Friday, April 19, 2013

Cleaning Grease off cabinets

Just a little update on this post.  First of all,  who never this silly little post on my dirty cabinets would be so popular!?  I suppose many people have this problem.  So before you read on, I just want to clear up a few things that I've received many questions and/or comments on. My cabinets are not real wood.  They are thermafoil coated, thus making this totally safe to do.  As I originally stated,  I would use caution on real wood, and personally wouldn't even recommend it, but if all else has failed, proceed with caution!  Next, this is NOT a sponsored ad by SoftScrub.  Just my little ole opinions! And lastly, these cabinets came with the house when I bought it, grease grime and all.  I'm just happy to have finally discovered a remedy!!   So read on and clean on!



I have had a dirty little secret!
Everyone always tells me how clean my house is.  It’s not really.  Not since I’ve had kids. You’ve seen those cute little signs, Excuse the mess, we are busy making memories or Excuse the mess, we live here?  Well that’s not really my style.  In fact, my house is nothing like the clean it used to be before the kids.  I’ve grown more accustomed to the mess, but so many little things tend to get over looked these days.  Many people have exciting goals like running a marathon or skydiving (and I may have just become the biggest loser because I just googled Common goals people have, because I couldn't come up with 2 good ideas), you know what I’ve always wanted?  To put my house on the market and have the ad say, “Mrs. Clean lives here”.  I’m not kidding, I actually told my realtor I wanted that on my add.  She said, your house will sell itself.  OK, she was right, but I really wanted that at the time.  

One thing I’ve been over-looking lately is my kitchen cabinets.  I’m home cleaning today and thought, maybe today’s the day to get that grease off the cabinets.  Now keep in mind, I've never been able to get these cabinets truly clean since I moved into this house.  I've tried every type of cleaner, but the grime above the stove top cabinets just never seemed to come off.  Years of build up have left them a mess. I wipe down my cabinets frequently, since they are white and show any dirt, but I do tend to “overlook” these top cabinets because I never could seem to get the grime off. So, get ready for some ugly, because here is what my cabinets looked like a few minutes ago (embarrassing photos enlarged and close up for detail to follow):

DSCN3913

DSCN3915
So this is the top edge along the ceiling.  I have those god-awful therma-foil cabinets and for lack of a better term the surface is “pockey”. That means there is a little texture that allows dirt and grease to accumulate.  I think the top picture shows best how greasy these cabinets were.  I’ve tried many products before, but today I decided to go for some simple soft – scrub and a warm dish rag. 

soft scrub 
I love the lemon scent and use this for a lot of my cleaning.  I poured it on my dishcloth and just rubbed it on the grease, and just like that, all of the grease and grime came off.  I’ve tried many other cleaners and de-greasers and seriously never got such great results with not much elbow grease needed at all.  I might suggest if you are working over your head that you wear some protective eyewear, because trust me when I say, you don’t want your break from cleaning to involve trying to get soap out of your eye!  Just sayin.  So, I now proudly show you my clean cabinets!

DSCN3931

DSCN3933
I was not compensated for my opinions in this post, just little ole me sharing my daily mundane chores and the results I got.  Sometimes it seems the simplest products just work the best.  If you try this, remember to wipe down with a clean rag after, to remove any left-over product.  If you decide to try this on wood, I would test it on a small area, and don’t scrub too hard! 

Thanks for stopping by and reading about my ever exciting life! Alright, I’d better get back to work!

If you like what you see, then follow me!
FACEBOOK       PINTEREST       HOMETALK
or subscribe on the side bar ☞

98 comments:

  1. I will have to try this. Thank you for the recommendation!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have the same exact cabinets, dealer told me they would be easy to maintain. LOL, well now they will be. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. but can you use this on solid maple cabinets?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd like to know that also.

      Delete
    2. same question for wooden doors, not sure if solid wood.

      Delete
    3. I would recommend trying a small spot on the inside of a door or along a top edge you can't see to make sure it won't damage your surface. I checked the bottle and while it doesn't say to use it on wood, it doesn't say not to either. I did not have to scrub at all when I used it, more just of a gentle back and forth motion.

      Delete
    4. Our cupboards are solid oak,I regularly wipe them down with white vinegar but about once a year or so I really clean and wax them. I remove the handles, clean them with Mr. Clean Erasers, rinse with white vinegar water and let them dry. Then I wax them with paste wax, let that dry and polilsh. They look brand new when I am done so it is well worth the work!

      Delete
    5. Most cabinets today have Urethane finishes that will hold up very well and they clean fairly easily. The Soft Scrub should not hurt their finishes just use a soft cloth or sponge also.

