How to clean kitchen cabinets with vinegar?

Tammy Hamlett
by Tammy Hamlett

I know vinegar can be used to clean practically anything, but how do I use it to clean my kitchen cabinets?



  16 answers
  • You can clean your cabinets with a solution of warm water and vinegar 50/50. Spray it on and let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe it clean.

  • 29621073 29621073 on Sep 21, 2019

    A cleaner that I found here on Hometalk combines 1 gal very hot water with 1 cup distilled white vinegar and 1/2 cup Borax. Mix until the Borax is dissolved. Simply soak a rag or sponge in the cleaner, wring out the excess then wipe down your cabinets. I use this on my kitchen cabinets and it really removes all the greasy grime.

  • Jodi strasburg Jodi strasburg on Dec 02, 2017

    i use Dawn, white vinegar and baking soda. Make up a pasty solution and brush it on. Let sit for 10 minutes and wipe off with warm water. When dry you can put a nice coat of water base polyurethane on them.

  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Sep 10, 2019

    I use vinegar to clean my cabinets. I simply mix equal parts of water & vinegar with a few drops of Dawn into a spray bottle. Shake it a bit to mix it all together then spray onto the cabinet and wipe with a soft cloth. If a spot is stubborn, do it again but let it sit for a minute or so. I hope that helps you wishing you the best.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Sep 11, 2019

    Make a small bucket of soapy water (I use Dawn) and a cup of vinegar. Use magic erasers and microfiber cloths.

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Dec 08, 2018

    50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle. You can also add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent. Spray and let it sit for a minute or two then wipe with clean soft cloth. Hope it works well for you.

  • Deb K Deb K on Dec 08, 2018

    Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water and put into a spray bottle. Mist on cabinets, let sit for a minute or two and then wipe clean with a soft cloth. Add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to the vinegar and water solution to clean extremely grimy cabinets. I would use a microfiber cloth and clean water to rinse, and dry with a dry microfiber cloth, good luck! it should look great!

  • Deb K Deb K on Sep 03, 2019

    Use white vinegar undiluted to cut grease and grime on your cabinets, wipe clean with warm water and repeat for stubborn stains and stickies!

  • Carol Marszalek Carol Marszalek on Jul 12, 2018

    Thin the vinegar with a drop or two of Dawn and half water. Try that as a cleaning solution. Test on a small area.

  • Marsha Marsha on Jul 13, 2018

    Do you mean white vinegar to clean the cabinets? I don’t think you mean cider vinegar. Try a test patch, as suggested above, but do it on the inside of a cabinet, first. Also depends if the cabinets are stained or painted. You could also try “cleaning” vinegar (which is different from distilled white vinegar) on an inside test spot. Cleaning vinegar is available at The Home Depot. Good luck.

  • Landsharkinnc Landsharkinnc on Jul 18, 2018

    I use about 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 water or a little less -- if your cabinets are particularly dirty around the knobs/handles, you can use straight on a soft cloth in those areas, rinse.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Feb 18, 2019

    Hi, Make a vinegar and dish soap solution. Use sponge and rub on and let soak into grease, then wash off. Do it again if not clean enough.

  • Janice Janice on Jul 18, 2018

    I mix equal amounts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spray the cabinets and then wipe with a soft cloth. If the area is quite greasy you can add a drop or two of Dawn liquid dishwashing soap....it helps cut the grease even better. Then just use another cloth moistened in clear water to rinse, and dry with another soft cloth. Easy peasy! :)

  • I just pour some white vinegar on a soft cloth and wipe the cabinets down. Then repeat with a damp towel. You will be amazed. Works on walls too.

  • I use vinegar with water and a little lemon juice mixed in to clean my wood cabinets.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Dec 09, 2018

    Just add a small amount of vinegar to Dish soapy water, that should do the trick.