Cabinet Refacing Care and Maintenance
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Your Complete Guide For Cabinet Refacing Care & Maintenance
Discover the best tips and tricks for cabinet refacing care and maintenance. Learn how to keep your cabinetry looking pristine and extend the lifespan of your fresh look. Get expert advice on cleaning and preventing common cabinetry issues to keep your investment looking like new for years to come.
Simple Habits That Help Your Refaced Cabinets Last
Cabinet refacing gives your kitchen a fresh start without tearing out the cabinet boxes that still work well. It is one of the reasons many homeowners choose MKD Kitchen & Bath: you get a cleaner, more updated kitchen with less disruption than a full cabinet replacement.
Once your refacing project is complete, the right care routine helps protect the finish, hardware, and everyday function of your cabinets. Most maintenance is simple. Use gentle products, avoid harsh chemicals, keep moisture under control, and clean up grease before it builds up.
If your project included MKD’s ProGuard Finish, the coating reaches its full performance after 30 days. During that first month, a lighter touch gives the finish time to cure properly.
Daily Cleaning for Refaced Cabinet Surfaces
Routine cleaning is the easiest way to keep refaced cabinets looking their best. The goal is to remove dust, fingerprints, grease, and moisture without scratching the surface or wearing down the finish.
For everyday cleaning, use a soft cloth dampened with warm water. Wipe gently, then follow with a dry cloth so moisture does not sit on the cabinet surface, door edges, or hardware.
When warm water is not enough, Pledge and Murphy Oil Soap are compatible options. Apply the cleaner with a soft, non-abrasive cloth, wipe in the direction of the grain when applicable, and dry the area afterward.
Avoid steel wool, scrubbing pads, and rough textures that scratch the finish. Also, skip multi-surface sprays, bleach-based products, and anything with solvents. These products can dull the finish, scratch the surface, or cause long-term damage that gentle cleaning would have prevented.
Cleaning Thermofoil Cabinet Finishes
Thermofoil cabinet finishes are designed to be durable and easy to maintain, but they still need the right products. Certain chemicals found in common cleaners can damage thermofoil or weaken the bond between the film and the cabinet surface.
Do not use products that contain:
Ethyl alcohol
Acetone
Mineral oil
These ingredients can lead to peeling, discoloration, or separation over time. For most thermofoil cleaning, warm water and a soft cloth are enough. Dry the surface when finished, especially along corners, seams, and edges.
Caring for Cabinets with ProGuard Surface Protection
MKD’s ProGuard Finish is a proprietary surface coating applied during the cabinet refacing process. It gives your refaced cabinets added surface protection, but it needs time to cure after installation.
For the first 30 days:
Wipe gently when needed
Avoid soaking the surface with water
Skip cleaning products unless absolutely necessary
Do not scrub or press hard when wiping
Keep steam, grease, and excess moisture away from cabinet edges
After the 30-day cure period, the ProGuard Finish reaches full performance, and you can follow the standard cleaning routine for refaced cabinet surfaces.
Deep Cleaning Refaced Cabinets
Even when you wipe cabinets regularly, grease and residue can collect around hardware, door edges, hinges, and drawer slides. A monthly deep clean helps prevent buildup in the areas your daily cleaning may miss.
Focus on:
Cabinet pulls and knobs
Door and drawer edges
Corners where grime collects
Soft-close hinges
Drawer slide channels
Cabinet surfaces near the range
Use a soft cloth for larger areas and a cotton swab or soft-bristle brush for tight spaces. Do not use anything stiff or abrasive.
For heavier buildup, apply a slightly stronger Murphy Oil Soap solution to a soft cloth. Wipe the affected area, let it sit briefly, then clean it off and dry the surface. Do not let soapy water pool near hinges, seams, drawer slides, or door edges.
What to Avoid After Cabinet Refacing
Your cleaning products matter, but so does the environment around your cabinets. A few everyday kitchen habits can affect how well refaced cabinets hold up over time.
Keep Steam Away from Cabinet Doors: Steam is one of the biggest threats to cabinet finishes. If your dishwasher vents toward a cabinet door, keep that door open during the drying cycle or consider using a vent guard. Repeated steam exposure can cause edges to lift, swell, or weaken, especially on thermofoil surfaces.
Wipe Grease Before It Builds Up: Cabinets near the cooktop accumulate grease faster than those elsewhere in the kitchen. Wipe those surfaces after cooking so splatter does not harden into a film or work its way into seams. Avoid spraying cooking oil directly near cabinet surfaces. Propellant residue can be difficult to remove once it bonds to the finish.
Do Not Let Water Sit on Cabinet Edges: Moisture can cause problems when it sits along door edges, drawer fronts, toe kick, and areas near the sink or dishwasher. Clean spills quickly and dry the surface afterward.
Why Midwest Homeowners Choose MKD Kitchen & Bath for Cabinet Refacing
Homeowners choose MKD Kitchen & Bath for cabinet refacing because they want a kitchen that looks updated, works better, and does not require a full remodel when the existing cabinet layout still makes sense.
Customers choose MKD for cabinet refacing because we offer:
A Faster Path to a Refreshed Kitchen: Cabinet refacing can be completed in as little as three days, with many kitchens ready within about a week, depending on the scope.
