How to Clean Greasy Kitchen Cabinets Without Ruining the Finish

Step by step

1. 1

   Mix a mild soap solution

   Stir about 3 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid into 1 quart (4 cups) of warm water. MasterBrand gives the ratio as 5% dishwashing liquid to 95% water, and 3 tablespoons in a quart comes in just under that. Use the soap you wash dishes with by hand, never dishwasher detergent.

2. 2

   Wipe the grease with a damp cloth

   Dip a clean cloth in the solution and wring it out hard, so it is damp and not dripping. Wipe one door at a time, starting with the doors closest to the stove. Do not use a sponge or the dishcloth from the sink. MasterBrand says those can hold grit that scratches, along with food and oil.

3. 3

   Go over thick spots again

   Old grease near the stove often needs a second or third pass. Rinse the cloth, wring it out, and go over the spot again with fresh solution. Be patient instead of scrubbing harder, because KraftMaid, another cabinet maker, says there is no need for hard scrubbing or scouring pads.

1. 4

   Wipe with plain water

   Rinse out a second cloth in clean, warm water and wring it out. Wipe each door again to take off any soap left behind. MasterBrand says to wipe the cabinets down with a clean, damp cloth after you clean.

2. 5

   Dry it right away

   Dry every door and edge with a third, clean, dry cloth as soon as you finish it. MasterBrand says moisture can cause peeling and discoloration, and KraftMaid says a thorough drying is part of every cleaning.

   What it looks like when it worked: a door that feels smooth under your fingers, not tacky.

When it will not work, and what to do instead

Some grease has been sitting a long time. Here is what to do when it will not come off.

• The grease is still tacky after three passes. Keep the mild solution and give it another round on another day. Do not jump to a stronger cleaner. MasterBrand lists harsh detergents, strong soaps, multi-purpose cleaners, scouring powders, steel wool and ammonia or bleach products as things to avoid.
• You want to try washing soda or a degreaser. It makes sense, since washing soda is great on grease in the oven. But the washing soda label says not to use it on treated wood, and Arm & Hammer says it can remove the finish from wood decks. Keep it off your cabinets.
• The doors look hazy, streaked or yellowed. That may be old polish, not grease. MasterBrand says wax and polish can build up into a hazy, streaked or yellowed look, so stop polishing and ask your cabinet maker how to remove it.
• The finish is peeling. That is damage, not dirt, and cleaning will not fix it. Contact the cabinet maker or the store that sold them.

Why it works

Grease and oil splatters land on the doors closest to the stove. MasterBrand says that when they sit there, they can cause permanent damage or discoloration to the finish, so those doors need the most care.

Dish soap is made to lift exactly that. The American Cleaning Institute explains that one end of each soap molecule is drawn to grease and the other end to water, so the grease lets go and rinses away in the cloth.

The finish on your cabinets is a thin protective coat. That is why the makers keep ammonia, bleach, strong soaps and scouring pads off it, and why water left sitting is a problem too. The gentle soap, the rinse and the quick dry all work together.

Every one of us has reached for a cabinet handle by the stove and felt that little stick on our fingers. It is tempting to grab the strongest bottle under the sink and go after it.