Acrylic Kitchen Cabinets: Everything You Need to Know (Beginner’s Guide)

So you eventually settled for the non-toxic, ultra-glossy acrylic kitchen cabinets, that’s a beautiful choice.

They can turn any dull space into a shiny, beautiful modern-looking space. Acrylic kitchen cabinets are available in different colors, so you’ll definitely find one that’ll blend in perfectly.

Why haven’t you bought them yet? I’m sure you’ve heard that they are resistant to moisture and UV light. Oh! I know, you’ve got a lot of burning questions that need answers and you don’t want to make a wrong decision too. 

That’s smart there’s nothing wrong with being a bit skeptical and seeking out full information first. And that’s exactly what we’ll be doing here.

I want to help you with answers that’ll put you on the right track.

Are Acrylic Kitchen Cabinets Durable?

Cabinets are very important features of the decor of any kitchen. They’ll likely be in frequent use and that’s why it is important to consider the durability of the cabinets you intend to purchase.

They’ll get slammed and bashed sometimes, so you want to make sure they are hard-wearing and long-lasting.

Acrylic kitchen cabinets are relatively durable, they are known to be water and scratch-resistant. Acrylic finishes look smooth and glossy and hardly fade away even after several years. In fact, cabinets with acrylic finishes take in a lot of wear and tear due to their durable nature.

But here’s the bad news, these beautiful, glossy cabinets easily reveal stains and fingerprints especially when they are not well cared for.

But this is something regular cleaning can fix. So generally, acrylic kitchen cabinets need your time and effort to look good, so try as much as possible to wipe them with soap and water at least once a week.

You don’t want your beautiful-looking cabinets to look dirty after a short time right?

Are Acrylic Kitchen Cabinets Expensive?

Acrylic kitchen cabinets are top-notch options in terms of quality and aesthetic appeal.

So yes, as expected they are more expensive than other regular cabinets. If you desire a sweet ultra-glossy look and you don’t mind making a worthwhile investment, acrylic cabinets are for you.

They’ll stand out as modern and beautiful in your kitchen but will cost you a bit more. What do you think? Do you like to spend on a premium look or do you feel it really doesn’t matter?

Which is Better Acrylic or Laminate for Kitchen Cabinets?

Acrylic coatings and laminates are very popular choices for kitchen cabinets. So most people consider both of them before deciding on which finish going for.

While they vary in terms of price, and appearance, it’s important you decide what is most important to you.

While acrylic kitchen cabinets are loved for their premium high-gloss look, laminates are also available in glossy options but they are not as shiny and reflective as acrylic finishes.

Acrylic is more durable and scratch-resistant, but then laminate finishes tend to be heat and moisture resistant but delaminate after a good number of years.

Acrylic finishes are a bit more pricey than laminates but then you get the value of your money.

For acrylic cabinets it may not be easy to replace them after many years, this is because finding an exact matching hue may be an issue.

Although acrylic kitchen cabinets offer a variety of colors to choose from, laminates have even more colors and variety to choose from.

You’ll find matte, gloss, and many more options.

Generally, acrylic kitchen cabinets are perfect for you if you are looking out for a modern, superior kitchen look and your budget is not limited.

But if you are working on a slim budget, you can go for laminate finishes.

These days, you’ll even find kitchens that use both finishes in a very impressive way. You can choose textures and colors that fit in together.

It’ll be nice to use acrylic finishes for the upper cabinets since they are more reflective and attractive.

Both finishes are undeniably beautiful, but you’ll have to define your needs, and budget and go for what you love.

How to Clean Acrylic Kitchen Cabinets?

Cleaning your acrylic kitchen cabinets shouldn’t be an issue if you do it the right way.

There’s obviously no way to prevent your cabinet from getting dirty. They’ll definitely get some drops of grease and dust on their shiny surface.

But they are quite easy to clean and resistant to moisture, the good part is that you can easily repair any scratches on their surface. I’ll teach you how to do all of this quickly!

To clean your glossy cabinets, you’ll need to use a wet microfiber cloth or a neat cleaning rag and warm soapy water.

Get a cleaner that is not too strong, you want to avoid anything that’ll damage them or dull the shine. A mild dishwashing liquid should do the trick.

But it’ll be a lot better, if you can get a special acrylic cleaner, this would make sure you keep the smooth, sleek look for a longer time.

Now that you know what you need, clean your cabinet from the top and then, smoothly and gently wipe down.

Keep cleaning till you get the original shine you desire. Remember, do not use just any regular rag to clean them, avoid paper towels or any scouring rag or brush that could damage your cabinet.

Ensure you dry up the excess moisture on the cabinet, you don’t want to damage the material.

Plus, avoid the use of harsh cleaners or chemicals for your acrylic cabinet. If you are quite uncertain about a cleaner, you should confirm with the manufacturer before use.

Cleaners like liquid bleach or oil-based solvents may be harmful to cabinets with acrylic finish. 

What I do most times when I want to do a quick check with a new cleaner, is to try it inside the cabinet on a small unnoticeable portion. If it seems cool, then I use it.

Some people use vinegar for stubborn stains and specks of grease, I don’t recommend this, but if you have to use it, ensure you are using very little or simply add a few drops of vinegar to your washing water.

In the past, I used to do a quick clean of just the front doors and side of my cabinet, but this is so wrong. It’s also important to clean the interior of your wonderful cabinet as well.

The question is why? I’ll tell you!

The interior of your cabinets may begin to accumulate odor due to frequent use, and then the dirt will stick to them, you wouldn’t like the look at all.

So at least once a month, take out everything in the cabinet and clean the interior nicely as well. If you notice any disgusting smell even after cleaning, you can put a box of baking soda or something of that sort inside your cabinet.

No matter how careful we are, once in a while our cabinets will get a few scratches here and there due to frequent use.

Sadly, you may not like the look and still not want to get a professional to charge you for maintenance.

Guess what? You can get a polish kit to help you restore the great look of your cabinets.

Pick a great day you want to do this, first clean the surface and make sure it is completely dry.

After that, you can apply the polish, you’ll need a soft cloth as well. However, follow the directions on the package of the polish you purchase. 

I guess you’ve seen how easy it is to maintain your sweet-looking cabinets, there is not much to do. You’ll surely keep them for a long time if you clean them frequently.

REFERENCES:

www.livspace.com/in/magazine/kitchen-cabinets-finishes-acrylic-laminate/

https://www.hunker.com/

by Lisa Wilson

Without the internet, Lisa would never have discovered upcycling. She used wisdom from other people’s blogs to begin her upcycling journey, then she started writing her own!