Real Formica(tm) on plywood substrate is what you see serviceable in those 40 year old kitchens, not the home center thin laminate on particle board, which inevitably gets wet and self destructs.

I believe in doing things right and wanting to make a place my tenants can call home so out came the layers of particle board, drywall, and then plaster and lath.

DO NOT try to remove it yourself, it is against the law for one, can extremely dangerous for second, and you could invite a wonderful EPA fine and lawsuits by the neighbors that you expose to airborne particles.

It will be difficult to wash cheaper particle-board cabinets.  

Some are pretty low quality...they always LOOK nice when new, but are poor quality boxes made from OSB or particle board.

PRO TIP: Check particle size on filter before using chemicals.

This is another lazy landlord installment.This time I want to talk about sprucing up a vanityof you know the vanity that shows the smallest and tiniest scratcheswell I had such a vanity and paid pretty good money for it I was disappointed that it was made from that particle board so that when the veneer scratched off it looked horrible.I decided to take a little minwax stain and rubbed the entire vanity with itthe stain was close in color to the original finishwherever there was a scratch it got dark wherever the finish was the min wax stain just rubbed offI was very surprised by how well this worked.It was so simple I felt I had to share the tipeven if it doesent come out you haven't really wasted any time

All that I've ever seen at HD are made of particle or fiberboard.  

This will allow more particles through but will cause less strain on the machine and make it more efficient.

Here's what I gleaned as a summary of hardening tips for reducing turnover/maintenance costs:panasonic bath fans with timers in bathrooms4 coats of poly on wood floorsdouble door stopstile floors, showers vs surroundssingle lever shower valve vs. doublereplace toilets with steel parts/mechanicals whenever it starts to runKwikset smart keys (some debate over efficacy)door stoppers on all hingesremove pop-up drains and replace with commercial drains2' drain lines from sinks with an accessible clean outbuy a key cutter - maker for $50 on craigslistGranite tile counters - need a diamond polisher and tile sawUsed Fixed vs. friction shower rodsKeyed deadbolt and passage knob on outside doors to prevent accidental lockout5/8' fire core drywall - can't put a fist thru it and its fire-resistant1/4" board to back up towel rodspolyurethane cabinets under sink to pre seal and drain water to the floor2x4 base under cabinets to prevent particle board cabinets from failing where they meet the floorVinyl scrap under sink and up the back wallBest of luck!