If you’re like most homeowners, your kitchen cabinets are probably made from wood. Over time, grease and cooking oils can build upon their surfaces, making them look dirty and discolored. This post will show you how to remove grease from wooden kitchen cabinets using a few simple steps.
Grease is a common enemy of wooden kitchen cabinets.
It can cause the wood to swell, making the cabinets challenging to open and close
It can also cause the wood to rot, leading to even more severe problems.
Thankfully, there are several ways to remove grease from wooden kitchen cabinets.
The first step is to remove as much of the grease as possible using a wet sponge or cloth. Next, apply a degreaser to the cabinets and let it sit for a few minutes. Finally, scrub the cabinets with a brush and rinse with water.
You may wonder how grease comes into contact with your wooden furniture?
As you are busy in the kitchen, cooking oil may spill on the tables, and you may touch the cabinets as you remove the plates of spices.
If it is cleaned immediately, it does not have any effects, but it becomes a magnet for dirt and dust if left for a long time.
And this makes for unappealing sight and destroys your kitchen aesthetics.
So, make a point of cleaning your wooden surfaces after having a big cookout in your kitchen, or even three days or weekly.
When it comes to removing grease from wooden furniture, not everything is as effective.
If you want clean and shiny cabinets and tables, use the following methods.
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9-Best Methods on How To Remove Grease From Wooden Kitchen Cabinets
1. Dish Detergent
You will need:
-
- Dish detergent
- Warm water
- Cleaning cloth or sponge
- Clean, lint-free cloth
Easily to find in every home and best for removing oily residues from wood.
The best way to use dish detergent is to mix it with warm water.
Stir the mixture to ensure that the soap has mixed with the water and formed suds.
Then take a piece of clean lint-free cloth, collect the suds, and start washing the wood’s oily area.
You may ask, why not immerse the fabric into the basin.
The suds have the perfect detergent and water ratio, making the ideal cleaning solution.
After washing and making sure you’ve removed all the grease, take another clean cloth and dip in clean water.
Then squeeze off excess water and wipe off the soap and the oil and grease.
Then take another dry cloth and wipe your table or cabinet dry. And voila…! You have clean furniture.
2. Baking soda
You will need the following items:
-
- Baking soda
- Warm water
- Gentle scrubbing brush
- Dry cloth
Easy to find and cheap method of removing grease from wood.
The best part is that baking soda cuts through the oil and is gentle on your wood.
Thus, you are assured that wooden cabinets and tables will retain their perfect condition.
Take your baking soda and pour it in the grease stains
Wet your brush with some warm water and start scrubbing.
After you are sure that you’ve got everything, take a damp cloth and remove the waste from the wooden tables.
Then wipe with a dry cloth.
This method is perfect for older or more stubborn stains.
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3. White Vinegar and Warm Water
Prepare the following items:
-
- White vinegar
- Dish detergent
- Warm water
- Spray bottle
- Soft cloth
White vinegar is perfect for getting rid of grease.
This is because it has a higher acidity.
Measure equal part vinegar and warm water
Put the mixture in the spray bottle and shake for it to blend well
Spray the mixture directly on the greasy stains and leave it to rest for several minutes
Take the cloth and wet it with warm water, then squeeze the excess water to leave it damp.
This ensures that the wood will not be destroyed by excess moisture.
Then wipe off the soaked-up grease with the cloth.
If some stains do not come off, repeat the process.
Alternatively, you can take a gentle brush and scrub off the stubborn stains after spraying the solution. Then after it is clean, wipe it off with a clean and damp cloth.
4. Regular Soap and Water
You will need:
-
- Soap
- Warm water
- Cleaning sponge
- Soft and dry lint-free cloth
We all know how effective soap is in cleaning filth, and grease is the perfect filth to get rid of with soap and water.
First, take a damp cloth and wipe off excess grease from the wood.
Then, take soap and water and a sponge or cloth.
Dip the cloth in water and apply the soap and start cleaning.
