How to Clean Grease Off Your Kitchen Cabinets

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Springtime is here! And that means it’s time to tackle those chores that fell by the wayside during winter hibernation (whoops!). First up, learn how to clean kitchen cabinet doors. All sorts of factors can cause the grimy build-up on your kitchen cabinet doors, from oil splashes to greasy hands. Don’t fret—your scrub down will be a snap when you follow our easy-peasy tips.

How to Clean Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

You’ll need some dish soap, a bucket full of about a gallon of hot water, and microfiber towels or a sponge. Microfiber towels work best, and they won’t leave lint on your hard work. For an extra bonus round on those wood-finished cabinets, you’ll also need an oil soap solution, like Murphy’s Oil.

Step 2: Ready the Soap

In the bucket, mix about two tablespoons of dish soap with the hot water. If you don’t have a bucket, you can always use a plugged kitchen sink.

Step 3: Apply

Dunk your microfiber towel or sponge into the soapy water, and apply it to the sticky areas, especially around the handles. While you want to have enough soap on the dirty parts to be effective, don’t douse the doors too heavily in water, as this can hurt the wood.

Step 4: Scrub Away!

Use the microfiber towel or sponge to scrub off any greasy areas. You’ll want to use these tools, or a soft brush, over a harsher scrubbing tool, as rougher tools can damage the finish of wooden, painted and plastic cabinets.

Step 5: Dry

Gently wash off the suds, and use your clean microfiber cloth to dry the doors, always brushing in the direction of the grain on wood-finished cabinets.

Step 6: Bonus Round

If you have wood-finished doors and you want to really make them shine, an oil soap solution is the next step. On painted doors, make sure to dilute the oil soap before application. Test out the solution on a small, non-noticeable area of the door to make sure it doesn’t damage the finish. After a quick application, dry immediately. Looks okay? Then you’re good to go!

Pour a small amount of the oil soap onto a clean towel, and go over the entire cabinet with a light layer of the oil soap. After letting it sit for a moment, wipe off the solution with fresh microfiber towel, again making sure to dry in the direction of the grain of wood. The oil soap should have lifted off any remaining grimy areas, as well as given your doors a shine boost.

Pro tip: A spray bottle full of white vinegar is an awesome and cost-effective all-purpose cleaner. Keep one around, and use it to spray down cabinets from time to time to easily get rid of that first sign of grease build up. But don’t stop there. We’ve got tons of tips on how to use white vinegar to clean your home.

As for the Rest of the Kitchen…

Ready to give the rest of your kitchen a true cleansing? We’ve got all the grease-busting tips to get your space whipped into shape. Soon you’ll be cooking up a storm for your next summertime party, and looking like a pro in that gleaming kitchen!

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