by Betty Carew

Created on: July 05, 2009

Kitchen cabinets are not something we think of often and are not always included in our weekly cleaning but before you realize it we are looking for ways of how to clean grease build-up on kitchen cabinets without having it turn into a major job. When we discover that our cabinets have lost their glow and are now looking dull and have that gummy feel, it is time to get to work to restore them to their former beauty.

Cleaning your kitchen cabinets don't have to be a foreboding job, help can be found right behind those sticky doors. This help can come from something as simple as baking soda which is found in almost every cabinet. It doubles for any cleaning but can cut grease from your cabinet doors without a problem. Take two or three tablespoons of baking soda per cup of warm water and wipe your cupboards with a sponge. Once you have cleaned all your cupboards rinse them off with clean clear water and you should see a remarkable difference.

Let vinegar come to your aide when cleaning your kitchen cupboards. Wipe your kitchen cupboards with straight vinegar using a sponge or a cloth. You may be smelling vinegar for a while after but it does work on cutting grease from surfaces. You can help eliminate the smell by rinsing your cupboards in light sudsy or clear water.

If the grease is just a light coating, mild dish detergent is all you need to remove it. Place a tablespoon or more of mild dish detergent in a cup of warm water and wipe all over your cupboards. Rinse in a clear clean water after to get the soap residue off the wood.

When you're cleaning your cupboards never use an abrasive scrubbing pad such as a scrub brush, scouring pad or wool pad. All of these can damage your cupboards badly. When you do use a cloth or sponge, always try to wipe the way the grain in your wood runs.

Sometimes you're bound to encounter food stuck to some part of your cupboard. If this is a problem and it just won't come loose you can use a putty knife to loosen it but you have to extremely careful. Scrape on the food splatter only, don't touch the wood with the putty knife.

If the grease buildup is very heavy, then you may have to consider a stronger cleaner but with strength comes a little more chance of damage. Using paint thinner can sometimes work but it is best if you try this product in some inconspicuous place just in case it does damage your cupboards. If it seems like your cabinets can tolerate this cleaner pour some of it on a clean soft cloth and rub until you have eliminated the grease. It is important you have good ventilation if you're using paint thinner.

There are many products on the market that can help you remove the grease if these solutions won't work. Depending on the type of cabinets you have, there are also many oils that will bring back life to your cabinets, after you do the cleaning. However it is best that you know how to remove grease build-up on kitchen cabinets by using the simplest methods possible before you bring in the big guns.

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