To remove kitchen grease buildup, break it with hot soapy water, then use a degreaser and gentle scrubbing before a clear rinse.
Grease clings to cabinets, hoods, tiles, and appliances. Heat turns oil into a sticky film that traps dust. With the right tools and order of work, you can clear it fast and keep it from coming back.
Grease Hotspots And Best Fixes
Start with the vent area, then move outward. The table maps common trouble spots to a reliable approach and the reason it works.
| Area | Best Method | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Range Hood & Baffle Filters | Soak in very hot water + dish soap; add a splash of degreaser; scrub with nylon brush | Heat and surfactants break fats; soaking lifts polymerized oil |
| Cabinet Doors & Pulls | Microfiber + warm dish soap solution; follow with diluted alkaline degreaser if sticky | Soap lifts fresh oils; mild alkali saponifies aged grease |
| Stainless Panels | pH-neutral cleaner or diluted dish soap; wipe with grain; dry buff | Neutral solutions clean without chloride risk |
| Painted Walls & Backsplash | Soft sponge with warm soapy water; spot treat with baking soda paste | Low abrasion protects paint; mild alkali loosens film |
| Gas Grates & Drip Pans | Hot soak with dish soap + degreaser; gentle scouring pad | Time and heat soften carbonized oil |
| Microwave Exterior | Dish soap wipe; cotton swab around buttons; dry with towel | Targets finger grease; avoids liquid in vents |
| Oven Door Glass | Baking soda paste; wait 15 minutes; scrape with plastic blade | Alkaline paste loosens baked-on film |
| Cooktop Surface | Degreaser dwell 3–5 minutes; microfiber wipe; rinse | Dwell time lets detergents surround oils |
| Counter Edges Near Range | Dish soap solution and detail brush for seams | Brush reaches caulk lines where oil collects |
| Floor Near Stove | Bucket of hot water + a few drops of dish soap; finish with clean water | Prevents tacky residue |
Tools And Supplies That Help
Gather two buckets, dish soap, a kitchen-safe degreaser, baking soda, white vinegar, a spray bottle, microfiber cloths, a nylon brush, a small detail brush, paper towels, and gloves.
Why Dish Soap Works
Dish soap brings surfactants that bind oil and water. Hot water boosts flow so the soap can surround fatty residue.
When To Pick A Degreaser
Old, sticky film needs stronger help. Choose a kitchen product with clear directions and good rinse behavior. Labels that match the EPA Safer Choice list point to options screened for cleaning performance and safer ingredients.
What Not To Mix
Never mix ammonia with bleach, or vinegar with bleach. Fumes and reactions can be harmful. Work with one chemistry at a time, rinse, then move on.
Step-By-Step: From Heaviest Soil To Shine
Go from the vent to nearby cabinets, then walls, counters, and floors. That order stops drips from landing on clean zones.
1) Vent Hood And Filters
Cut power to the fan. Pop out the filters. Fill a sink with very hot water and a small squeeze of dish soap. Add a measured dose of degreaser. Submerge for 20–30 minutes. Scrub with a nylon brush. Rinse until water runs clear and set upright to dry. Wipe the hood body with a soapy cloth, then a clean damp cloth. Dry to prevent streaks.
2) Cabinets Near The Range
Dust with a dry microfiber. Wipe doors and pulls with a warm dish soap solution. For tacky corners, mist diluted degreaser, wait 2–3 minutes, then wipe. Test first on wood finishes. Dry each door so residue doesn’t grab dust.
3) Backsplash And Walls
Use a soft sponge and the same soapy mix. For stubborn splatter, dab on a baking soda paste, wait 10 minutes, and wipe. Rinse with a clean damp cloth. On grout lines, a detail brush lifts oily film.
4) Cooktop Surface And Knobs
Remove grates and knobs if your model allows it. Spray the surface with a degreaser and let it rest 3–5 minutes. Wipe with microfiber in straight lines. Rinse with a clean damp cloth and dry. Clean knobs with a soapy cloth and a cotton swab around edges.
