The average kitchen cabinet lifespan is 20 years and can reach 50 years with proper maintenance, but various factors can shorten it. The factors that determine how long your kitchen cabinets will last can vary, including the cabinet’s materials, the quality of the construction and kitchen design, and, most importantly, the maintenance it receives.
Photo by Dmitry Zvolskiy
Of course, if homeowners have the budget for it, they can install cabinets in high-quality materials, such as solid wood, which is also naturally beautiful, high-density fibreboard (HDF), which is considerably moisture-resistant, and stainless steel for unmatched durability. However, even with budget kitchen cabinets, it’s ideal to care for them and help them last longer. Here are some common mistakes to avoid in the future.
1. Ignoring moisture and humidity
While it is normal to have high levels of moisture and humidity in the kitchen from cooking and washing, there are ways to manage them safely so they don’t affect the cabinets. Usually, as the wood absorbs moisture, the door is the first to be affected, either expanding or “swelling. In addition, excess moisture is also absorbed unevenly, so the door can warp, cup, or twist in various spots. Luckily, this can be solved by purchasing replacements, which come in all sorts of styles, from shaker-style to solid wood painted handleless kitchen units.
But even after getting new doors, monitoring the humidity and moisture levels in the kitchen is necessary. For example, getting a strong hob extractor and using it every time you cook is a must. You could also use lids on pots and pans when cooking to reduce the amount of water vapor, which can lead to condensation.
Other tips include leaving windows open when cooking, draining the sink after washing dishes, and wiping down surfaces regularly to reduce overall moisture.
2. Leaving grease build-up
Whether you’re a messy cooker or not, it’s difficult to stop grease from splashing across cabinets, even in small quantities. However, the mistake is forgetting to clean it promptly, which can significantly affect the cabinets in the long term.
Grease and oil can also stain cabinets or contribute to their discoloration, affecting their appearance. In addition, this can determine which material weakens over time. So, wiping down cabinets and all surfaces after cooking is essential for the quality of the furniture. Use mild cleaning solutions and soft cloths to clean, but avoid scrubbers, as they can scratch the material. Grease and oil can also be cleaned with baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice, but this depends on the cabinet material.
3. Increasing the physical load on the cabinets
Stuffing kitchen tools, utensils, and appliances into a limited space is becoming a real challenge for people with either limited space or a love for many kitchen products. Therefore, it may happen to overload them, but it can cause a tear in the long run. It’s best to check how much a cabinet can hold upon purchasing, but the average is between 30 and 50 pounds. The installation also matters, but it’s still advisable to use the base cabinets on the floor for heavier objects.
You can add support brackets or L-brackets to some cabinets to reduce movement and increase weight capacity, but it’s still not a good idea to stuff cabinets with loads of items. An organisational system can help you find a place for every object, so you can place the most used items in the cabinets above the cooking stove, which include cutlery, and the heaviest items on the base cabinets.
Photo by roam in color
4. Neglecting repairs for longer than necessary
As busy as life gets, it can happen to forget about repairs or postpone them for longer. However, the longer issues go unresolved, the more difficult it may become to repair them. Loose screws, dinged doors, and broken shelving can one day become irreparable.
These repairs are necessary quickly, even for cabinets made of durable materials. Therefore, fixing the issues as soon as possible is a non-negotiable when you want to keep the kitchen cabinets for as long as possible. For example, loose cabinet knobs are quite common in the kitchen, and you can fix them by applying a bit of thread adhesive to the screw and tightening it. Or, if the drawer comes apart, it’s best to remove it and clean off any adhesive. Apply new wood glue to the joints and make sure the bond is strong.
5. Not checking for insects
Insects or other household pests are difficult to eliminate when you’re not wary of them or don’t seem to know the cause of their appearance. Cockroaches are the most common and can enter the house through grocery bags or cardboard boxes. They are also attracted to grease, which can compromise cabinets and their components. There are numerous ways to get rid of them, including using boric acid, roach baits, and deep cleaning the kitchen.
Termites, on the other hand, are the most damaging as they’ll eat the wood from the cabinets. They might appear when you’re keeping old cardboard or newspapers. Hence, a messy kitchen where old junk is scattered across might be a risk factor. If you notice hollowed wood, blisters in the flooring, or hollow sounds, it might be time to spray boric acid on the affected cabinets. Smaller cabinets that can be disconnected from the entire body can be placed in sunlight for effective termite extermination.
Final considerations
Kitchen cabinets are among the most important pieces of furniture in our homes, but we often overlook them by failing to care for them properly. That is, allowing moisture and humidity to form inside, failing to clean grease or oil promptly, and forgetting to manage repairs. These mistakes can shorten their lifespan, making long-term care more expensive and requiring more renovations and new bodies.
