ᐅ How do I clean IKEA PLATSA drawers and the inside surfaces of the cabinet?

Hello everyone, I recently purchased an IKEA Platsa system and mainly use the drawers and the interior sides of the cabinets extensively. I noticed that with regular use, dust tends to accumulate on the inside cabinet surfaces and in the drawers, along with occasional fine crumbs and stains. I’m interested in how to best clean these areas without damaging the surfaces or the drawer mechanisms.

Are there specific cleaning products or home remedies you would recommend for the PLATSA drawers and their inner surfaces? What cleaning methods are advisable, especially considering the materials and construction? I want to avoid moisture penetrating the joints or damaging the surfaces.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

Hey Kloda, great question! IKEA furniture isn’t always the easiest when it comes to cleaning, but the PLATSA is quite sturdily built. For the drawers, I find a simple trick really helps: first, completely empty them, then wipe with a damp microfiber cloth. If there’s something a bit tougher to clean, add a small drop of mild dish soap to the water and wipe again. It’s really important that the cloth isn’t too wet—wood or particleboard doesn’t like soaking wet surfaces.

For the inside of the cabinets, it’s similar: wipe, but don’t saturate. And if you can remove the drawers, definitely do so! That way you can reach all the edges better.

And hey, occasionally wiping again with a dry cloth will keep the wood looking nice.

Good luck and keep at it—the PLATSA is great if you take care of it! 😉

pinpa schrieb:
I find a very simple trick works well for drawers: first, empty everything completely, then wipe them with a damp microfiber cloth.

This is already a very good starting point, but I would like to add more detail here, as especially with PLATSA drawers and cabinets, it’s worth considering some technical specifics.

First, it should be noted that the PLATSA systems mostly use melamine-coated particleboard. This surface is generally quite resistant to moisture, but long-term or excessive wetness can cause swelling at the edges.

Therefore, I recommend:
- Completely empty the drawers, as already mentioned.
- For heavier dirt, vacuum the drawers with a dust-free vacuum cleaner or lightly brush them first.
- For the actual cleaning, use a damp microfiber cloth—not wet—to prevent water from seeping into edges or joints.
- A suitable cleaning agent is lukewarm water with a drop of neutral dish soap. Avoid strongly alkaline or acidic cleaners (vinegar, citric acid, abrasive cleaners) at all costs!
- Interior surfaces of the drawers and cabinet walls should also be wiped only with a damp cloth and then dried thoroughly.
- After cleaning and drying, you can polish the melamine-coated surface with a dry cloth; this also has an antistatic effect and attracts less dust.

Kloda schrieb:
I want to avoid moisture penetrating the joints or damaging the surfaces.

This caution is absolutely correct, and that is exactly why the above care instructions are recommended.

Important: If stains such as grease or adhesive residues are present, work very carefully with a mild cleaning alcohol or isopropanol and test on an inconspicuous area first to avoid discoloration.

One more question for you: Are your drawers heavily soiled or just lightly dirty from daily use? This could help adjust the cleaning frequency or method a bit.

danial60 schrieb:
One more question for you: Are your drawers generally heavily soiled or just lightly dirty from daily use? This could help adjust the cleaning frequency or method a bit.

Thank you for the detailed response! I would say it’s mostly everyday light dirt, mainly dust and occasionally small crumbs from food since the system is also located in the kitchen. But sometimes a small stain appears or I notice tiny adhesive residues from labels on the interior surfaces.

I think your advice about avoiding alkaline cleaners is very important. I wasn’t fully aware that vinegar or abrasive cleaners could be problematic; I had considered using natural vinegar essence as an all-purpose cleaner.

Do you have any tips on how to maintain the cabinets so they look new for as long as possible? And what’s the best way to handle those small adhesive residues? So far, I’ve only wiped them with plenty of warm water and dish soap.

Kloda schrieb:
Are there any tips on how to maintain the cabinets so they look like new for as long as possible? And what is the best way to deal with these small glue residues?

Very interesting question! Since you mentioned glue residues, I’ll gladly address the topic of material care and residue removal in more detail.

Regarding the glue residues: For PLATSA, the surfaces, as danial60 pointed out, are melamine-coated and therefore quite sensitive to scratches and harsh cleaning agents. I recommend the following to remove residues:
- Apply a few drops of isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) to a soft, lint-free cloth,
- gently dab onto the glue spots and let it sit without rubbing,
- then wipe off with a damp cloth and polish dry.

If isopropanol is not available, an oil such as baby oil can also help dissolve the glue—just be especially careful to avoid leaving oily stains.

For general maintenance to keep the appearance lasting:
- Dust regularly, as dust can cause fine scratches if spread while wiping,
- clean with a damp cloth only when necessary and always well wrung out,
- avoid strong pressure or abrasive sponges,
- remove stains immediately to prevent discoloration,
- there is no real impregnating treatment suitable for melamine surfaces, but occasional wiping with a dry microfiber cloth enhances shine and reduces dust.

danial60 schrieb:
Inner surfaces of drawers and cabinet interiors should also only be wiped damp and then allowed to dry thoroughly.

This is especially important since moisture can cause particleboard swelling—ideally keep a window open during cleaning for quick air circulation.

One last tip: For drawer slides, occasionally wipe the runners gently and, if needed, apply a small amount of silicone spray; this ensures smooth operation and protects the mechanism.