There’s something about a predominantly white kitchen that sets our hearts aflutter: its bright, crisp aesthetic can make a home feel more expansive and bring a sense of calm. Many homeowners, however, tend to be a little skittish about white kitchens, as they have a reputation for being difficult to maintain and keep clean.

This isn’t necessarily the case—at least not with the following seven tips. Don’t let a little grease and grime deter you from installing the white cabinetry, counters, sinks, and appliances of your dreams. Read on to find out how to keep your white kitchen at its most brilliant.

1. Protect Cabinetry and Work Surfaces From Direct Sunlight

Direct sunlight can cause white cabinets or laminated surfaces to turn yellow. To prevent this, install curtains or blinds, or tinted glass windows, to protect your cabinetry and worktops from strong sunlight.

2. Always Turn On the Exhaust Fan

Grease particles from cooking are the biggest cause of staining in kitchens over time. To stop grease from accumulating on your cabinets and counters, switch on the exhaust fan or range hood as soon as you begin cooking.

3. Clean Cupboards With Vinegar and Baking Soda

To keep your white cupboards looking bright and fresh, create a cleaning solution with one cup of vinegar, one tablespoon of baking soda, and two cups of warm water. Dip a rag in this solution, wring out the access liquid, then wipe down your cupboards. Do this at least once a month.

4. Soak Sinks in Bleach

White sinks can look grimy pretty quickly, and the best way to prevent signs of wear is through household bleach. To prevent it from running straight down the drain, line the bottom of your sink with paper towels, then wet them with bleach. Leave the bleach-soaked towels for about half an hour, then remove them, and rinse the sink with warm water. If you’d rather not use bleach for sink stains, one natural alternative is to fill your sink with club soda and lemon juice, let the solution soak, then rise with warm water.

5. Brush Away Tile Grout

If your kitchen has a white tile backsplash, any dirt that accumulates on the grout will seem more obvious, so be sure to take care of this regularly. Create a paste with baking soda and water, and apply it to the grout. Put some vinegar into a spray bottle, and spritz a coat of vinegar onto the paste, then scrub the grout with a toothbrush and rinse off the mixture.

6. Remove Stains From Laminates

To get rid of stains on white laminate counters, mix household cleaning detergent with baking soda—one part detergent to three parts baking soda usually does the trick—and apply this solution directly onto stains, then scrub everything down with a nylon brush. Wipe the countertop with a damp cloth, then dry the surfaces quickly, as laminates are sensitive to excessive moisture.

7. Prevent and Remove Stains From Natural Stone Surfaces

Natural stone surfaces like marble or granite are porous, meaning they absorb liquid much more quickly than stone composite or laminate surfaces, so clean any spillage immediately so that it doesn't seep into your counters. If a stain does develop, one way you can get rid of it is with a solution of hydrogen peroxide with a smidge of ammonia.

Want more kitchen inspiration? See 30 White Kitchens That Are Anything But Ordinary.