Banish Grease from Kitchen Cabinets for Good with These Simple Hacks
Kitchen cabinets endure a lot of wear and tear. All the splattering, spills, and steam from cooking results in a gradual buildup of sticky grease. Left unchecked, layers of oil transform your once-gleaming cabinets into a grimy mess.
Luckily, you don’t need harsh chemicals to restore the shine and cleanliness of your kitchen cabinets. With a few simple ingredients and the right techniques, you can banish grease and restore your cabinets’ like-new appearance.
Why Grease Accumulates on Kitchen Cabinets
The heat, moisture, and constant cooking make kitchen cabinets prone to grease accumulation. Fats and oils get released into the air when cooking, then settle and stick to cabinet surfaces. Spills and splatters also leave behind oily residues. Over time, the grease attracts more dirt and dust, spreading into a gross film.
Left unaddressed, greasy cabinets become difficult to clean and provide the ideal environment for germs to multiply. The grease penetrates the cabinet material, leading to permanent staining or other damage. Take control of the situation with a thorough periodic deep clean using homemade degreasing solutions.
Vinegar Cuts Through Grease
For a natural degreasing agent, look no further than vinegar. The acetic acid in vinegar breaks down fatty oils and lifts away greasy grime. The odor dissipates as it dries.
Try spraying undiluted white vinegar directly onto greasy cabinets. Let it sit for several minutes before scrubbing with a cloth or soft brush. The vinegar will foam up as it dissolves the grease. For extremely stubborn buildup, soak a towel in vinegar and let it rest on the affected area overnight before scrubbing.
More Uses for Vinegar
Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle for an all-purpose cleaner. The solution helps remove grease and brighten cabinets. Vinegar’s acidic properties also kill bacteria. Avoid getting vinegar on metal hardware.
Run vinegar through a coffeemaker to descale the machine and banish rancid oil odors. The smell of vinegar dissipates as it dries.
Baking Soda Loosens Grease
Baking soda offers a gentle abrasive action that lifts grease off cabinets without scratching. Make a paste by stirring baking soda and water. Apply the paste to greasy areas and let it set for several minutes before scrubbing with a damp cloth or sponge.
The baking soda paste forms a mild alkaline solution interacting with oils. It foams up to penetrate and dissolve the grease. Baking soda cleans without leaving any chemical residue. Rinse cabinets thoroughly after scrubbing.
Baking Soda Scrub
For a more intensive treatment, make a scrub by mixing baking soda with dish soap. Add just enough soap to turn the baking soda into a thick paste. Scrub stained areas using a brush or sponge. The soap boosts the degreasing power.
Baking soda also absorbs odors. Keep an open box in the fridge or freezer to soak up smells.
Lemon Juice Removes Grease and Leaves a Fresh Scent
Like vinegar, lemon juice contains acidic citric compounds that break down grease. Cut a lemon in half and rub it directly onto stained cabinets. Let the juice sit briefly before scrubbing.
For tougher grease, make a solution by mixing equal parts lemon juice and water. Spray or wipe the mixture onto the cabinets and let it set before scrubbing. The leftover lemon scent provides a nice clean aroma.
More Cleaning Uses for Lemon
Combine lemon juice, vinegar and water for an extra-strength DIY degreasing solution. You can also cut grease by boiling lemon peels in water and wiping the stained areas with the cooled liquid.
Use straight lemon juice to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Rub chops and handles with lemon halves to remove odors and disinfect.
Dish Soap Combined with Baking Soda Makes an Effective Scrub
While dish soap alone can remove some grease, combining it with baking soda creates a more powerful scrub. Make a paste using 3 parts baking soda to 1 part soap. For tough grease, use an eco-friendly degreasing dish soap.
Apply the foaming scrub to stained areas and scrub with a cloth or brush. The soap helps the baking soda penetrate deeper to lift away grime. Thoroughly rinse cleaned cabinets with water.
No matter how well you clean, kitchen cabinets will need periodic degreasing. But you can slow down the speed of buildup. Always use your stove's range hood vent while cooking to filter out airborne grease. Immediately wipe spills and splatters to prevent staining.
Install cabinet mats or liners near the stove to protect surfaces and simplify cleanup of drips. Schedule seasonal deep cleaning sessions to stay ahead of grease accumulation. With some elbow grease and these DIY degreasing methods, you can keep your kitchen cabinets looking like new.