9+ Ways How To Clean Sticky Grease Off Kitchen Cabinets

Grease and tough grime build up on the surface of kitchen cabinets, making them less effective at retaining moisture and food particles.

If you want to make your kitchen more modern, you’ll want to learn how to clean sticky grease off kitchen cabinets.

Sticky wood cabinets are a common problem that can frustrate many homeowners. Grease can build up on the surface of your cabinets, causing them to lose effectiveness.

Not only will this affect your kitchen’s appearance, but it could also gain access to areas previously protected by the cabinet’s coating.

So, how do you eliminate all those grease stains and grime? Here are 10 simple ways to clean greasy kitchen cabinets.

How to prevent cabinet grease from building up

Whether your kitchen cabinets are full of grease or you’re just trying to keep them clean, it’s essential to know how to prevent cabinet grease from building up. Here are three simple ways to keep the cabinet gresea at bay:

1. Wipe the hob and cupboard doors clean every week. Simply use a soft cloth and a degreaser to remove any new grease marks.

2. Regularly wash your hands when cooking. This will prevent the grease from transferring from your hands onto the cabinet doors.

3. Use a mild detergent when washing dishes by hand instead of dish soap with bleach (which can leave behind a film).

10 proven methods to clean sticky grease off kitchen cabinets

The main problem with sticky grease is that it doesn’t come off easily. You’ve tried everything, and you’re left with a mess that could have been avoided.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But I don’t want to use toxic chemicals on my cabinets!” That’s great! But did you know that some of the most effective cleaning products are also safe for your cabinets?

Here are some tips to help you remove grease from your kitchen cabinets.

Hot water & white vinegar

Baking Soda and Lemon

Salt & White Vinegar Paste

Citrus Oil Multipurpose Cleaner

Dish Soap & Warm Water

Goo Gone

All-purpose orange oil cleaner

A wood cleaner containing Brazilian carnauba wax

Toothpaste

Baking soda and lemon juice

Let’s break down each step so you can easily clean grease stains off kitchen cabinets in no time.

1. Hot water & white vinegar

This is a great way to remove grease from your kitchen cabinets. It’s simple, easy, and super effective.

Once you have everything gathered, it’s time to begin!

Measure out a 50/50 mix of vinegar and warm water into a spray bottle.
Spray the solution directly onto your kitchen cupboards and leave for a few minutes. The heat from the vinegar will loosen any grease that’s been splattered around and make it easier to wipe away with a wet cloth or cleaning sponge.
Thoroughly rinse the cloth in warm water before wiping over your cabinets with the damp cloth to remove any stubborn stains.
Stubborn stains like marmite or chocolate spread may need some extra TLC—like creating a paste of vinegar and salt and scrubbing away with an old toothbrush—but most of them will come off fairly easily with some elbow grease.

2. Baking Soda and Lemon

Baking soda and lemon is an easy, inexpensive way to clean your kitchen cabinets.

1. Pour some baking soda into a bowl. Add half a cup of water and stir well. Now, use a brush to scrub the solution over your greasy cabinets. If you want to make it even cleaner, use an old toothbrush!

2. After about 20 minutes, rinse the baking soda solution off with water and dry them with a towel. Now that your kitchen cabinets are clean wipe down all surfaces with lemon juice and then wipe them down again with baking soda.

3. The baking soda will help remove grease stains from your kitchen cabinets, while the lemon juice will help keep them looking nice!

3. Salt & White Vinegar Paste

1. Brush the surface of your kitchen cabinets with salt.

2. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff-bristled brush.

3. Rinse the salt off with water and wipe dry with a cloth or paper towel. Be sure to wash off all of the salt granules from your kitchen cabinets!

4. Apply a paste made from white vinegar and dish soap to the areas where you’ve cleaned (and ensure you get all of them), letting it sit for about ten minutes before wiping off excess liquid with a clean cloth or paper towel again.

4. Citrus Oil Multipurpose Cleaner

Citrus oil is a multipurpose cleaner that can be used as a shampoo, degreaser, and even a dishwasher soap

It’s also inexpensive, easy to find in stores, and has no harsh chemicals that could damage your kitchen cabinets.

Here are instructions on how to use citrus oil for cleaning sticky grease:

1. Pour the citrus oil into an empty spray bottle or mop bucket and shake well before each use.

2. Spray the oil onto your greasy cabinet doors or drawers and sit for about 20 minutes before wiping with a damp cloth or sponge soaked in hot water (the hotter the water, the better).

3. Wipe down your kitchen cabinets again with another fresh damp cloth or sponge soaked in hot water (the hotter the water, the better).

5. Dish Soap & Warm Water

1. First, you’ll want to remove all of the items from your cabinets by taking off any knobs or handles that might be in the way.

2. Then, fill a large bowl with warm water.

3. Add 2-3 drops of dish soap to the water and stir until dissolved completely (don’t worry if it doesn’t look completely dissolved at first—it will dissolve entirely as soon as it hits the water).

4. With a clean rag or paper towel, wipe down every inch of your kitchen cabinets using this mixture of dish soap and water until it’s all clean (you may need 2-3 rags).

5. Wipe down any remaining grease with a fresh rag after letting it dry for about 5 minutes before putting things back where they belong.

6. Goo Gone

1. Spray Goo Gone on the surface of the grease you want to remove.

2. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe away any excess with a dry cloth.

3. Wipe down the rest of your kitchen cabinets with a microfiber cloth and warm water.

7. All-purpose orange oil cleaner

1. Fill a glass or bowl with warm water and add 2-3 drops of all-purpose orange oil.

2. Soak a rag in the mixture and gently rub it over the surface of your kitchen cabinets. You may want to do this with a clean damp cloth, too.

3. Rinse off the rag and dry with a clean towel.

8. A wood cleaner containing Brazilian carnauba wax

Brazilian carnauba wax is a natural substance that’s extracted from the Brazilian nut tree and contains antibacterial properties.

It’s been used in the production of leather and candles for centuries—and now it’s available in a spray bottle to help remove all kinds of sticky messes from your kitchen cabinets.

Simply apply this wood cleaner directly to the surface of your cabinets.
Wipe away with a soft cloth or damp sponge until no more dirt or wax comes off when rubbed vigorously with a cloth.
If necessary, repeat this process two or three times until all of the mess is gone!

9. Toothpaste

Toothpaste is one of the best things to use for cleaning sticky grease off kitchen cabinets. It’s cheap, easy to find, and effective.

1. Make sure your toothpaste is fresh. If it has been sitting in your cabinet for a while, it will probably have lost some effectiveness.

2. Apply the toothpaste directly to the sticky area with a rag or sponge. You may need more than one application if your cabinet is particularly greasy. Be careful not to let any toothpaste get on your countertop—or worse yet, onto your fingers!

3. Finally, wipe off what little toothpaste remains with a dish towel or cloth towel and let it dry completely before using it again.

10. Baking soda and lemon juice

1. Fill a bucket with water.

2. Mix ¼ cup of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water in a small bowl until you have a paste-like consistency.

3. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into the bowl of baking soda, then mix it into a thick mixture until everything is dissolved into one giant slurry (if it doesn’t dissolve, add more water).

4. Apply this mixture to your cabinets, then wipe them clean with paper towels or cloths that are not oiled or greased (you don’t want to transfer any cleaning solutions back onto your cabinets).