Steam is one of the major common causes of damage to your cabinets
Everyone loves a quality appliance that makes life easier. We all have a favorite coffee maker, toaster, pressure cooker, etc. that we rely on every day. The problem with a lot of these appliances is that they release steam and if they are confined to a small area on your counters it can cause damage to the finish on your cabinets such as steam burn or it can even melt the finish!
I'm not saying that you need to throw away your favorite coffee maker; just pull it out from under your upper cabinets when in use, or even better store it on a counter with no top cabinets like your island. This will allow for adequate breathing room for your appliance and keep steam from becoming trapped and causing damage to your cabinetry.
Make Sure All Major Appliances Are Properly Installed
Another thing you want to double check is that your major appliances like your oven, dishwasher, and refrigerator are properly installed with proper space to allow ventilation.
With most cook tops you will want a vent above it to remove steam and smoke from your kitchen. Many older kitchens don't have a vent above the stove area so you will want to look at either installing one or having other ways to vent.
The dishwasher is another major appliance that creates lots of steam. You will want to see where the vent is for your dishwasher and make sure it is properly installed to allow steam discharge without damaging the finish on your cabinets.
Self cleaning appliances can also cause a lot of heat and if the seal or gaskets are not properly sealed some of that heat can escape and cause damage to your cabinet finish. When using the self cleaning feature on your appliances it is best to pull the appliance out roughly 8 inches from your cabinets or remove the doors around the appliance.
Stay Away From The Plug In Air Fresheners
I admit, I used to love the plug in air fresheners with the oil in them, but after seeing the horror stories about the damage caused by them I've moved to the wax warmers.
Plug in air fresheners contain many chemicals that are not always disclosed. Some of these chemicals and oils can eat paint; a quick Google search can find thousands of pictures where the oil from these air fresheners have ate away the finish on a table or wood floors. The chemicals and heat released from the plug in fresheners can burn or peel the paint on your walls and cabinets causing significant damage and costing you money.
If you love making your home smell like you're baking an apple pie like I do then make sure your air freshener is in an open area away from anything that can be damaged or is flammable.
