Kitchen Repair Tips to Keep Your Cabinets and Countertops in Good Shape

Whether you’re channeling your inner Ina Garten or eating Cup-o-Noodles every night, you need Kitchen repair tips to function for you. Luckily, a few smart moves can avoid costly mistakes and expensive repairs.

Many skilled craftsmen and technical specialists don’t expect to be tipped, including painters, plumbers, alarm service technicians, movers, and appliance repair people. However, a small token of appreciation is always welcome.

Cabinets

The cabinets in your kitchen are likely the most visible part of the room, but they also take the brunt of many cooking-related injuries. Small dings and scratches can be repaired with plastic wood filler, which comes in a range of colors to match most wood stains. You can purchase a touch-up kit with all the items you need, including a special pen to handle the coloring. Before using, test the color on an unseen area of the cabinet.

If the laminate on your cabinets is peeling, you can fix it by scraping off the old thermofoil with a utility knife or five-in-one tool and then sanding down the MDF core with a power sander. You may have to replace the drawer glides as well.

Water-damaged particleboard swells when it absorbs moisture, causing warping that can make doors and drawers hard to open or close. Dry the affected areas as quickly as possible. If the wood has swelled significantly, you’ll have to sand it down and possibly paint it.

Countertops

Countertops take a beating from spilled wine, dropped pans, and other kitchen mishaps. If left untreated, these surfaces can crack, chip and stain. The condition of countertops can greatly affect the value of a home. While preventing damage is the best course of action, there may come a time when minor repairs are needed.

If your Formica countertop is in disrepair, a simple repair kit can solve the problem. Clean the area and use contact cement to reattach the edge. Allow the glue to dry completely and sand the edge with high-grit sandpaper to smooth and match the rest of the surface.

For quartz countertops, use a filler to repair chips. Mix the filler with a pigmented epoxy, such as PRG, Inc.’s Chip & Fill Kit. Work the material into the chip, using a putty knife, and then razor off any excess.

Appliances

Appliances work hard for us, but they’re easy to take for granted until they stop working. Often, the cause is a simple fix. You can save time, money, and the environment by taking care of these repairs yourself instead of hiring a professional or throwing them away.

Always disconnect the appliance from its power source, and make sure you’re wearing appropriate safety equipment like gloves and a face mask to avoid electric shock or breathing in dust or other particles. If you’re unsure about how to handle an appliance, consult an expert before you begin.

Check fuses and circuit breakers at the main entrance panel as well as at the separate appliance panels, especially for 220-volt appliances like ranges and air conditioners. You may also find a reset button on the appliance itself. If the appliance is old, it may have worn-out components that need replacing. Replace them with parts that are specifically designed for the model and brand of the appliance.