      Delete
    6. I've had this problem for so long and know friends who do to I also have maple cabinets I hope it works thanks for the tip

      Delete
    7. we dont have soft scrub in the uk, is there any thing else to use

      Delete
    8. Fairy Platinum on a sponge with a tiny bit of water to make it suds. I live in a rented flat and the side of the cabinet beside the cooker was caked in grease, you could actually scrape it with a spoon. A dab of this on a sponge then a wee rinse and wipe over with kitchen towel and you would never know what it was like before. Great at getting stains off the counter tops too.

      Delete
    9. Also for wood Greased lighting at Dollar General works really well for grease and smoke build-up. It has many uses in laundry, spills on carpet (test for color fastness). Just another hint throwing your way!! Love your idea also!!

      Delete
    10. Magic Eraser works better than anything I have ever tired on my white cabinets.

      Delete
    11. Greased Lightening does NOT do well on painted nor varnished cabinets.....

      Delete
    12. I would say "cif" would be very similar to soft scrub.

      Delete
    13. I always use "cif". Brilliant at removing grease.

      Delete
  4. I too want to be known for my clean house, and also, although this is impossible --no weeds in my garden. Not lofty dreams, but still a dream.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am going to share this with my friends that have these cabinets. I have oak cabinets and I use Goo Gone to remove the grease. I don't think soft scrub would be a good idea for wood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think I'd use this on wood cabinets either. I think it would haze the polyurethane clear coat finish. Just a thought

      Delete
    2. Goo Gone? Really works? Thanks

      Delete
  6. I too, have these cabinets and it has been a nightmare to get them clean. Definitely will try this.

    ReplyDelete
  7. You know what works just as well?

    A squirt of lemon juice on a rag/towel with a sprinkle of baking soda on the rag. Works like a charm and isn't full of chemicals.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great job!! We have old cabinets from 1960's and my husband at some point before I moved in, 'supposedly' cleaned them, then.....put a glossy shellac on them! Yea, it seriously shows everything. I am going to try this as I want to paint them before we move!!! I believe I will have to sand them down first tho instead of your great idea!!! ugh!! Thanks for sharing this!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maybe my fan blades in the kitchen too....they are gross!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I clean my oak cabinets with warm water and Murphy's oil soap. keeps them looking like new.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks to all for giving these ideas to me - I'm so excited to use them all because my cabinets are totally GROSS.

      Delete
    2. i hate the smell of Murphys oil;( anyway where can you buy the soft scrub lemon cleanser i never heard of that???also i have a tip i would love to share, whenever you are chopping garlic or onions, after, run your tap water wet your hands or fingers then rub them on the neck of yr stainless steel tap then smell them???all smell will be gone;) enjoy and ty for all the ideas i have lots too and appreciate yours xxxooo have a wonderful day paying yr ideas forward to us all!!

      Delete
  11. i was wondering if this would work on the top of ur refrigerator?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After you get your refrigerator cleaned on the top, take some saran wrap and put it on the top. When it gets dirty, just replace the saran wrap!

      Delete
    2. OMG that is such a fantastic idea! I am so doing this today!

      Delete
    3. hello what is Saran wrap I live in Australia

      Delete
    4. Press and Seal is great for refrigerator top, too.

      Delete
  12. Thanks for the information. This is something (?) simple; exciting about trying.

    ReplyDelete
  13. If you are opting for a greener solution to cleaning the grease off your cabinets, try making a paste of baking soda and orange oil like Citra solve. Works great!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would be afraid to use soft scrub on wood cabinets and I would never use magic eraser on my wood cabinets....that is very abrasive and leaves marks that you will never get out. Vinegar and water is one of the safest combinations to use on cabinets.

    ReplyDelete
  15. How would you clean cigarette smoke off of wall paper,alot of walls to do. Just moved in, please help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tear the paper off, kilz primer then paint. Don't forget to do the ceiling either!!!

      Delete
    2. Smoke is tough. That being said, I haven't had to deal with removing it from wallpaper, and I am thinking it's not a surface issue. I would agree removing the paper or if it's on with no lifting, painting over it. If you think you'll see the seams, try stenciling over the paint and you can fool the eye.

      Delete
    3. You can use simple green or mean green they cut through the nicotine and smell great.

      Delete
    4. At the Dollar Store or Dollar Tree they have a product called awesome, I have used on wood & painted cabinets to get the grease off. Great cleaning product & not expensive. Had a grease stain on carpet in the tk gone couldnt even tell it was there.

      Delete
    5. Nok Out is the best thing I have found for cigarette smoke. search nokout.com Instructions on their site how to use for different problems. It's great in cars too!

