How do I clean 60+ year old cabinets?

Question

I need help!!! I moved into my parents 60+ year old house. The kitchen cabinets to my knowledge have the original “varnish“ finish plus 60+ years of greasy kitchen buildup. I am wanting to clean them and depending on how they look I may even decide to paint or white wash them. BTW, the walls are the dated knotty pine paneling. Please help.

Lizabeth Garrett · Answer

I think I would get some goo-gone and clean it first and then get some varnish remover.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Make a solution with white vinegar and water 50/50 and add a dab of blue dawn dish soap in a spray bottle

Adina Fulsom · Answer

Best thing I've ever used for greasy kitchen clean up is Lysol All Purpose cleaner. It comes in a spray bottle, kills 99.9% bacteria and smells so fresh! Cuts grease like crazy. Sounds like you're gonna need to do some work! Good luck😊

Lan32154549 · Answer

Many antique stores sell a remover that will take all that off. ask them about it per phone if you like. It really works.

John Biermacher · Answer

I would try Howard's Restore-a-finish (in a light color) using #0000 steel wool. Good chance that will not only clean them but might be all you need. Search Hometalk and you tube.

Manning Tillman · Answer

Warm water, TSP cleaner add elbow grease.

Audrey Trauner · Answer

Murphy's soap--fantastic product.

Fiddledd224 · Answer

The best way to loosen grease is with oil!

Pour some vegetable oil on a t-shirt and buff the wood - the oil should loosen the grease.

After this, follow up with a wipe down with Windex to remove the oil.

Danielle · Answer

I have sworn by Murphy's Oil Soap for 30 years. There is a reason it's still on the market! I've even seen it clean off decades of tar and nicotine in a heavy smokers house and take the smell out too!

Elaine · Answer

Murphy’s has a wax in it and I’ve used it for decades. Howard’s is fantastic stuff, but they make a cleaner you could use before the restore a finish. You might want to try warm water and vinegar with a pot scrubby that doesn’t scratch. It will be a lot of work. If you use anything with wax in it and then decide to paint, you will end up removing that to be able to paint.

Dawn Fulton · Answer

I clean apartments, my recommendation is Krud Kleaner from Lowe's. Cuts grease like you wouldn't believe, very little elbow grease required and unlike tsp does not have to be rinsed off.

Hope Williams · Answer

I agree with dawn, krud kutter. And use steel wool and take outside to clean.

i wanted to add that those cabinets are the bomb! So much potential!!! I had them and put molding on them and painted mine.

MiMiVanV · Answer

Replace them 😖

Emily · Answer

If you are going to refinish or paint cabinets anyway, why not start with paint remover itself?

Liv · Answer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dEdumqO-Bc

Theresa · Answer

I know this post is a few years old, but I was wondering how this project turned out? These are the exact same style cabinets that are in my parents home and looking for ideas without a total tear out.

Sharon · Answer

I use Dollar Tree Awesome Orange in the half gallon in hot water using a car sponge. Then I also get the Awesome Degreaser for the hard spots and a round plastic scrubby to get off blobs. I get the kitchen rubber gloves as can be a bit hard on the hands for a whole kitchen.

How do I clean 60+ year old cabinets?

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How do I clean 60+ year old cabinets?

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