If there are lines that the sponge can’t reach, take a booth with soft brittles and start scrubbing.
After you are done, rinse your wood with clean water and a lint-free cloth.
Then take another dry cloth and wipe off the water.
5. Citric Acid
Citric acid is found in many multipurpose cleaning solutions.
It is suitable for cleaning wood, but you risk bleaching your wood.
This method of removing greasy stains is perfect for older and natural wood.
Take warm water and pour it on the greasy stains.
Then take your citric acid and spread it on the grease stain.
Leave it for a minute to mix with water and act on the grease, then take a piece of cloth and wipe it dry.
Please do not leave it for a long time.
Caution: It’s not recommended for sensitive types of wood. And since it’s hard not to know which wood is perfect. It is advisable not to use this method unless you are an expert or have no other choice.
6. Mineral spirits
This is a method applied by many artists and DIY people. Mineral spirits are often used to thin paints or grease stains.
Although it may be harsh on your wood, when it’s used conservatively, it perfectly and safely removes all the oil buildup.
Ensure that you are working in a well-ventilated space as the spirits can be choking.
Take a piece of cloth and wet it with mineral spirits.
Rub the damp cloth on the greasy stains. Don’t wipe it all at once; take a section at a time.
This helps you avoid saturating the wood with the spirits.
Be careful not to spill the spirits on the wood as it could end up chipping off the finish.
7. Store-bought Cleaning Solution
If you don’t want to get creative with cleaning solutions, you can buy cleaning solutions and get to work.
First, take a paper towel, place it on top of the grease and let it suck up excess oil.
Take care not to move it around to avoid spreading the grease.
The reason is to prevent grease from spreading over and simplify your work when cleaning, especially when you have large grease stains.
Take your cleaning solution, a bucket of water, and a piece of cloth.
Mix the water with the cleaning solution, dip your fabric and start cleaning.
After thoroughly cleaning your wooden surface, rinse and then take a dry cloth to dry it.
8. Sanding
You will need the following items:
-
- Fine sandpaper
- A rough sandpaper
- Varnish
- A cloth
First, wipe off excess grease from the surface.
Then take your rough sandpaper and start sanding your wooden surface.
This helps eliminate the grease and remove any other damage caused by knives.
The result will be uneven, and this is where your fine sandpaper comes it.
It helps smoothen the surface, making it even by removing all the bumps.
After you are done, take a dry cloth and wipe off the sanding waste.
Then apply furniture varnish or cream to seal and protect your wood.
This is the best solution when the damage is irreversible using the other cleaning methods.
It is suitable for all types of wood, and the best part is that your wooden surfaces will be as good as new.
When you are sanding wooden surfaces, ensure that you are facing the direction of the wood grain.
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How to Protect Your Wood Cabinets after Removing Grease
After removing grease from your wooden surfaces, you must protect your wooden from damage by applying a finishing coat.
This helps restore the surfaces to their original or even better state.
You can do this using furniture varnish, cream, or bee wax.
Take a cloth, scoop some varnish or wax onto it and apply it to your wooden surfaces.
Rub the cloth in a circular motion to evenly distribute the finish to the wood.
Do not apply to all the surfaces at once; section the wood and apply one section at a time until you apply to the whole surface.
After you are done, take a clean cloth and start buffing the surface.
Do it the same way you did with the finish, circular motions, and small parts at a time.
This protects your wood from being damaged by any oil spills as they cannot penetrate the wood.
Final Thoughts on How to Remove Grease from Wooden Cabinets
Grease can damage your wood if left for an extended period.
Therefore, ensure that you remove any grease spills immediately using any of the above methods.
Alternatively, if you want to salvage a tremendous wooden antique that has stubborn grease or other stains, sanding is the best option.
This is because you can remove all the bumps, smoothen the surface, and finish by applying varnish to protect it from future spills.
All in all, ensure that you protect your wooden surfaces with furniture varnish or cream after cleaning them.
And don’t forget always to wipe the grease off the wood immediately it spills.