How to Clean Cabinet Hardware

Does your cabinet hardware look a little rough around the edges? If you love your old cabinet hardware and don’t want to replace it, we can help you get it squeaky clean and looking as good as new! At times, cabinet fixings can be difficult to clean, but our quick and easy steps will revert cabinet handles and knobs back to their shiny selves. Here is our handy guide on how to clean your cabinet hardware.

To clean old cabinet hardware, you will need a soft-bristled cleaning brush (a toothbrush will do the trick), water, gloves and a cloth and a good metal cleaning powder. Alternatively, use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.

Step 1: Remove Hardware from your Cabinet

Firstly, remove the hardware from the cabinet itself to make sure you can give it a good, thorough clean. This also means you can take a closer look at your cabinet hardware to assess the level of dirt and rust build up. What the cabinet hardware is made of will determine how gentle you must handle it. For example, brass-plated furniture hardware requires a more delicate hand when polishing and cleaning.

Step 2: Use Warm Water to Rinse Cabinet Hardware

Before using the cleaning product, wet the cabinet hardware in warm water. Simply fill up a large cup or jug and fill with lukewarm water before placing the hardware in. Keep it in the water for around one to two minutes, which will allow any surface dirt to come off or loosen. When removing the cabinet fixing out of water, make sure to keep it wet for the next step.

Step 3: Apply Your Metal Cleaner

Wet cabinet hardware makes it much easier to build up a good lather with the cleaning product. Sprinkle your cleaning powder over your cabinet fixing until it is totally covered. If you are opting for the baking soda and vinegar option, coat your hardware with vinegar and cover in baking soda afterwards.

Step 4: Gently Brush the Cabinet Hardware

The mixture of water and cleaning product should start to form a paste. With your soft-bristled brush or toothbrush, gently brush your cabinet fixing with a buffing motion. This will form a paste and begin to remove the grime. If your cabinet hardware is extra grimy, you might need to repeat this step a couple of times. If required, use some additional metal cleaner and water.

With the baking soda and vinegar method, coat your brush head in vinegar before gently brushing over the baking soda, with that same buffing motion.

Step 5: A Final Rinse & Dry

When you reach a point where you feel your cabinet hardware is clean, rinse it in lukewarm water once again to remove the cleaning solution. Then, dampen a lint-free cloth, give your hardware a final gentle buff and leave to dry. Make sure your cabinet hardware is completely dry before re-fixing to your cabinet to avoid future tarnishing.

You’re done!

If you would like further advice about how to care for your cabinet hardware, get in touch with our expert team by calling 0800 298 7141. Don’t forget to browse our extensive range of traditional and modern cabinet handles and knobs – we offer free delivery on orders over £120!