Expert: Greg Scholl - 12/8/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi Greg,

I am rent a house that has disgusting grime on the kitchen cabinets that I could literally scrape off with my fingernails. Ew. Anyways, I have been doing some research and finally decided that to clean them, I will be using TSP in the powder form. My boyfriend took the cabinet doors off and informed me that the base the cabinet doors came off of is not wood but like imitation wood grain cover over particle board. I honestly am not 100% sure about those details but that gives you the general idea. Anyways, I have been putting off this project because I am unsure about a few things. Can I use TSP on the base of the cabinets described above? After using the TSP on the cabinet doors, how long should I let them dry for? How long do I let the TSP set on the cabinets? Would it possibly be easier and less risky using a spray bottle filled with the TSP mixture rather than sponging it on? What kind of gloss should I use after the TSP? I apologize for all the questions, but I have never used TSP before and am kind of apprehensive to use it but I have to get this grime off. It's driving me crazy. So, any other little tidbits or advice you want to add concerning this would be very helpful and appreciative. Thank you very much in advance for your time and your expertise.

ANSWER: Hi Kristen, if the cabinet bases are constructed that way, then the doors are likely vinyl veneer over particle board or MDF too. TSP is not a great idea, because it has to be flooded with water in solution to effect serious cleaning, and that can affect the substrate, meaning swell it. Your choices are limited, but I would try a good cleaner/degreaser first like an Orange product that degreases.:

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=orange+degreaser&tag=googhydr-20&index

Or Simple Green Degreaser:

http://www.amazon.com/13002-Simple-Green-All-Purpose-Degreaser/dp/B0002JN2GI/ref

Make sure you're getting one that is specifically a cleaner/degreaser and not a wood care product. Use a white t-shirt or light colored rags to apply the product and watch the cloth to see what comes off...you will be able to tell how well it's working by whats on the rag. There's very little you can do to 'freshen' these type of cabinet when clean, as they're really not finished wood....but a surfactant based cleaner like the ones mentioned above will be a better choice than a water based solution of TSP...hope that helps a little- please post back if need be- regards- Greg

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the quick response. I was wondering if you were refering to just the "base" of the cabinets or doors included? Only wondering this because I don't have those things on hand at the moment, and have car problems... but I already have the TSP and would like to know if its ill advised of me to use it on the wooden doors?

Answer
I was referring to the whole job...TSP is "old" chemistry, and because you mix it with water..(how well does water cut grease?), for it to be effective requires a lot of it and a lot of scrubbing, flooding the area, etc......it is not as effective as solvent based degreasers..and the use of large amounts of water or water based cleaning solutions on wooden products like fiber board and compressed particle board is NOT a good idea...even mineral spirits (paint thinner) will cut grease faster and more thoroughly, with less work than TSP solution, and will not harm the surfaces, but it's odor is somewhat offensive...there is also the Formby's product that is adulterated mineral spirits with fragrances added...:
http://www.amazon.com/Minwax-30016-Formbys-Build-Up-Remover/dp/B000BZSZ1U
You can purchase any of these products at Amazon.com...and have them delivered to your door....as well...regards- Greg