DIY Dish Spray That Cuts Grease (Mixed Straight From the Label)

The grease spray (stovetops, ovens and broiler pans)

1. 1

   Put on gloves and label the bottle

   Put on rubber gloves. Write “Grease spray: washing soda and water. Gloves on. Not for aluminum.” and today’s date on a new spray bottle. University of Georgia Extension says to label homemade mixes with what is in them and the date.

2. 2

   Pour in the warm water

   Add 2 cups of warm water to the bottle. The washing soda label calls for warm water.

3. 3

   Add the washing soda and swirl

   Add 1 tablespoon of washing soda, screw the sprayer on and swirl until no powder is left at the bottom. Here is the math: the label says half a cup per gallon, half a cup is 8 tablespoons, and a gallon is 16 cups. So every 2 cups of water gets 1 tablespoon.

1. 4

   Spray the grease and wipe

   Make sure the burners are off and cool. Spray the greasy spot until it is wet, then wipe it with a non-scratch sponge.

2. 5

   Rinse with plain water

   Wipe the surface again with a cloth and plain water until no residue is left. The washing soda label says to rinse thoroughly after you wash a kitchen surface, with rubber gloves on.

When it will not work, and what to do instead

A homemade spray has limits. Here is what to do when you run into one.

• The grease is brown, hard and baked on. The spray will not move it much. That layer needs a washing soda paste and a 30 minute wait. Full tip: How to clean baked-on grease with washing soda
• You are washing plates and glasses. Skip the grease spray and reach for dish soap and warm water. Utah State University Extension calls dish soaps necessary for cutting grease.
• The pan is aluminum. Keep the spray off it. The washing soda label says not to use it on aluminum.
• The pan is nonstick. We could not find a maker who says washing soda is safe on nonstick, so use dish soap with a nylon brush or non-scratch sponge. Arm & Hammer warns that metal tools and scrubbing pads can harm a nonstick surface.

Why it works

Washing soda is sodium carbonate. The American Cleaning Institute calls it a fairly strong alkaline salt, and it also calls it a builder, meaning it helps the cleaning agents in soap keep working.

Those cleaning agents have a neat trick. The same group explains that every one has two ends: one end wants to be in water, and the other end avoids water and grabs onto oily dirt.

Picture a person with one hand on the grease and the other hand on the rinse water. When the water runs off, it carries the grease right along with it. Washing soda helps that hand hold on a little harder on a greasy stovetop.

It is easy to stand in the store holding a four dollar refill and think, “This is mostly water and soap, isn’t it?” You are partly right, but the store formula has a solvent your kitchen does not.