How to Clean Sticky Grease Off Kitchen Cabinets

Have you touched your kitchen cabinets lately? No, not the areas you’re always touching when you open them. I mean the surface that you never touch. Take a good feel. Eww. It’s sticky, right? They don’t even look dirty, but they feel horrible.

That greasy, sticky coating may feel like it will never come off, but it will. The key is using the right cleaner to cut through the grease. Let’s take a closer look at how to clean sticky grease off kitchen cabinets.

Create a Gentle Cleaner

You don’t need anything special to clean sticky grease off kitchen cabinets. You only need hot water, white vinegar, and dish detergent like Dawn. In fact, Dawn is usually the best when it comes to cutting through grease.

Mix equal parts hot water with white vinegar and then add a healthy squirt of dish soap. Mix the ingredients until they become sudsy. It’s important for the water to be nice and warm but not so hot that you can’t put your hands in it comfortably.

If you have some orange essential oil, you can also add several drops of that. Orange oil does a wonderful job of cutting through grease and smells amazing.

Wipe Down the Cabinets

You want to use a sponge or cloth that won’t scratch your cabinets. Wet the sponge or cloth and wipe down the cabinets. If your water is nice and warm, you should be able to clean the cabinets rather easily. If the grease is really caked on, you may have to do more than one pass. Change out the water solution as needed to stay clean and warm.

Use a Toothbrush and Baking Soda on Tough Spots

If you have areas that are causing you a lot of trouble, you can use a soft toothbrush and a bit of baking soda. Wet the toothbrush and apply some baking soda, gently scrub the area until the grease loosens up, and then wipe down with the cleaning solution.

More “How To” posts below:

• How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets (Tips To Keep Them Fresh and Shiny)
• How to Clean a Microwave
• How to Clean Baked-on Grease on Stove

Be Careful of the Hinges

Do not get cleaning solution into the hinges. The solution could cause the finish to come off or even cause rust if the solution gets down into the hinges. This is why it’s best to use a sponge or cloth to apply the cleaning solution rather than using a spray bottle.

Give a Final Rinse

You want to take the time to wipe down the cabinets one last time with clean water. You don’t want to leave the cleaning solution on the surface. Fill a bucket with warm water and use a clean cloth to wipe down the cabinets. This will ensure your cabinets look nice and clean rather than having a hazy look from the cleaning solution residue.

Dry with a Cloth

Lastly, take an absorbent towel and wipe down the cabinets once to dry them off.

Does it take work to clean the sticky grease off kitchen cabinets? Yes. In fact, you may have to wipe down your cabinets multiple times, depending on when you last deep-cleaned them. You then have to rinse and dry them. It may take an hour or longer if you have a large kitchen.

However, this job will definitely make you feel better once it’s done. Best of all, you can do this without using harsh chemicals to get the job done. All you need is water, white vinegar, and dish soap. You can add a bit of orange essential oil for additional grease-cutting power and make your kitchen smell fantastic. Lastly, remember that a soft toothbrush and baking soda can help clean those tough spots.