It’s always a great idea to swap out old hardware if you’re painting or refacing your kitchen cabinets. These days, though, you may be penny-wise and looking for a quick, inexpensive solution to a tired, dingy look.

The trouble with simply shopping for a replacement knob or cabinet pull is that you might not find the exact replacement for your original set. If you’re lucky, just cleaning and freshening up old or tarnished hardware can provide a much-needed change to the overall appearance of your kitchen.

First, inventory the materials you currently have in place–polished chrome, enamel, nickel, wood, brass, antique copper, iron, or ceramics. Lowe’s recommends cleaning up your hardware as part of an overall cabinet cleaning. If you remove the doors and hinges to brush the cabinets with water and TSP, why not take off the knobs and pulls and degrease them too?

Soak Your Blues Away

I like using a plastic tub–the kind you put in your sink to soak your dishes. Add your hinges and hardware and let them soak in warm water with a gentle soap. You can use a medium-strength toothbrush to remove coats of grease and grime. Let the hardware drip-dry on paper towels. Need a tried and true cleaner–resort to that old soldier, vinegar. A 10-15 minute soak ought to remove any stubborn dirt.

The folks at Thomasville insist that you avoid using any cleaning solution that contains silicone, bleach, or ammonia because they can discolor and even damage your hardware. Avoid scouring powders and harsh pads that can leave scratches or discolorations in the knobs and hinges. And, for heaven’s sake, don’t use abrasives and strong chemicals to clean the cabinet surfaces, either, according to kitchen designers at Merillat.

If you’ve decided to replace or reface your kitchen cabinets, don’t shortchange yourself on hardware. Actually, I like looking at hardware just to see what’s new in terms of materials, colors, shapes, and styles. It’s almost overwhelming to narrow down your choices. Do you want bar pulls, granite inlay handles, art glass, or even the knobs of a favorite sports team? They’re available.

If you feel a cash pinch, remember that most major manufacturers and retailers carry a budget line of hardware products that are still attractive and made for durable wear. I discovered antique brass knobs for 60 cents and rustic pewter pulls for $3 that would suit a historical design to perfection.

Starting Your Cabinet Plans

Obviously, your first step is to set a ceiling on the amount you want to spend on new kitchen cabinets. If you can’t afford all the bells and whistles, remember that there are unfinished or pre-made cabinets that come ready to hang at discount prices. On the other hand, you might get by just having your existing cabinets refinished with new veneers.

If you decide on having your cabinets repainted, you have to remove existing hinges, pulls, knobs, and other hardware anyway. That gives you the perfect opportunity to visit home improvement stores, cabinet shops, or spin around on the Internet for hardware retailers. Sales come and go all the time.

I spent a few hours just surfing websites hawking bright colored ceramic knobs and pulls. If you do some digital window shopping before you finalize your plans, you might find yourself changing your entire theme after discovering exciting ways to dress up your kitchen.