It’s a fact of life. Wood finishes fade over time. Whether it’s paint, stain or any other type of finish, on any kind of furniture. Here are a few tips on prevention so that your wood finishes can last longer.

The Major Culprit – The Sun

Let’s look at the first and worst offender. The Sun. Over time UV rays cause finishes to dry, fade and age. If there’s one thing that will make the largest difference, it’s to make it so direct sunlight does not continually hit your cabinets or other furniture.

If you think “oops! I can’t change that!”, there still are some options. One is window film. You can have UV blocking window film installed easily on your windows which can block over 99% of harmful sunlight rays extending the life of your cabinets.

Grease and Grime

Grease and dirt from hands touching cabinets frequently will cause the finish to wear off or discolor. The answer is to use hardware. Always. The more your hand touches the door or drawer, the more it will become a different color than the rest of the cabinet.

Moisture

Humidity and moisture will affect your finish as well. Pay particular attention to the cabinets next to the cooktop or stove. Steam, moisture and heat can take its toll over time.

Prevention

When thinking of cabinet care, and to keep your cabinets looking their best, first take care of them by watching out for the causes above. Then do the fundamentals by cleaning your cabinets with a mild detergent solution (a teaspoon of dish soap to a gallon of water). Consider how you can prevent UV damage. Keep cabinets from coming into contact with dirty hands or moisture.

These tips alone can add years to the perfect look of your cabinet finish. Like anything else, the better care you take of them, the longer their life.

At Brakur Custom Cabinetry our experts can help you have the perfect kitchen that will amaze you. If you’d like to speak to an expert contact us here.

Also download our FREE Cabinetry 101 Guide to educate you: