How To Effortlessly Remove Sticky Grease From Kitchen Cabinets

It’s a sad fact of life that kitchen cabinets get sticky, greasy and dirty over time. Even if you’re not cooking haute cuisine meals every day, your kitchen cabinets will accumulate sticky fingerprints or grease splatters faster than you can say “fried chicken”. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re channeling Gordon Ramsay or just reheating last night’s leftovers, your kitchen cabinets seem to attract grease like a magnet in a butter factory.

If your home is anything like ours, cleaning always gets delegated to the most “qualified” person, you. Congratulations, it’s an honour just to be nominated! So you just add that one extra messy task to the other 1001 on your list and get stuck in.

But don’t worry because we’ve got your back, we’ve found the easiest and quickest way to deal with those unsightly (and often smelly) greasy cabinets.

By the time you finish reading this brief article you’ll be armed with the most revolutionary kitchen cleaning hack since someone first dared to put soap and water together!

And the best part? You’ll almost certainly already own the necessary items needed to degrease your kitchen cabinets. Keep reading to find out more.

How To Remove Grease From Your Kitchen Cabinets

We’ve tried and tested many different ways to remove grease from the cabinets in your kitchen so that you don’t need to waste your time finding the best solution for your home. When it comes to removing grease stains, there are different levels of greasiness.

Let’s start with severely greasy cabinets because if you’re anything like us, you’ve put off cleaning the greasy stains for some time. For really grease stained cabinets you need a powerful degreaser. But don’t worry, you don’t need to go out and buy any expensive cleaning products that are full of unknown harsh chemicals.

Our wonder working cabinet cleaner is made up of products you’re going to already have in your kitchen. 

Having said that, it’s always best to do a short test on a small unobtrusive area just to make sure your cabinets don’t react. This is highly unlikely but we don’t know what your cabinets are made from or what finish has been applied to them (see below). Better safe than sorry, no one wants their cabinets to turn into a modern art experiment, right?

Let’s Get Started

All you need is 3 ingredients which are;

• 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• ½ a tablespoon of washing up liquid
• ½ a tablespoon of water

What To Do

All you need to do is;

1. Mix all 3 ingredients together in a bowl and stir to make a paste. 
2. Using a soft microfibre cloth apply the mixture to the cabinets. 
3. Rub the cabinets gently using a circular motion.
4. Once all of the grease spots are gone, wash the area with warm water on a clean cloth.
5. When all of the mixture has been removed, dry the area with another clean, dry cloth.

It’s important to be sure to remove all of the mixture, if not, it’s likely to stain the cabinets. You can also use this same mixture and method on cabinet doors which often get greasy from our greasy hands!

What Kitchen Cabinet Type Do You Have?

With so many companies making and fitting kitchens in the UK, there are so many variations of materials and finishes used. This can limit which cleaners you can use to remove grease stains from yours. So let’s look at various cabinet types and give you the best degreasers for each one.

Got Gloss Kitchen Cabinets? Here’s How To Get Rid Of Grease

To quickly remove grease stains from gloss cabinets all you usually need is a solution of warm water and washing up liquid. Just mix together ½ a tablespoon of washing up liquid with ½ a tablespoon of water. Apply to the greasy areas using light pressure and circular motion.

If the stains prove to be too tough for washing up liquid on its own, add 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda to the mix. Once the grease has gone, wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any trace of the cleaner and dry using a soft, dry cloth.

This won’t just clean and degrease your gloss cabinets, it will also leave them looking refreshed and looking so glossy you might just catch yourself admiring your reflection while you stir the spaghetti.

How To Get Rid Of Grease From Wood Kitchen Cabinets

This can be more tricky because the wood finish can easily get damaged. However, making the same solution as before will work just as well as long as you don’t apply too much pressure. All you need to do is;

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda, ½ a tablespoon of washing up liquid and ½ a tablespoon of water together to form a paste.
2. Use a soft microfibre cloth to gently scrub the greasy areas in a circular motion.
3. Once all of the grease has gone, wipe with a damp cloth to remove any residue.
4. Then dry with a clean, dry soft microfibre cloth.
5. Buff the wood with a soft, dry cloth to restore its natural shiny appearance.

If the grease is really stubborn you can apply a bicarbonate of soda paste (just mix it with water) and apply it to the affected area and allow it to soak in for a few minutes. Then remove in the usual way and dry thoroughly. 

Under no circumstances should you use any harsh chemicals or abrasives that could scratch or damage the wooden surface.

Painted Kitchen Cupboards? Here’s How To Get Rid Of Grease

Many kitchens have painted cabinets because they allow you to change the colour whenever you want to. But just because they’re painted doesn’t mean they can’t get grease splattered. 

Painted cabinets might look fancy, but even they aren’t immune to a well-aimed blob of marinara sauce. Removing grease stains from painted cupboards can be a problem unless you know what you’re doing. We’re just kidding, it’s easy!

All you do is;

1. Mix up a paste from 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda and ½ a tablespoon of warm water.
2. Apply the paste to the grease stains using a soft cloth.
3. Allow the paste to sit on the affected area for a few minutes.
4. Then wipe clean using a damp cloth.
5. Once all of the paste and grease has gone, dry the area using a clean, dry soft cloth.

Alternatively;

1. Dilute ammonia 50/50 with warm water and wipe the grease stains using a soft cloth.
2. Using a fresh cloth dipped in clean water, remove the ammonia/grease from the cabinet.
3. Dry using a soft, dry cloth.

How To Get Grease Off Laminate Cabinets

Laminate cupboards are pretty tough and will forgive many accidental mistreatments but that doesn’t give you a free pass to abuse them. For general greasy stains all you need is a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and warm water.

But if the stain is particularly stubborn, make a paste from bicarbonate of soda and water (2 parts bicarb to 1 part water) and apply to the stained area. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe clean.

You should never use anything abrasive because laminates are not that forgiving and they could get scratched.

Cleaning Grease Stains From Glass Cabinets

Many modern kitchens have glass display cabinets which are basically a wood or laminate cupboard with a glass door. Cleaning the glass is simple, just wipe it with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water and once the stain has gone, wipe with a clean dry cloth.

The cabinet should be cleaned in the correct manner to suit the material it’s made from (see above).

Quick Cheat Sheet For Cleaning Stained Kitchen Cabinets

Let’s face it, your kitchen cabinets get a lot of use. Which means there’s always the potential for dirt, grease and stains. Here’s a brief guide on cleaning the most common stains from your kitchen cupboards.

Getting Rid Of Fingerprints

Our fingers are oily at all times but that oily substance can be worse when our hands are warm. Fingerprints on cabinet doors and handles can look unsightly. It’s like CSI in your kitchen, every fingerprint on display, but sadly, none of them solve crimes.

To remove them just use a 50/50 solution of warm water and white vinegar on a soft microfibre cloth.

Food Splatters & Spills

Who hasn’t missed the plate while channeling their inner Picasso with ketchup? Or spilled some gravy down the front of the cupboard. The best way to deal with this is immediately to prevent staining.

If you don’t catch it right away our old friend bicarbonate of soda is the hero here. Simply mix with water to form a paste and apply it to the stain. Let it soak in for a few minutes then wipe away with a clean cloth. Rinse using fresh water and a cloth and then dry with a dry cloth.

Grease Stains

Ah yes, the “splash zone” where no cupboard escapes the wrath of sizzling bacon or bubbling curry. We’re talking about the cupboards closest to the cooker that are the most likely to get grease stains. 

For fresh grease stains use white vinegar on a cloth to eradicate the grease. Or use a mixture of water, washing up liquid and bicarbonate of soda. Just be sure to rinse the mixture away and dry thoroughly afterwards.

Hard Water Stains

If you live in an area that has hard water (and more than 60% of the UK does), White water stains can be a common problem. Hard water stains don’t stand a chance when you bring out the vinegar, it’s like kryptonite for mineral deposits.

If you want to stop water stains you might consider installing a water filter or swapping tap water for distilled water.

Scuff Marks

Your kitchen cabinets can get scuffed by shoes, chairs or tables. The best way to remove these marks is by using an eraser. Just rub the eraser along the scuff and then wipe away using a clean cloth.

This one works really well on white cabinets.

How Often Should You Clean Your Kitchen Cabinets?

To prevent your cabinets from becoming a major problem to clean we recommend weekly clean ups. It can become tedious and time consuming to constantly wipe your kitchen cabinets.

The best way to keep on top of the greasy problem is to give your cabinets a wipe over once a week using a washing up liquid and warm water solution. This will remove fingerprints, splatters and other greasy or dirty marks. Think of it as a spa day for your cabinets, except they get the exfoliation, and you do all the work.

Then once every 3 months give your cabinets a deep clean. Empty all of the cupboards in your kitchen and wipe down the interior and the exterior with a solution of bicarbonate of soda, washing up liquid and water. Rinse with a cloth dipped in fresh water and dry using a dry cloth.

If your cupboards have any hard to get at areas these can be reached using an old toothbrush. Just be sure to allow the cupboards to completely dry before returning their contents.

Over To You

Got your own secret weapon for battling kitchen grease? Spill the beans, preferably not on the cabinets! Oh, and if you’ve found this useful and informative, share it with your friends.

SEE ALSO: 12 Washing Mistakes That Make Clothes Look Old Fast

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