Wood-Mode Cabinets Care and Cleaning:

Wood-Mode cabinets are built to last a lifetime. But, the finish won’t last forever, especially if you don’t take good care of them. Keep reading if you want to know how to make your finish last as long as possible. If you do live within reach of our Niles Illinois showroom, we can help you solve just about any Wood-Mode cabinet problem, no matter how old your installation. Please note that while we cannot offer warranty service if you did not purchase your cabinetry from us, we can provide triage recommendations based on our experience. We both love Wood-Mode, so let’s work together!

 

Your Wood-Mode cabinetry has been built with the finest materials and craftsmanship to give you the long-lasting beauty you want in your cabinetry.  Whether you have selected a stained or opaque finish or you have chosen a laminate, these basic guidelines will help you keep your cabinetry looking brand-new through the years.

Cleaning cabinetry is fairly easy, but there are some rules. Avoid hard rubbing or scrubbing.  Do not use strong soaps, detergents, oily polishes, or glass cleaners, since these can all damage the finish of your cabinetry.  The following is our recommendation for cleaning and caring for your Brookhaven cabinetry.

Wood-Mode Cabinets 10 years old or older:

  • Wood-Mode cabinets are built to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, you cannot expect the finish around the round door or drawer knobs to do the same. When regular use has worn the finish around a round door knob, the only solution is to refinish the cabinet or drawer face. Touch up paint can mask gouges, but it won’t blend in well to an existing finish.
  • Finishes that have gone cloudy are nearly impossible to bring back and will likely need to be stripped and refinished.
  • While you can purchase new door faces to put on existing boxes, it’s difficult to do the retrofit well, the finish will never be a perfect match because age and sun will have changed the color of your old boxes, and you may be better off selling the old boxes and buying new.

 

Stained Finishes:

  • If the finish gets badly soiled or smudged, use a soft cloth, dampened in a mild soapy water solution to remove the dirt.  Wipe immediately with a clean damp cloth and dry with a clean soft cloth, using light pressure.  Avoid vigorous rubbing, as this tends to raise glossy spots, marring the original effect.
  • Never use strong soaps, detergents or liquid wax cleaners with dirt-cutting agents on wood finishes.
  • If polishing becomes necessary, select a quality wood care product and treat your cabinetry as you would any other fine wood furniture in your home.

Opaque Finishes:

NEVER use waxes on an opaque finish!

Simply wipe them clean using a soft cloth with a mild soapy water solution.  Wipe immediately after with a clean damp cloth and dry with a clean soft cloth.  Avoid over-rubbing on matte finishes.  It causes glossy patches in the finish, marring the original effect.

Plastic Laminate Cabinets:

Clean with a mild soapy water solution or even Windex®, Glass Plus® or equivalent products and wipe dry using a soft cloth.

If necessary, remove stubborn stains with a grease-cutting agent.  Clean afterward with a mild soapy water solution. Wipe immediately after with a clean damp cloth and dry with a soft cloth.  Avoid over-rubbing on matte finishes.  It causes glossy patches in the finish, marring the original effect.

By Alan Zielinski