Unsightly and sticky are terms that best describe greasy cabinets. Additionally, kitchen cabinets are prone to oil splatters from moving cooking pots, grease stains from your cooktop and those from dirty hands. If you’re looking for a solution to remove grease from your kitchen cabinets, then you’re in the right place.
From white vinegar to baking soda, in this article, we’re going to show you different approaches how to clean grease off this kitchen furniture.
How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets: 5 Easy Methods
Method 1: Using Hot Water and White Vinegar
Vinegar is an all-around cleaning solution that can be used to clean various kitchen areas. And greasy kitchen cabinets are no exception. Keep in mind that vinegar is a natural degreaser thanks to its acidity. At the same time, hot water helps in breaking down stubborn grease and grime stains.
Supplies
- Hot water
- White vinegar
- Cloth
- Spray bottle
Fill a spray bottle with 50% of white vinegar and hot water. Spray this cleaning solution on your wood cabinets and allow it to sit for approximately 5 minutes.
Using a fresh, damp cloth soaked in cold water, wipe away the solution from your wood cabinets. When done, dab the surface dry using a paper towel. Optionally you can let your wood kitchen cabinets air dry.
Method 2: Using a Citrus-Based Multipurpose Cleaner
Citrus oil is a natural cleaning product with excellent grease-busting qualities. It is ideal for cleaning kitchen cupboards covered in tough grime and kitchen grease. Moreover, it also comes with a pleasant scent.
Supplies

- A Citrus Oil Multipurpose cleaner
- Two soft cloths
- Warm water
When using this multipurpose cleaner, it’s always advisable to spray it on your kitchen cupboard doors and allow it to sit for some minutes.
Using a damp cloth and a kitchen degreaser, wipe down the grease. When done, use another clean piece of cloth to wipe off any remaining grease on the surface of the cabinets. Then dry the grease-free surface using a dry cloth.
Note that this is one of the easiest ways to clean kitchen cupboards if you prefer using a specialised product instead of a DYI cleaner.
Method 3: Using Salt and White Vinegar Paste
If you’re looking forward to removing stubborn stains from your kitchen cabinet, then salt and white vinegar paste should be your go-to solution. Keep in mind that the salt acts as a scrubber to help lift off stuck-on grime and grease, while white vinegar helps break down the grease stains effortlessly.
Supplies
- Small mixing bowl
- White vinegar
- Table Salt
- Old toothbrush
- Soft cloth
In a mixing bowl, add a generous amount of salt and undiluted white vinegar. Mix the two until they form a paste-like consistency mixture. Dip an old toothbrush into the salt and vinegar paste, then carefully scrub it on your kitchen cupboards covered in sticky grease. Scrub the cabinets for 2-3 minutes, then wipe off the excess paste using a damp cloth.
With that in mind, note that this method may require some elbow grease depending on how grease has built up on your kitchen cabinets.
Method 4: Washing-up Liquid
Have you ever wondered if you can use just dish soap and warm water to degrease kitchen cabinets? Well, yes! If you’re looking for a straightforward method to clean sticky grease off kitchen cabinets, dish soap and warm water are excellent choices. Washing up liquid p is specially designed to remove grease from dirty dishes so it will clean sticky grease from your kitchen cupboards too.
Supplies
- Dish soap
- Warm water
- Mixing bowl
- Cleaning sponge
- Dry cloth
- Paper towels
When using dish soap and warm water to clean your wood cabinets, you’re required to mix a few drops of soap into a bowl of warm water, allowing the water to be a little soapy and bubbly. Dip your sponge into your soapy water and ring it dry. Gently rub the grease stains off your cabinets. When doing this, ensure that you wipe in the direction of the cabinets’ wood grain.
If you’re dealing with stubborn stains and sticky grease, apply a little dish soap on the sponge, scrub directly on the sticky cabinet and scrub again.
Using a microfiber cloth dampened in clean water, give the wood cabinets a simple wipe-down to remove any soapy residue or grease on the cabinets. When done, use paper towels to pat your cabinets dry or allow them to air dry.
It’s important to mention that dish soap products are specifically designed to remove grease stains effortlessly. Little elbow grease may, at times, be required when you use a sponge and soapy water when cleaning kitchen cupboards.
Method 5: Using Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
We have the answer if you’re wondering how to clean sticky grease off kitchen cabinets without using vinegar. When it comes to homemade cleaning solutions, baking soda and lemon juice are top of the list. So, if you’re looking for a cleaning mixture that will get rid of sticky grease from your kitchen cabinets without having to stand the vinegar smell, baking soda and lemon juice should be your go-to solution.
Supplies
- Soft sponge
- Mixing bowl
- Baking soda
- Lemon juice
- Warm water
- Spray bottle
- Clean cloth
- Soft cloth
Mix baking soda, warm water and lemon juice in a spray bottle and mix well. Using the spray bottle spray the solution onto your kitchen cabinets and allow the solution to rest for a few. When done, use a sponge to scrub the solution away gently.
Rinse the baking soda mixture from the sponge and gently wipe your wooden kitchen cabinets again. Ensure that you wipe off any baking soda residue. When done, use a dry microfiber cloth to dry the kitchen cabinets.
Bear in mind that the lemon juice in your cleaning mixture not only acts as a cleaning agent when cleaning cupboards. It will also leave a fresh citrusy smell in your kitchen after cleaning.
Kitchen Cupboard Cleaning FAQs
Does My Kitchen Cabinet Require Aftercare After Cleaning?
Yes, after cleaning your kitchen cabinet, you must give them some extra TLC. It’s noteworthy to mention that removing from your cabinets grease also removes protection and moisture from them.
So when you’re done cleaning them, it’s always important to replace the coat. It’s always essential to apply beeswax products to prevent the wood from drying out and repelling kitchen grease.

How Can I Prevent Grease Build-Up on My Wood Kitchen Cabinets?
To avoid grease buildup on your kitchen cupboards, always ensure that you clean the hob and cupboard doors on a weekly basis. You can do this using a warm cloth and a degreaser to remove grease marks or buildups.
Start Cleaning Your Kitchen Cabinets
Well, that’s it on how to clean grease off kitchen cabinets. We hope that the above cleaning methods will help you deal with the unsightly grease stains on your wooden cabinets!
Whether you prefer a damp sponge, or a small scrub brush with some baking soda and undiluted vinegar solution, keep in mind that any of the above methods will help you to remove sticky grease from kitchen cupboards in no time gently.