a matt kitchen.
How to Clean a Matt Kitchen – Use Soapy Hot Water
Although they won’t be as visible as they would be on a gloss kitchen – over time – all kitchen cupboards and doors will suffer from a build-up of dirt and grime. And this includes those with a matt finish. It’s unavoidable in such a busy place as the modern family kitchen. Smudges, cooking grease and oil, spills… they will all accumulate.
The good news is that cleaning a matt kitchen is easy. All you need is some hot water in a bowl, a clean microfibre cloth, and some washing-up liquid. It’s also really important to avoid harsh chemicals. These will spoil the look of your matt cabinets.
It’s a simple, 4-step process:
- Fill a washing-up bowl with hot water and a drop or two of washing-up liquid. Stir well.
- Soak a clean microfibre cloth in the bowl and simply wipe down the matt surfaces in the kitchen. Pay particular attention to the hinges and handles, as these areas are particularly prone to a build-up of dirt.
- Soak a new, fresh microfibre cloth in warm, not hot, water and wring it.
- Rinse the doors and cabinets. Finally, use another fresh microfibre cloth (this time dry) to wipe away any excess moisture.
Clean a Matt Kitchen with Vinegar
If you clean your cabinets and doors regularly, soap and water will normally do the trick. However, there are alternatives for when you need to clear more stubborn areas of dirt.
Sometimes washing-up liquid needs a bit of help.
Vinegar is a wonderful cleaning ingredient – and just about the best thing there is to clear grease, grime, and oil.
Vinegar is acidic, but as it is a natural acid, you don’t have to worry about it damaging your matt kitchen surfaces. Essentially, just follow the above process but substitute the washing-up liquid for vinegar.
A little vinegar is great for cleaning matt cupboards.
Avoid the Use of Harsh Chemicals
It’s always a good idea to clean a matt kitchen using vinegar every once in a while to avoid stubborn dirt accumulating.
You should always avoid the use of harsh chemicals. There is also no need for any fancy matt-surface-specific cleaners.
As we said before, with regular wiping, it’s entirely possible that stains, scratches, and smears won’t show up for a while with a new matt kitchen. However, when imperfections do appear, it can be challenging to deal with them.
So, it pays to stay one step ahead.
You don’t need any new-fangled branded cleaning solution to stay ahead of the game.
Just avoid harsh chemicals at all costs; arm yourself with some baking soda, warm water and follow our advice.
A soft cloth really can get rid of those pesky tough stains on your kitchen cabinets.
Dealing with Stubborn Stains
If you do find yourself having to deal with stubborn stains, the miracle cure is a mixture of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda – it’s a self-made, DIY cleaning solution for the ages. Baking soda is the magic ingredient when it comes to clean matt kitchen cupboards.
Mix a small quantity of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda into a smooth paste. Soak a clean cloth in the paste and dab the dirt-affected area of your matt surfaces.
Allow the paste to stand for a moment or two, then gently rub the surface. Finish off by rinsing the matt surfaces with clean water and a dry cloth.
So, that’s it in a nutshell – your cleaning solution problems solved!
Just use a dry microfibre cloth, warm water, a damp cloth, soapy water, vinegar, and some baking soda in the ways specified above, and your matt cupboards will look superb for years to come.
More Cleaning Tips
If you want to clean a matt kitchen, it’s really all about getting into good habits and using the correct cleaning products. You should avoid the likes of scourers and dusting wipes. Scouring sponges – like many cleaning products that can be found in shops – are abrasive and aggressive. As good as they might seem, they could do irreparable damage to your matt surfaces. Not only are dusting wipes not good for the environment, they also create static. This will actually cause more dust to appear on matt surfaces.
Every now and again, it is a good idea to go for a thorough, deep clean in the kitchen. However, getting into good regular cleanings habits will make everything so much easier.
If you do have spillage or notice a stain, you should clean matt kitchen cupboards immediately.
Matt cabinets are more susceptible to stains because of its smooth and velvety texture.
Frequent maintenance will definitely make your life easier – just as long as you remember not to use scourers on your cabinets.
If you follow our advice to clean matt kitchen cupboards, you can’t go wrong.
Just remember, gentle and regular cleaning is the best way to look after matt kitchen cupboards.
A Matt Kitchen isn’t just for Christmas; it’s for life
Well, okay, maybe not life – but you obviously want your matt kitchen to last for a good few years.
And you want your matt kitchen cupboards looking as good as new for years to come.
This is why general maintenance and cleaning is so important.
Having decided that a matt kitchen is for you, make sure it’s a love affair that will last.
Final Thoughts
A new kitchen is about appearances, functionality and practicality.
The bottom line is this – Matt cabinets are full of character, add interest and a sense of drama to any space. A matt finish suits kitchens of most sizes – and it can be blended with other styles.
What’s not to love?
A kitchen with a matt finish is a perfect choice for a classic traditional, country farmhouse, or a contemporary kitchen – and that’s one of the big drawers of a matt finish. It really does work with all these kitchen design choices.
And now you know for real that those matt cabinets are the perfect fit for your kitchen; you should commit to keeping those matt kitchen cupboards looking beautiful.
Love Your Matt Kitchen
Loving it means taking care of it.
You needn’t worry about how you clean matt surfaces. As we have explained here, it really isn’t too difficult to keep on top of things. Indeed, compared to some types of kitchens, cleaning matt doors and cabinets really is a doddle.
You can’t prevent stains entirely – they are inevitable in a busy family kitchen. Tough stains are not a problem either.
And now that you’ve decided it’s the kitchen look for you, you just need to keep loving it.
Welcome to team matt!
If you would like to have a chat about anything kitchen-related, get in touch and the friendly Kitchen Warehouse team will always be happy to help.