      Delete
    6. Just had to deal with heavy smoke filled walls in a whole house. Best overall product was Greased Lightning. My post for help brought many suggestions & we probably used all of them on different places in the house. Besides the walls & floors every place in the house had to be cleaned thoroughly - doors, doorknobs, shelves, cabinets, appliances, you name it.....The living room required TSP as the tar & nicotine just rolled down the walls & smelled awful. Then all of the walls & ceilings were painted with Kilz before painting with regular interior paint. It is a lot of work, but if you do not go through all 3 steps, the stains will come through eventually. Good luck. You might find my post and all of the suggestions on HT or in the archives. People were so helpful.

      Delete
  16. I would love to use this but is it septic tank friendly?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Straight from the Soft Scrub site - Q. Will using Soft Scrub Cleansers harm my septic system?
      A. No. The recommended use of Soft Scrub Cleansers will not have any harmful effect on a household septic system. So go for it!

      Delete
  17. Thank you so much for the tip. My cabinets are dark so they hide a lot but I know they are dirty. I will give this a try.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Blue Dawn and white vinegar in a sprap bottle works great to

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dow Bathroom Cleaner is what I've used for years.. Spray .. wait a few minutes .. wipe.
    cuts grease and even sanitizes :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have oak cabinets and have used GREASE LIGHTENING many times. worked GREAT!!! Then I wax then with Paste Wax afterwards. BEAUTFUL!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grease Lightening states you are NOT to use on wood.

      Delete
  21. I am so happy I found this post! I am heading to the store now to get some lemon Soft Scrub! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ammonia will cut grease and remove nicotine.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Soft Scrub also makes a non scratch version

    ReplyDelete
  24. we doont have soft scrub in the uk, is there anything else to use.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Buy Green clean works on everything..

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have the same cabinets as in the picture. They are now 18 years old. I use windex and a soft cloth or rag. They shine like the day they where put in. Very very easy.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I just moved to a rental. The paint on the wall behind the stove is grease stained. How do I clean it to be able to prime and repaint it?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow! I clean homes for a living. Cleaning the grime off the wood cabinets takes a lot of work. I am so going to try this.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Can it be used on glass? I have a couple of stained glass fixtures above my cooktop and they are pretty nasty. I tried vinegar and it does nothing.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I have the same white cabinets and always use Lysol kitchen spray cleaner. The grease comes right off and no mess. I dry them with a clean towel and they look great. I use the same Lysol on my microwave door and vent as well as the top of the fridge and oven door.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I am not sure if we do have that brand name on the market in Cyprus. If I can't find it here what other alternative would you suggest.

    ReplyDelete
  32. the magic erasers from mr. clean work great at erasing the grease on my white cabinets. just need to rub it hard and off it comes.

    ReplyDelete
  33. 409 works really well on greasy walls, ceilings, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  34. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  35. yea, thanks for the soft scrub advertisement...can you also tell us its just as hard to get rid of the soft scrub from the cabinets...best thing is spray all purpose wait 5 ten minutes and wipe off.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Will this work on wood cabinets?

    ReplyDelete
  37. I use the 1 gallon jug of Orange Cleaner that one can buy at Home Depot. Spray onto cabinet, and watch the grease drop off, or wipe with a cloth soaked in cleaner. Also works for smoky walls, etc, and cleans floors, etc. I swear by this - use it for EVERYTHING that needs cleaning. Smells good too!

    ReplyDelete
  38. can you get Soft scrub in australia

    ReplyDelete
  39. I have used those wipes of lysol,or store brand on all surfaces .Floor, counters, stove, cabinets, microwave even. No mixing anything, no extra laundry no film to polish off. Just wipe and toss and you are done. I have used them on white painted cabinets as well as other surfaces.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I was just wondering would it also work on fridges & the stove? I have tried & tried and just cant seem to get them clean.

    ReplyDelete
  41. 409 does the trick too

    ReplyDelete
  42. I would be afraid to use the abrasive soft scrub on wood cabinets. It is good for stoves and refrigerators. They also have the soft scrub with bleach that might be ok for white cabinets because it doesn't have the abrasives in it. I would be careful using it on solid wood cabinets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ive always used Greased Lightning. The stuff is awesome. Just spray on, wipe off. No scrubbing needed and it doesnt damage the cabinets. Ive also used it as a pretreat for laindry for grease stains. You can get it at walmart, menards, home depot, lowes, etc

      Delete
  43. I use Dawn Dish soap on my cabinets damp rag the put the dawn directly on rag and wipe the cabinets watch the grease come off with ease does not harm wood or walls!

