Clean Grease Off Your Kitchen Cabinets With These Simple Tips

Greasy kitchen cabinets are a common annoyance in many homes. From cooking splatters to general grime buildup over time, cabinet surfaces can quickly become coated in unsightly grease that is difficult to remove. Not only is grease messy and unattractive, it can also attract more dirt over time and become a magnet for fingerprints. Luckily, with the right techniques and cleaning solutions, you can banish grease from your cabinets for good.

With a little elbow grease and these simple yet effective DIY cleaning solutions, you can restore your cabinets to a like-new shine in no time.

Causes of Greasy Kitchen Cabinets

Before diving into grease removal techniques, it helps to understand what causes cabinets to become greasy in the first place. Here are some of the most common culprits of kitchen cabinet grease buildup:

• Cooking oil splatters, especially from frying. Even if you use a splatter guard, some oil droplets inevitably escape and coat nearby surfaces.
• Cooking grease from foods like bacon, sausage, ground beef, etc. Grease particles easily travel through the air when cooking greasy foods.
• Built-up cooking residue accumulating over time if not cleaned frequently.
• Hand and fingerprint oils deposited when opening/closing doors and drawers.
• Steam from boiling water or simmering foods, which allows grease to spread and cling to surfaces.
• Range hoods that aren't effectively capturing and filtering out cooking grease.

Knowing where cabinet grease comes from helps you both remove it and take steps to prevent future buildup. Now let's go over some simple yet effective cleaning solutions.

How To Clean Grease Off Cabinets

When tackling greasy cabinets, you'll need to use a degreasing solution strong enough to dissolve and cut through the oily grime. Here are two easy methods using common household products:

Dish Soap and Warm Water Method

This straightforward approach is effective for mild to moderate grease buildup. Simply mix a few drops of liquid dish detergent like Dawn or Palmolive into a bowl of warm water. Dampen a soft cloth, sponge or scrubbing pad in the solution and wipe down greasy cabinet surfaces. Rinse with a damp cloth and dry completely. The surfactants in dish soap dissolve grease, cutting through the oily film easily. Warm water also helps dissolve grease faster.

Baking Soda Scrub

For heavier grease accumulation, a baking soda scrub works wonders. Sprinkle baking soda onto greasy areas and use a damp sponge or cloth to rub it into cabinets. Let it sit briefly to lift grease, then rinse clean. The fine yet abrasive texture of baking soda dissolves grease and scrubs away residues. For extra cleaning power, you can also make a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of liquid dish soap before scrubbing.

Removing Oven Grease From Cabinets

One major source of kitchen cabinet grease comes from the oven range below. As heating elements warm up, accumulated grease and food bits in the oven can create off-gassing, circulating airborne grease particles that resettle and coat any nearby surface. Over time, this leads to notable grease buildup on cabinets above or beside the range. To tackle this oven-related grease, try these two cleaning solutions:

Degreasing Spray

Spraying cabinets near the oven with a store-bought degreasing cleaner is very effective for heavy grease, oil and residue from the oven. Look for citrus-based or solvent degreasers formulated for the kitchen. Spray liberally and let sit briefly, then wipe away grease and grime with a cloth, rinsing afterwards.

Ammonia and Water

For a more natural option, mix 1/2 cup ammonia into 1 gallon of warm water. Transfer to a spray bottle and spray over cabinets by the oven. Let sit 5-10 minutes before wiping clean with a microfiber cloth. The ammonia works to cut through tough baked-on oven grease.

Tackling Tough Grease Stains

In some cases, you may encounter extra stubborn grease stains that resist removal with basic cleaning methods. Here are a few extra techniques to try on pesky grease spots:

Preparing a Degreaser

Make a heavy-duty degreaser by mixing 2 parts warm water with 1 part each of white vinegar and ammonia. Apply it directly to stubborn spots with a soaked cloth or brush. Let it penetrate for several minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.

Magic Eraser

Gently rub a dampened Magic Eraser sponge over grease stains to lift residues with abrasion. Avoid excessive pressure which could scratch cabinet surfaces.

Grease-cutting Solvents

Liquid solvents like Goo Gone, Fantastik or Spot Shot work very well on heavily greased cabinets. Check the product label to ensure it's safe for your particular cabinet finish.

DIY Degreasers For Cleaning Cabinets

Don't want to buy special cleaners to remove kitchen cabinet grease? Here are a couple of easy homemade degreaser solutions you can whip up with common household ingredients:

Lemon Juice Cleaner

Mix equal parts lemon juice and warm water into a spray bottle. Spritz over greasy cabinets and let sit briefly before wiping clean with a cloth. Lemon juice naturally cuts through grease and leaves cabinets smelling fresh.

Rubbing Alcohol Mixture

Combine 2 parts rubbing alcohol, 1 part water and a squirt of liquid dish soap. Rub onto greasy cabinets with a sponge or scrubbing pad. The alcohol dissolves grease, while the soap lifts residues.

Preventing Future Kitchen Cabinet Grease Buildup

Once you've successfully removed grease from your kitchen cabinets, you'll want to take steps to prevent the greasy grime from quickly returning. Here are some tips:

• Use range hoods and overhead ventilation whenever cooking to capture airborne grease.
• Clean cabinet exteriors regularly with a mild soap and water to prevent grease buildup over time.
• Consider installing backsplashes from the countertop to ceiling behind cooking areas to protect cabinet surfaces.

Maintaining Clean and Grease-Free Cabinets

To keep freshly degreased kitchen cabinets looking pristine longer:

Quick Cleaning Tips

• Wipe spills immediately during and after cooking.
• Use microfiber cloths to easily remove fingerprints and smudges.
• Ask family members to be careful about messing cabinets when cooking and cleaning up.

Set a yearly reminder to do a deep cabinet degrease using the steps outlined. Regular deep cleaning prevents grease from accumulating over time. With this routine maintenance and daily quick cleanups, you can enjoy grease-free cabinets for years to come.

Removing grease from kitchen cabinets is easy with the use of common household cleaners like dish soap, baking soda, vinegar and ammonia. Target grease buildup as soon as it appears, and take steps to prevent it by using ventilation, backsplashes and regular maintenance cleaning. In no time, you can restore your kitchen cabinets to a like-new shine that is grease-free.