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Tips for Maintaining Your Outdoor Cabinets Year Round

Year in and year out, you’re keeping up with the inside and outside of your home with cleaning, resealing, and all the usual chores. But now that you have a beautiful outdoor kitchen and entertaining area, the outdoor cabinetry absolutely needs to be added to the upkeep to-do list. This isn’t a very difficult task, but it does require some special know-how, as your cleaning routine will be based on the material of your cabinets. Learning how to quickly and easily clean and take care of your outdoor cabinets will save you some time – so you can get back to spending it with friends and family.

Stainless Steel
This type of material is built to weather all of the seasons. That said, it’s not perfect, as it can stain without proper care. Before you start, you’ll want to talk with your manufacturer and confirm the types of products and treatments that are approved for use on your cabinets, as these items can vary depending on the type of finish you have. Once you have your list of safe detergents and sealing agents, consistently cleaning all of your outdoor stainless steel cabinets and appliances is the first step in ensuring their longevity. You’ll want to go in with a damp cloth to remove all dirt and debris, then finish it off with a sealant. Be sure to not use steel wool to clean, as this can leave scratches and scuffs.

Marine grade polymer
This type of material has become popular, as it comes in many different finishes to match your design – and it’s very weather resistant. But like with stainless steel, it does have its disadvantages. Marine grade polymers do have the potential to warp and lose their shape as time goes on. Because this material can come in many different forms, it is recommended to contact your manufacturer for best up-keep practices and expected longevity.

More than just the cabinets
Keeping up with your outdoor cabinets to ensure longevity goes deeper than just the cabinet door, you want to make sure you’re cleaning and taking care of all the hardware and shelving inside the cabinets. Your stainless steel hardware should be cleaned regularly, and gently, with a cleaner like WD-40 on a soft pad to remove rust, corrosion, and other wear and tear.

Winter ready
Regardless of where you live, your cabinets will have to endure a few cold winter months, so you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared when it comes time to get your outdoor kitchen winter ready. Even though some cabinetry materials are mostly weather resistant, like powder-finished stainless steel, some extra protective steps definitely won’t hurt. Before you do anything, you’ll want to call your manufacturer to understand their recommendations depending on your cabinetry material. One thing you’ll want to do is cover all surfaces, appliances, and cabinetry to fight cracks and weathering for any possible freezing conditions, depending on region. Before you do this, check to make sure there are no preexisting areas of moisture, so you don’t trap that in.

Your outdoor kitchen will quickly become your favorite part of the home. It’ll be your go-to space to entertain, or relax and have a drink at the end of the day. Keeping this area clean and properly cared for will ensure you get to enjoy it for a long time. As the months begin to cool, educate yourself on how to protect your cabinets and surfaces from the cool and damp temperatures – so you can enjoy it just the same as the sun begins to shine again.