    ReplyDelete
  44. To clean you kitchen cabinets use Lysol foaming bathroom cleaner. It only cost $2.99 for a big spray can.
    Just spray some wait a minute and wipe off with a damp rag. And it will not hurt painted walls.
    It cleans grease with ease.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Instead you can use curd. Use some curd and rub it all over the place. after 5 mins scrub it with scrubber or rag.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Never would of thought to use this product on the cabinets, I will be trying this. Thank You.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I bought the Awesome Orange cleaner from Dollar Tree and mixed it with hot water using a sponge. I had painted my cabinets white and can't believe what a great job it did.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Is any kind of soft scrub ok because i can't find the exact one you use.

    ReplyDelete
  49. I make my own soft scrub using baking soda and dish detergent. Very cheap and works great.

    ReplyDelete
  50. wat about ole school stained cabinets, like from the 60's, where the front peels of a layer, lol

    ReplyDelete
  51. I put newspapers on top of my upper cupboards

    ReplyDelete
  52. I have used The Victorian House Finish Rejuvenator for over 25 years for cleaning the greasy buildup on cabinets, antiques, floors, doors and all the wood in my home and told everyone I know about the product. It was only available in antique stores years ago but now its online. Its manufactured in Oklahoma..makes it even better since thats where I am from. Here is the address if you want to use a proven product that won't harm the finish. It was invented for removing white rings and faded areas from antiques but works for All wood. Hope this helps you out. www.thevictorianhouseproducts.com

    ReplyDelete
  53. I have used The Victorian House Finish Rejuvenator for over 25 years for cleaning the greasy buildup on cabinets, antiques, floors, doors and all the wood in my home and told everyone I know about the product. It was only available in antique stores years ago but now its online. Its manufactured in Oklahoma..makes it even better since thats where I am from. Here is the address if you want to use a proven product that won't harm the finish. It was invented for removing white rings and faded areas from antiques but works for All wood. Hope this helps you out. www.thevictorianhouseproducts.com

    ReplyDelete
  54. I found the easiest way rather than buying expensive detergent was to use a basic soapowder (not liquid) detergent, mix about 50g in a small amount warm water apply with a damp sponge wait a few minutes (or as long as it takes to treat other surfaces) then go back to the start and wipe away with a clean wet cloth -really deep grease may take 2 -3 applications. you can add grated citrus zest (from left over peel used in baking) to mix for fragrance and extra grease buster.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Would you have any tips on cleaning venetian blinds?They haven't been cleaned in a v.long time& they have a coating of some sort that wont comes off!!Please help,thankyou.https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wmzq.com%2Fonair%2Faly-jacobs-54140%2Fwow-this-ikea-christmas-commercial-is-13082823%2Fhttps://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wmzq.com%2Fonair%2Faly-jacobs-54140%2Fwow-this-ikea-christmas-commercial-is-13082823%2Fhttps://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wmzq.com%2Fonair%2Faly-jacobs-54140%2Fwow-this-ikea-christmas-commercial-is-13082823%2Fhttps://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wmzq.com%2Fonair%2Faly-jacobs-54140%2Fwow-this-ikea-christmas-commercial-is-13082823%2F

    ReplyDelete
  56. What beautiful kitchens! I like this look. Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
    Kitchen remodeling Austin

    ReplyDelete
  57. I am read your article and it’s helped me a lot, thank you so much for share this wonderful article, I really like to read this type of blog, keep sharing this type of useful information, I am suggest to my all contact to visit this blog and collect this helpful information, If any one searching website designing & development company in Delhi please visit my website, we are do for you any think like website build PPC service and many more so don’t waste your time and come on my website and grow more your business, Thank you so much for read my comment. Ecommerce Website Designing Company in Delhii

    ReplyDelete
  58. This was be great I will read your blog properly, thank you so much for share this valuable information, I am enjoy to read this, it’s provided me lot of information, if any one grow up looking so please visit me website and I am share for you some tips so you will go and grow up your looks, thank you so much for read my comment.
    Lifestyle Magazine India

    ReplyDelete
  59. This was Such A Good Post if You can Check Out best i am Sure you will love it
    Saffron Huge Apperication for This Post
    This was Such A Good Post if You can Check Out best i am Sure you will love it
    केसर की कीमत

    Kashmir
    This was Such A Good Post and Want To Travel To Kashmir Then if You can Check Out best i am Sure you will love it
    mamra badam

    I am You are From India and want to Visit Kashmir Like gulmarg,Phalagam and Srinagar and You Just need good Packages Then I recommend Go Toboldiva.in


    High in proteins and fats, yet, low in calories Eggs form one of the best diets to lose-lose
    weight. weighloss fast

    ReplyDelete