kitchen units

sunbeam60

my hubby has decided that our 20yr old kitchen needs replacing ( I was just going to replace worktop and tiles as the units are still in a good condition.) I have been given the task of designing, sourcing and project managing.
Design has been chosen and some appliances identified.

I am uncertain about choice of door units. My current ones are brilliant - the don;t easily show stains and I just scrub them up with cif or bleach and they are fab.
The ones I have been looking at in the showrooms look beautiful but I wonder how truly practical they are. The salespeople tell me they are - low maintainance, just a wipe with a damp cloth. But how often?? I am not very 'houseproud' life is too short!
I worry that the new cream gloss style would be high maintainance - all those smears. The matt buttermilk in my sights looks like it would show up every grubby, greasy fingerprint - hubby tends not to use handles when closing doors. and the grandchildren!!!

Does anyone have these type of doors? How well do the stand up to a good scrub with cif? I would likr this kitchen to last me for the next 20 years!

ryder72

Gloss doors are particularly bad for showing smears and scratches on the darker, bolder colours. The lighter colours gloss colours (creams, whites etc) are more forgiving for smears but can show scratches, depending on what type of door you have (acrylic and vinyl wraps are pretty soft surfaces so will show scratches easily). Matt finishes are more forgiving for both scratches and smears and again the lighter matt finishes are better.

Irrespective of what finish you select, bleach or Cif is not a kitchen door cleaning product. Period. You have been lucky that your doors haven't reacted badly to your use of harsh cleaning products. A damp cloth should be sufficient for most cleaning.

I would recommend a laminate door for maximum durability and wear resistance. However, you also need to pay particular attention to the quality and finish of the carcases if you want your kitchen to last 20 years. Most doors with reasonable care will last 20 years. Its carcases, hinges, drawerboxes that start to fail before the doors.

sunbeam60

Thank you for your observations. My current kitchen is an excellent, well built german design and would have been very modern when fitted. The carcases etc are still looking good - only some yellowing of the edging strips. I am hoping to replicate this - albeit on more of a budget. We have chosen a middle of the range local company and the units etc look good and strong. We are pleased with the service and confident of a good job. I just need to choose my doors. So far I am considering a matt buttermilk and an oak look shaker. Both are, I think, mdf with a vinyl type wrap.

I'm not sure I have been 'lucky' with my doors - I just think they are excellent doors (laminated). My previous kitchen also had doors that were scrubbable. Perhaps doors were more robust back then. Some grubby fingerprints need more than a damp cloth - what do I do then?

I appreciate what you are saying - this is what the salespeople say. I was just hoping someone might tell me what they do when the doors get particularly grubby and a damp cloth is not enough!

ryder72

You have a German kitchen - enough said. I dont know of many other kitchen that will withstand 20 years of heavy use, cleaning abuse (if you pardon the choice of words) and still come out looking like new.

Look for a supplier of German kitchens and you won't go wrong.

I still maintain that using bleach and cif isnt the way to clean doors. That doesnt mean door will fall to bits each time you take harsh cleaning products - its just not recommended (bit like we're required to check air pressure in tyres each time we drive).

jaspercat2002

I think as far as gloss is concerned it very much depends on the room they are going in. Our kitchen is quite dark and doesn't get any direct sunlight so the cream gloss is great as it brightens it up and a quick wipe with a water spray and e-cloth gets all but the worst off. Very easy to care for and so far looks great.

However on the odd day a ray of sunshine makes it in the smears/fingerprints suddenly appear! I think if I had a sun filled kitchen it would drive me mad.

sunbeam60

Thank you for your honest observations. I had a feeling the high gloss cream might be like that. I loved it in the showroom and it was my first choice - then I started to think about it. My kitchen is east facing and has a huge window. It gets a lot of bright sun in the morning and I know I would be driven mad with smears and fingerprints! Not too keen on spray and clean every day either - I want a once a week job!

Can anyone advise please on living with cream matt surfaces? I'm thinking they will also show smears/grease marks from fingerprints. And what do you use to 'get the worst off'. Seems I wouln't be able to use cif anymore on modern doors.

ryder72

By all means buy a matt cream laminate door (not foil wrap) as its going to be the most resistance to cleaning.

Most stains and marks will come off using a sponge dipped in warm soapy(fairy) water. Some might need a bit of soaking.
If that doesn't work, try Cif or similar cleaner but check to see in an inconspicuous location that it doesn't discolour/bleach the laminate surface.

sunbeam60

Thanks for your advice. I do know that most stains come off with warm soapy water! Not a complete novice to cleaning! It's the stubborn stains that I find best removed with cif. My kitchen hasn't stayed looking good for 20yrs through lack of care!

Not sure what foil wrap is. The specs on the matt cream says it is - PVC foil laminated on MDF. Another door is - Laminated MDF frame and centre panel. Perhaps an explaination of the differences might help my decision.

Sues48

I personally wouldn't touch vinyl wrap kitchen doors with a bargepole. My current kitchen has them and they are a complete mess, the vinyl has lifted and cracked on virtually every cuboard door and drawer front. The kitchen has been in approx 10 years and the first door strated to go about 2 or 3 years ago, although it wasn't mega expensive, it wasn't bargain basement either.

We have just started to look at replacing it and for this reason I'm going for wood this time.

sunbeam60

OH That doesn't sound too good. My current kitchen has lasted 20 years and not a problem. I sometimes think everything is made to fail these days. (I am sounding like my mother!) This kitchen is not basement value either so I want to get it right. Am I allowed to ask which supplier you used?
I have my kitchen fitter booked - just need to make my mind up about supplier. Even the 'wood' ones I've looked at appear to be painted on laminate.

rob7475

Hi,

Have a look at diy-kitchens . com . I don't work for them but they have good reviews on here. I will also be buying a new kitchen soon and have had a look at their showroom and everything looks to be good quality.

They do solid wooden doors and prices are good.