A Unique Cleaning Hack for Greasy Kitchen Cabinets
A tenant who moved into a house with kitchen cabinets covered in years of grease has discovered an effective and unconventional way to clean them. In a Reddit post, they shared their cleaning method, describing the state of the surfaces on top of the cupboards as having “that gross sticky orange layer that’s basically years of grease mixed with dust.” While new tenants usually expect to move into clean rental properties, they noted that the cabinets were so high that previous residents might never have noticed the grease.
The tenant first tried tackling the thick greasy layer using dishwashing liquid, which helped a little, followed by a degreaser spray. However, the really thick buildup wasn’t budging, so they decided to try a paste made of baking soda (bicarb soda) and dishwashing liquid. Instead of applying it in the usual way, they used an old credit card to spread the paste around.
“What actually worked: baking soda mixed with a small amount of dish soap into a paste, applied with an old credit card to spread it around, left for about five to six minutes, then wiped off with a damp microfiber cloth. For the spots that were really caked on I did it twice,” they said.
The credit card method might sound unusual, but it allowed them to apply pressure and spread the paste evenly without scratching the surface. They found it worked better than a sponge for the initial pass. The total cost was minimal since they already had everything at home. It took them about 45 minutes to clean all the cabinets, including wiping everything down twice.
Once the grease was removed, the kitchen cabinet’s “nice wood finish” became visible. Even though it’s hard to see, the renter is glad to know it’s clean. They then asked other members of the Reddit Cleaning Tips community for advice on keeping the cabinets clean for as long as possible.
Many users shared similar hacks. One suggested putting a layer of newspaper up there, while another commented that they replace wax paper every six months. Another user mentioned using aluminium foil because it also keeps the cats off the cabinet tops. Other liner suggestions included newspaper, baking paper, shelf liners, and stick-on floor tiles.
Meanwhile, another person uses bed sheets, which means they don’t have to throw any greasy paper or liner out. They can wash and reuse them. “I cleaned [the kitchen cabinet top] in my house shortly after move in, bought some flat sheets for cheap and folded them up on top of the cabinets so they’re not visible from below. Once a year during spring cleaning I take them down give them hot sudsy wash and put them back,” they explained.
Asked to describe what the sheets look like on top of the cabinets, they said, “It’s a sheet. It looks like a rectangle on top of the cabinet. Leave it in place, and wash it ‘every year’. This is my go-to, but I scrub the gunk off first, and the sheet keeps it from getting gunky again.”
For those looking for alternative methods to clean the grease, others recommended mineral oil or baby oil because “like dissolves like,” laundry detergent, Krud Kutter spray, and sugar soap. If you like the credit card idea but want something easier to use, you can purchase plastic scrapers from hardware stores in the paint and grout sections.
