The Very Best Degreaser for Kitchen Cabinets and How to Use It

When it comes to your kitchen cabinets, it can be hard to imagine that anything could truly banish the grease that accumulates from years of oil vapors and condensation deposits.

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We’ve all felt it: the slimy, tacky residue that lines your oven and cabinets and backsplash.

If you let it get away from you, on the best degreaser for kitchen cabinets will work.

Luckily, cleaning these greasy deposits is far easier than you think. As with anything, it only requires the right tool for the job.

Brillo pads? Oxy sponges? A magic eraser pad?

Sure, you could do that. It will take a different kind of grease, though. Elbow grease, and LOTS of it.

No, the very best way to clean greasy residue from kitchen cabinets is much easier. You have a lot of options, but the very best recommendation I can give you is as easy as spraying and wiping.

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The Best Degreaser for Kitchen Cabinets—My Top Pick

Krud Kutter

The very best degreaser I’ve found for cutting through heavy grease deposits on my cabinets is the Krud Kutter all-purpose kitchen spray. It’s not only non-toxic, but also comes in a two-pack an incredibly affordable price. The technology is incredibly tough on grease and extremely safe to use around food products.

You can use this EPA certified formula on a variety of surfaces, including the stovetop and range hood, which both tend to catch a lot of the grease that becomes airborn during cooking.

How to Choose a Kitchen Cabinet Degreaser

With that in mind, it’s always worth considering your alternatives, and knowing how to choose the right solution for you.

Don’t forget that every kitchen is different and your preferences may very well vary from mine.

Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a degreasing solution:

Are you seeking to just remove grease, or do you want to condition and protect your cabinets?
Do you need something that is not just food-safe, but also certified and pet/kid friendly?
Do you or your loved ones have a sensitivity to aerosol or mist spray products?
Do fragrances bother or irritate the airways or lungs of individuals in the household?
Are your cabinets made of only one material, and will your chosen solution clean ALL of the materials involved?
How much work can you put into the effort? Do you need something that limits stress on the arms or wrists?

How to Use a Degreaser to Clean Kitchen Cabinets

As with anything, you will want to follow manufacturer’s recommendations above all else. Every spray or cream or wipe is going to have slightly different instructions, so be sure to thoroughly read the documentation before buying and again at time of application.

By and large, degreasing solutions are a one-step application and a one-step removal. It is rare to find a degreaser that must be rinsed. If you use something like vinegar, you might need to figure out dilution and then rinse after application to remove caustic (and smelly) vinegar.

Most cleaning products simply require a single application, be it spraying or rubbing onto the surface. After that, simply wipe away cleaning products and the grease comes with.

Other Degreasers for Kitchen Cabinets

If you aren’t ready to try Krud Kutter, or want something a little different, here are a few other alternatives that can help to ensure you are fully armed and prepared to eliminate a maximum of kitchen grease buildup.

Weiman Furniture Polish & Wood Cleaner Spray

Weiman makes a nice restoration spray that does great at cleaning away dirt, soil and other deposited residue. This particular formula comes in an almond fragrance that will have you thinking of sugar cookies all the time.

Because it is a re-conditioner, you can expect your cabinets to come away looking not just clean but healthy. Weiman uses no wax or silicone in their formula, so you will never see a buildup of patina or residue with long term use.

While you can also use this easy spray on other finished woods, such as chairs, tables, trim and other wooden furniture, it is not recommended on floors.

Cold Pressed Orange Oil Concentrate

If you want a powerful and naturally occurring solvent that smells amazing and minimizes impact to the environment, this orange oil concentrate by Green Gobbler will absolutely astound you.

It’s not just great at removing dirt and great and oil, but can also be used on glass, granite, porcelain, stucco, rubber and even concrete and brick. It will remove crayon, soap scum, and even some ink.

Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer

If you want to not only clean and protect your cabinetry, but also want to fill in grooves and cracks in the aging wood, consider the Rejuvenate Cabinet and Furniture Restorer. This unique cleaning product will restore your cabinets to a shine and can also be used on Formica and laminate.

Because it includes a polymer formula, you will notice that using the product literally reduces the feel and look of visible grooves and scratches in the surface of your cabinets. It’s a cream application, so you need only to daub it on the recommended applicator and swab the surface of the cabinets.

Be sure you don’t have a veneer if you choose to use this product on tables or other furniture.

Stanley Home Products Cabinet Shine Protector

Stanley makes a great cabinet cleaner that doesn’t just banish grease and grime but also helps to remove dust, as well as renewing the wood. It’s also wax-free and doesn’t include any silicates, so don’t expect any buildup.

All you need with this one is a clean, damp cloth and a few minutes time.

Parker & Bailey Kitchen Cabinet Cream

This Kitchen Cabinet Cream by Parker & Bailey is super basic and intended to easily remove stains and oils while rejuvenating the look of your cabinets. The simple formula conditions your cabinets to ensure the wood does not dry or crack.

MiracleWipes for Wood Surfaces

If you are in the market for a quick and easy wipe-down, nothing is quite so easy as a wood cleaning wipe designed to attack oils and grime. These easy to use wipes pull from a plastic tube, just like a Clorox Wipe, and work well with oak, cherry, maple, hickory, walnut, and more.

Because the product is free of phosphates, which are destructive to wood and other organic surfaces, you can be sure they will never eat away at the paint or finish on your cabinets.

Natural Alternatives to Processed/Commercially Produced Kitchen Degreaser

Let’s face it. Sometimes you just don’t have time to go to the store, or don’t have the mind to spend money when something around the house might do.

So, what can you do to get rid of that awful kitchen cabinet grease without buying a commercially products product?

Great news. If you don’t want to spend the money and would rather spend the time, you can combine vinegar, baking soda, and (optionally) an essential oil or two for a great degreasing solution.

Keep in mind, oils can only go so far. I don’t know about you, but I love vinegar. In my food. One my floors or cabinets or HANDS is a bit of a different thing. That said, I’ll certainly do it in a pinch.

If you don’t mind spending the time and can endure the scent long enough to rinse and get some air in, here’s how you make that degreaser right at home:

Use a large mixing bowl or a store-bought spray bottle (or save one when a previous cleaner runs out!). Mix 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and a tablespoon of baking soda.

This will foam a little, but the reaction is harmless. All you’re creating is a little carbon dioxide and sodium acetate.

You can use a couple of drops of your favorite dish detergent as an added degreasing agent, and essential oils to your preference. Most cleaning products use lemon or lime.

I actually love the smell of mint in my kitchen, although you want to be careful not to use too much, particularly if using peppermint. It can linger and flavor food items if left unchecked.

Apply the mixture to your greasy surfaces by either rubbing with a cloth or spraying, and then use a clean, wet sponge to sop away the cleaning products and the broken-down residues.

Once you’ve removed the residue, take another pass at the spot with a clean, wet dishcloth to be sure you’ve completely rinsed the surface to a shiny clean.

Reviewing the Best Degreaser for Kitchen Cabinets

When you take all your options in lump sum, there’s a lot to consider. However, as long as you are thorough in your cleaning process and take the time to understand your cleaning needs, you will find that there’s really very little risk to using any one of these products.

When in doubt, there’s never any harm in speaking with a professional, particularly if you have something specific, such as custom woodwork or non-conventional dyes, paint, or wood finish.

Regardless your situation, you can very rarely go wrong with most of these products. The reality is that they are specifically designed for finished wood and devised with the intention of being not only safe for your wood, but safe for your kitchen and your loved ones. If you take the time to understand your options, there’s no doubt that you’ll arrive at the perfect solution and the best degreaser for kitchen cabinets.