5) Oven Door Glass
Spread a baking soda paste over the inner glass. Wait 15 minutes. Scrape gently with a plastic blade. Wipe and rinse until clear.
6) Counters And Edges
Use warm soapy water for most counters. Keep vinegar away from marble and other calcium-based stone. Work the detail brush along seams and the range lip.
7) Floors Around The Stove
Finish with a hot water wash and a few drops of dish soap. Mop in small sections and change water as it clouds. Do a final pass with clean water.
Safety, Venting, And Fire-Smart Habits
Open a window or run the vent while you clean. Avoid sprays into hot pans or open flames. Keep lids nearby to smother flare-ups. For stovetop safety, see the NFPA guidance on cooking fires.
Kitchen Grease Buildup Cleaning Steps (With Time Targets)
This plan fits in one session. Dwell time does the heavy lift, so set a timer.
Prep And Test
- Clear counters and cover the range when working above it.
- Make two buckets: one soapy, one for rinse water.
- Test any new product on a hidden spot and let it dry.
Deep-Clean Sequence
- Soak filters first.
- While they soak, wipe the hood body.
- Wash upper cabinets near the stove.
- Clean the backsplash and wall edges.
- Degrease the cooktop and knobs.
- Rinse and dry each area before the next.
- Finish with counters, then the floor.
Finishing Touches
Buff stainless with a dry microfiber along the grain. Replace dry filters. Run the fan for five minutes.
Cleaner Choices For Different Surfaces
Match product to material. The table pairs soil type with a cleaner and a dwell time that keeps scrubbing light.
| Soil/Surface | Cleaner Type | Dwell Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh oil on painted wall | Warm dish soap solution | Wipe right away |
| Sticky film on cabinet door | Diluted alkaline degreaser | 2–3 minutes |
| Baked-on grease on grate | Hot soak with dish soap + degreaser | 20–30 minutes |
| Smudges on stainless panel | pH-neutral spray cleaner | No dwell; wipe with grain |
| Oil splash on tile grout | Dish soap + detail brush | Agitate 1–2 minutes |
| Greasy floor near range | Hot water + a few drops dish soap | Work in small sections |
Streak-Free Stainless Without Risk
Skip chlorine-based cleaners on stainless panels. Chloride can attack the passive layer and lead to pitting. Use a neutral cleaner, wipe with the grain, and dry to finish.
Cabinet Care For Wood, Laminate, And Paint
Wood and painted doors need a gentle hand. Soap and warm water handle daily soil. For stubborn film, use a diluted degreaser and keep moisture time short. Dry right away, then buff with a soft cloth so the finish stays even.
Prevention: Keep The Film From Returning
Cook With Venting Every Time
Run the hood on low when you preheat and while you cook. Leave it on for five minutes after you finish. Clean or replace filters on a schedule so airflow stays strong.
Wipe Small Spills Fast
Grease that sits turns sticky. A quick soapy wipe after frying saves heavy work later.
Set A Simple Schedule
- Weekly: Wipe cabinet doors near the range and the backsplash zone.
- Monthly: Wash the hood body and the cooktop trim.
- Quarterly: Deep-clean filters and gas grates.
Quick Troubleshooting
Cloudy Streaks After Cleaning
That’s leftover residue. Rinse with clean water and buff dry. Next time, use less product and a damp cloth.
Sticky Finish On A Cabinet
The cleaner sat too long or was too strong. Rinse well. Next time, use a weaker mix and keep dwell time short.
Lingering Odor Near The Hood
Filters may still be oily. Repeat the hot soak and let them dry fully before reinstalling.
What This Method Delivers
You get repeatable steps, safer product picks, and a plan that fits real kitchens. Heat, dwell time, and the right chemistry do the work. With a short weekly wipe and a monthly hood pass, sticky film stays away.