How To Remove Stubborn Stains From Painted Kitchen Cabinets

We spend so much time in our kitchens that they begin collecting the small traces of our days, from a splash of tomato sauce while preparing a family dinner to the coffee that spills out of your mug on a Monday morning. And while memories are worth keeping, the stains they leave behind are most certainly not. Over time, those splatters harden and declare war against your once-perfect cabinet paint. But before you reach for the strongest cleaner on the shelf, pause. Not every battle needs brute force. Sometimes, the gentlest remedies hold the greatest power. In this case, vinegar and salt, two simple kitchen staples, can restore your cabinets without stripping away their charm. All you need to do is create a thick paste and wait for it to work before removing.

Now, painted cabinets may look tough, but they tend to be fragile. If you scrub too hard, the color that once made your kitchen glow will start fading like an old memory. The kitchen essential combo of vinegar and salt is a potent cleaner for grime, but it tends to be kind to paint. The acidity of vinegar cuts through grease by breaking down the alkaline buildup that makes stains cling to surfaces. Salt, on the flip side, can absorb stubborn spots due to its ionic properties. Together, they prove that patience and subtlety often do more than force ever could.

Grab a small bowl and mix a tablespoon of salt with an equal amount of distilled white vinegar to form a paste. If your cabinets have faced a few too many cooking adventures (we've all been there), go ahead and increase the quantity. However, ensure that you maintain a steady ratio.

Dip a soft microfiber towel into the paste and dab it over the food splatters and grease marks that have overstayed their welcome. Don't rush this part. Let the paste sit for about three minutes. That's when the versatile cleaning tool, vinegar, begins to dissolve the gunk. Salt will be doing its job to loosen what's stuck. These items are now working together to help you achieve clean cabinets without scratching the paint.

When time's up, take the same microfiber cloth and wipe it all away. If you notice any trace of residue, consider wiping it with another clean, damp cloth. You'll notice the stains lift off like they never should have been there in the first place. Plus, the finish of your kitchen cabinets will appear as radiant as the day you first fell in love with their color.