Why You Should Reach For Cooking Oil When Tackling Wood Cabinets

Cleaning kitchen cabinets is one of those tasks that often gets shoved to the bottom of the to-do list while we focus on the more pressing daily chores like washing dishes and wiping countertops. If that's your experience, then you're likely facing unsightly cabinets with grime you can no longer ignore. But instead of going for yet another store-bought artificial product, just reach into that same cabinet, grab the oil, and get ready for one of the genius ways of using cooking oil around the house for cleaning.

How can you clean oil with oil, you ask? The thing is, cooking oil will soften any stuck-on gunk on your cabinet surfaces because oil can dissolve grease. If you've tried using regular kitchen soap and water to clean off that oily dirt, you've probably not been fully satisfied, as dish soap just doesn't do a good enough job of stripping off the grease on its own.

Besides its degreasing abilities, cooking oil is great for regular use because it's gentle on wood and won't tamper with the finish. In fact, once you're done rubbing it in and wiping off all that dirt, your cabinets not only look clean but also glossy — don't we all just love bringing shine back to wooden items? And let's not forget how easy and convenient it is to use a one-ingredient cleaning hack.

Degreasing kitchen cabinets can be a breeze if you use solutions that actually work and require less elbow grease. And that's the case with this cooking oil hack. Simply take out your bottle of cooking oil, you can use whichever type you have on hand, and dollop some on a corner of a clean microfiber cloth. It should be just enough to make a small section of the cloth damp but not dripping wet.

Now use that to wipe the outer surface of your cabinet doors, one at a time. Rub in the oil in a circular motion on the flat areas, and make sure to get in on the corners and edges where there's often more grime from settled dust. Every so often, once the cloth has picked up a lot of dirt, flip to a clean spot and add some more oil to continue the process. Repeat this for all the cabinets. Get another fresh cloth with soap and water and go over all the surfaces again to remove any residual oil. Finally, buff with a dry towel and you're good to go. 

You don't need any other steps for your routine weekly cleanup. But during your deep cleaning days, which can be just a few times every year, you can add one other step. Combine the cooking oil with baking soda to make a paste. It's a natural and gentle abrasive that'll help dislodge stubborn dirt without scratching and damaging your wooden cabinets. Rub the paste into all the nooks and crannies with a cloth or old toothbrush, then wipe the cabinets down with a damp cloth and buff with a dry towel.