A More Affordable Alternative to Replacement: Refacing typically costs 30–50% less than full cabinet replacement without sacrificing quality or durability.
Less Disruption at Home: Since the existing cabinet boxes stay in place, families avoid the mess, downtime, and inconvenience of a full cabinet tear-out.
A Proven Midwest Company: MKD has served homeowners for 75 years as a second-generation, family-owned company.
Read through our customer reviews to hear directly from homeowners across Michigan, Northern Ohio, and Northern Indiana who have worked with MKD Kitchen & Bath.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabinet Refacing Care
Cabinet Refacing is a quick and cost-effective solution to a full remodel. In just a few days, MKD Kitchen and Bath can update the look of your kitchen by replacing doors, drawer fronts, and hardware, and applying a new finish to the existing cabinet boxes. It’s a less invasive, faster, and more affordable option than full cabinet replacement.
Cabinet refacing is an excellent solution if you’re satisfied with your kitchen layout and want to refresh the look of your cabinets. Refacing offers flexibility, including the option to keep your existing countertops intact if desired. Unlike a full remodel—which involves removing the existing cabinets and allows for layout changes—refacing keeps the cabinet structure in place while giving it a fresh, modern appearance. It’s also typically more cost-effective, less disruptive, and faster than a complete replacement.
On Average, the refacing process takes 3-5 days to complete, depending on the size of the kitchen and customization options chosen.
Please note: For projects that are part of a larger renovation, the 3 to 5-day installation timeline may not apply.
No, we do not refinish or paint your existing cabinet doors and drawers. Our cabinet refacing service involves replacing them with brand new doors and drawer fronts, ensuring a fresh, updated look and better durability. By installing new materials on your cabinet boxes, we create the appearance of a full remodel without the need for refinishing or painting. This approach guarantees long-lasting results and improved functionality.
Our cabinet refacing service includes brand new doors, drawers, hardware, hinges, and veneer, all custom-measured and built to perfectly complement the new style and color of your kitchen.
Included in our service:
- New doors and drawers
- Soft-close hinges and slides
- Mouldings
- Matching toe kick
Additional options available:
- Hardware
New countertops, backsplash, sink, and faucets - Island additions or extra cabinets
- Kitchen cabinet valance additions
- Over-the-range hood installation
Yes, cabinet refacing can increase the value of your home more than cabinet refinishing or painting. It offers a return on investment nearly equivalent to a full remodel. However, it’s important to note that the interior of your cabinets is not refaced, so potential buyers may be able to tell the difference between refacing and a complete replacement. Nonetheless, it remains a cost-effective way to boost your home’s appeal and value.
Cabinet refacing is typically 30-50% less expensive than a full remodel, making it a cost-effective option for many homeowners looking to update their kitchen without a large renovation budget.
With proper care, refaced cabinets can last for decades. To ensure longevity, it’s important to avoid prolonged exposure to water and use the appropriate cleaning solutions recommended for your specific cabinet refacing materials. Regular maintenance will help preserve the fresh look and functionality of your cabinets for many years to come.
Cabinet refacing primarily focuses on the appearance and functionality of existing cabinets, so the layout generally remains the same. However, you can add new cabinets, shelving, or other modifications if desired and within reason.
Yes, refacing is a more eco-friendly option as it reuses existing cabinet structures, reducing waste associated with a complete tear-out and minimizing the use of new materials.
ProGuard is MKD’s proprietary surface protection coating used on cabinet refacing projects. It needs 30 days to cure fully. During that time, clean gently, avoid soaking the surface, and skip cleaning products unless they are truly needed.
No. Thermofoil is easy to maintain when cleaned properly. Use warm water and a soft cloth, and avoid ethyl alcohol, acetone, and mineral oil, as these ingredients can damage the finish or weaken the bond.
No. Cabinet refacing is not refinishing, and it is not painting. Refacing replaces the visible cabinet surfaces with new materials, which gives the kitchen a more complete update while preserving cabinet boxes that are still structurally sound.
Yes. MKD offers warranty coverage on cabinet refacing projects. You can download the warranty document or request a copy when you contact MKD about your project.
Talk to MKD About Cabinet Refacing in Michigan, Northern Ohio, or Northern Indiana
MKD Kitchen & Bath provides free in-home consultations for homeowners interested in cabinet refacing. We will look at your existing cabinets, talk through your goals, review your options, and help you decide whether refacing is the right fit for your kitchen.
Contact MKD to schedule your consultation or request warranty and care guide information for your completed cabinet refacing project.
What Our Customers Are Saying
This company did a great job on my countertops, arrived at my home about 30-35 mins earlier than planned. I was not home at the time and they did not have my cell number. These guys waited for me to arrive home instead of just leaving my package on the porch or returning for another day. Patience and professional!
MKD’s customer service proposition is the best I have seen in my 45 years of serving kitchen remodel customers. The Townsend’s treat their customer’s kitchens like they are their own, and their craftsmanship and fabrication is second to none. This is a great company to do business with.
I had new counter tops installed and they are awesome! From the start, they were very professional and efficient. They did a great job helping us choose the color, the edge detail and some great options. They also did a great job keeping me informed on the templating and installation dates. I will definitely use MKD for any future projects. Jim Collins.
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