White cabinets have been the hottest choice in recent years, with cream style, minimalist style, and Japanese style styles almost all inseparable from white. But many people find that within two years of moving in, the white cabinets have turned yellow, and it is the kind of yellow that slowly spreads from the edges to the middle, and cannot be wiped off. What exactly causes white boards to turn yellow?

The first reason is the aging of UV paint. Most white finishes use UV paint, which is white and shiny when first applied, but UV paint has a natural drawback - poor resistance to yellowing. Under the action of ultraviolet rays and heat, the paint surface will gradually oxidize and turn yellow. This is not a quality issue, it is a material characteristic.

The second reason is that the edge was not sealed properly. The white board turns yellow, and the edges are always the first to turn yellow. Because the edge is the boundary between the edge sealing and the substrate, and it is also the most susceptible to water vapor and oxidation invasion. If the edge is not tightly sealed, air and moisture will seep in from the edge, accelerating the oxidation of the paint surface, and yellow will spread from the edge.

The third reason is the usage environment. The white cabinet near the kitchen, exposed to oil fumes for a long time, will form a yellow oil film on the surface, which cannot be wiped clean no matter how hard it is. The white cabinet near the bathroom, although moisture-proof measures have been taken, high humidity will accelerate the aging of the paint surface. Cabinets exposed to direct sunlight turn yellow faster than those in shaded areas.

How to delay yellowing?

When choosing white boards, prioritize products with high UV paint resistance to yellowing, or choose finishes such as skin sensitive films or PET films that are not prone to yellowing. Edge sealing must be done with good craftsmanship, PUR or laser edge sealing can significantly delay edge yellowing. The installation location should avoid direct sunlight and areas with heavy oil fumes as much as possible.

But to be honest, it's only a matter of time before the white board turns yellow, it's just a matter of speed. If you are particularly concerned about the durability of white, you can consider using warm white instead of pure white, or using wood grain color for the cabinet and white only for the door panels, so that even if it turns yellow, it is not obvious.

Instead of struggling with how to prevent yellowing, it's better to accept the fact from the beginning that white has a shelf life. When choosing, spend a little more money on using high-quality finishes and edges, pay attention to the environment when using them, and let them last for a few more years.