How often should I clean and condition wood kitchen cabinets?

Clean your wood kitchen cabinets with a gentle cleaner every 1-2 weeks and apply a conditioning treatment every 3-6 months to keep them looking their best in New Brunswick's challenging climate. NB's dramatic humidity swings — from 70-80% relative humidity in summer to as low as 15-25% indoors during winter with forced-air heating — make regular conditioning especially important for solid wood cabinet doors.

For routine cleaning, use a soft microfibre cloth dampened with warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain, then follow with a dry cloth to remove all moisture. Pay extra attention to the areas around handles and pulls, where oils from your hands build up, and the cabinet doors nearest the stove, where grease and cooking residue accumulate fastest. For stubborn grease, a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts warm water works well — just be sure to dry the surface immediately afterward, as standing moisture is wood's worst enemy.

Conditioning is where NB homeowners need to pay closer attention than the national average. When your furnace runs steadily from November through March, indoor humidity plummets. Dry air pulls moisture out of solid wood, causing doors to shrink slightly, which can lead to cracking, splitting at joints, and finish checking (fine hairline cracks in the finish). Applying a quality wood conditioner or furniture polish with natural oils (look for products containing lemon oil, tung oil, or mineral oil) every 3-4 months during the heating season helps maintain the wood's moisture balance. In summer, when Maritime humidity is high, you can stretch conditioning intervals to every 5-6 months.

Avoid silicone-based polishes, as they create a buildup that becomes gummy over time and can interfere with future refinishing. Also avoid anything with ammonia, bleach, or harsh abrasives — these strip the finish and dry out the wood faster.

Seasonal Deep Cleaning

Twice a year — ideally in spring and fall when you are transitioning between heating and cooling seasons — give your cabinets a thorough deep clean. Remove everything from inside, wipe down interior shelves, and clean cabinet exteriors top to bottom. Check under the sink for any signs of moisture intrusion, which is common in NB kitchens where older plumbing connections may develop slow leaks. Inspect hinges and tighten any loose screws, as seasonal wood movement can loosen hardware.

If your cabinets are MDF-core with a painted finish (the most popular mid-range choice in NB kitchens because MDF does not expand and contract like solid wood), you can skip the conditioning step entirely — just clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. MDF painted cabinets handle NB's humidity swings better than solid wood or thermofoil, which is one reason kitchen renovators in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John increasingly recommend them.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Thirty Four Renovations
• Gionetterenovations