A dirty cabinet hinge not only looks unattractive, but depending on how dirty and/or rusty the hinge is, it may actually reduce the mobility of the cabinet door. If your cabinet hinges are made of wrought iron, they are susceptible to the same degradation as regular iron hinges, even though wrought iron is an iron alloy. Although you can clean the hinges while they are still attached to the cabinet, removing them from the cabinet ensures that you can give each hinge a thorough cleaning. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove the hinges from the cabinet and cabinet doors. The hinges are attached to the cabinet with screws. Remove the screws connecting the hinge to the cabinet door first, then carefully take down the door. Unscrew the hinge from the cabinet and put it aside. Repeat the process for all of the hinges.
2. Soak the hinges in warm soapy water for approximately 30 minutes. Mild detergent and water is sufficient. Make sure each hinge is fully submerged.
3. Scrub each hinge with a soft brush, covering the entire surface area of the hinge. Dry the hinges with a soft, dry cloth after you finish scrubbing. If the hinges are rusty, rub medium or coarse sandpaper against the rusty areas of each hinge. Wipe the hinges clean after removing the rust.
4. Spray a rust inhibitor onto the entire surface of each hinge to protect it against further rusting. Allow the inhibitor to dry on each hinge.
5. Reattach the hinges to the cabinets and cabinet doors.
Tags: each hinge, from cabinet, attached cabinet, cabinet door, cabinet doors, entire surface
