There is something sneaky about grease. It’s nothing to you if you fry up bacon on Sunday and griddle stovetop burgers on Saturday. The cabinets in your kitchen suddenly become filthy after hundreds of meals. An oily, dark film covers the surface. What happened to it? Furthermore, what are you going to do about it?
How would you defend yourself against grease? In order to maintain a clean cabinet, you really need to prevent any mess in the first place. Our top tips can help you clean greasy cabinets if you’ve missed the deadline. You’ve gotta clean your kitchen one cabinet at a time, and we’ve got some tried-and-true methods for you.
How to Clean Sticky Grease Off Kitchen Cabinets
Cleaning Kitchen Cabinets With Baking Soda
For those in need of a bit more scrubbing power or those who aren’t happy with the dish soap method, baking soda will be your best friend. Scrubbing with baking soda doesn’t damage your finish because it’s not abrasive. Follow these instructions to use baking soda:
- Mix baking soda with water to make a paste. It should be a little thicker than runny.
- The paste should be dipped into your toothbrush.
- The sticky area should be gently scrubbed.
- Wait a few minutes before using the paste.
- Scrub it gently again.
- Use a damp cloth to wipe down the area.
- After you’ve scrubbed the area, re-moisturize it with linseed oil. The entire cabinet area can also be rubbed with it.
Making a paste and using a toothbrush would be more work than using an orange to scrub the area. Clean the area by cutting an orange in half and dipping it in baking soda. The oil should be applied after rinsing the area well.
Cleaning Grease with Microfiber Cloth
Paper towels and dishcloths do not remove grease as well as a microfiber cloth. Microfiber cloths are extremely absorbent and negatively charged, thus attracting grease and dirt that is positively charged, according to the University of California, San Francisco.
If you prefer homemade degreasers, use a microfiber cloth and degreaser along with it. The grease should be removed by rubbing it gently in circular motions. The following tip will make removing grease from kitchen cabinets much easier after you have practiced a bit. Every time you use the microfiber cloth, you should rinse it. A grease trap can prevent it from cleaning since grease can get trapped inside.
Wipe Up Grease with Flour
You can also use flour to clean your home. Rather than using harsh chemicals to clean kitchen cabinets, flour can be used instead. Fresh grease stains should be sprinkled with flour as soon as they appear.
Flour absorbs moisture very well when it is dry. Once the flour and grease mixture has absorbed the grease, you can wipe it up easily. Dry paper towels can be used to wipe away grease immediately. Flour does not leave a residue on cabinets, unlike Magic Erasers. Using a magic eraser too hard can damage wooden kitchen cabinets.
Distilled White Vinegar
Another trusted kitchen cleaner is vinegar, which works well on heavy grease stains. White vinegar dissolves grease because it has natural acids. Using it is simple:
- Soak a washcloth or paper towel in undiluted vinegar before using it.
- Let the vinegar soak for 10 or 15 minutes in the greasy area of your cabinet.
- After the timer goes off, take a damp sponge and loosen the grease buildup, then wipe it down with a washcloth soaked in water.
Cabinet Cleaning Products To Try
While natural cleaners like baking soda and vegetable oil can help remove grease from wood kitchen cabinets, some products may be worth buying if you’re having cabinet grease issues.
Castile Soap: These vegan soaps are great for cutting through tough grease using a little warm water. Almost every homeowner knows about Dr. Bronner’s
Murphy Oil Soap: Various materials, including wooden kitchen cabinets, can be safely cleaned, and grease can be removed with this product. With the help of citronella oil, it removes grease from wood and restores the natural luster of the cabinets.
Linseed Oil: Although Linseed Oil does not technically clean, it is excellent for giving your cabinet surfaces a brilliant shine and protecting them against grease and other stains. In addition to drying faster, boiled Linseed Oil tends to have a longer shelf life.
You may need to buy specialized grease-cleaning products for your kitchen if vinegar and baking soda are not cutting the mustard.
Removing Grease from Your Hands
It is now time to take care of ourselves after we have taken care of the kitchen. Our skin is covered in greasy gunk that we want to remove. Acids are commonly found in grease cleaners, and they can damage our skin.
There is no harm in using dish soap on our skin, so we can use it safely. Make sure you wash your hands with hot water after using dish soap. After you soak your hands in hot water for 30 seconds, remove them from the water. Remember to clean the spaces between your fingers as well. A soft, damp cloth is best if you can find one. You can now clean the kitchen again with grease-free hands.
Definitive Dish Soap
Congratulations, you responsible adult, if you keep your cabinets clean consistently! Furthermore, a dish soap solution should work fine since you won’t need any heavy-duty cleaners. Especially for wood cabinets, classic Dawn is recommended by lovetoknow.com. When combined with hot water, dish soap efficiently cuts through grease due to its alkaline base.
A dish soap solution might not be sufficient if your cabinets need a more thorough cleaning. Put on your rubber gloves and clean those cabinets with a sponge, using hot water, dish soap, and a liberal amount of dish soap. A dishtowel should be used to dry your cabinets once you are finished exerting yourself.
Bonus Tip: To clean grooves that are hard to reach, use an old toothbrush.
CITRUS-BASED MULTIPURPOSE CLEANER
When it comes to cutting through tough dirt, citrus oil can be a great natural degreaser. When you’re out of supplies, check your cleaning caddy for a multipurpose cleaner containing citrus oil or go to the store.
- Let the kitchen cabinets sit for a few minutes after spraying citrus oil-based multipurpose cleaner on them.
- After dampening a sponge or microfiber cloth in water, gently remove the grease.
- After wiping down the surface thoroughly with a damp cloth, remove any lingering cleaner.
The citrusy cleaning solution you can make is simple to prepare. White vinegar should be added to a canning jar filled three quarters with citrus peels. When you strain the mixture, you can put the remaining liquid in a spray bottle after it steeps for two to three weeks. Follow the instructions for applying a store-bought cleaner.
When cleaning kitchen cabinets, can I use Dawn?
Kitchen wood cabinets can be cleaned with Dawn.
Dawn is a dishwashing soap that acts as a degreaser. A simple sponge or cloth and some warm water can easily remove grease and dirt from sticky cabinets, making them easy to clean. In addition to cleaning cabinetry and removing grease, Dawn Blue is also said to be effective at getting rid of odors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the finish on my kitchen cabinets sticky?
Cooking grease and dirt often cause sticky residues on kitchen cupboards, but some cleaners can also leave residues. Sticky residue on your kitchen cabinets is unattractive and damaging, regardless of its source.
Can you use Dawn degreaser on wood cabinets?
A simple tip may be all you need to clean wooden cabinets with Dawn dish soap. Dawn dish soap is known for being a great degreaser. Additionally, its mildness makes it safe to use on wood cabinets without ruining them. Paintless kitchen cabinets can also be cleaned with dish detergent.
Bottom Line
The grease will disappear from your cabinets in no time with one of these methods, whether you use a damp sponge, microfiber cloth, or baking soda and lemon juice. If you’ve struggled with sticky grease on your kitchen cabinets, this guide should help you to know how to easily remove it. We wish you luck with whatever grease-cleaning method you choose!
Johnny White is an avid home blogger, with the goal of helping his readers find inspiration and ideas for their next project. He writes about everything from small design projects to large kitchen renovations. His goal is to help people transform their homes into something that reflects who they are.