Powerful cleaner for embedded grease/dust/dirt on top of kitchen cupboards?

[MyrtlethePurpleTurtle]

I recently made the mistake of standing on a step ladder in the kitchen and saw the state of the top of the cupboards - primarily those in the cooker area but not exclusively so. And oh my, the deep 'grease' with embedded dust/dirt.

Any idea how to clean? Specialist chemical cleaners? Elbow grease ineffective. (Non chemical cleaners like white vinegar, baking soda etc entertainingly ineffective).

There must be products available. I mean, how else would specialist cleaning companies and professionals do this type of cleaning? (Or do I just leave as is 🤔 )

Many thanks!

Sugar soap.

Isopropyl alcohol

Also lay wallpaper along on the top of the cupboard …change it every couple of years, protects your units.

That fairy power spray is amazing stuff - give that a go!
Edit: also get one of those cleaning razors

When you have managed to get them clean lay some newspaper on top of the cupboards and when it gets covered in grime throw it away and replace it with clean newspaper.

Cross posted with @FatAgain 😀

Or 'better than sugar soap': https://hg.eu/uk/products/hg-liquid-sander-for-painting-without-sanding

Ah - I have that (for a totally different purpose)! I'll try that

asevi Degreasing spray from Amazon, I think it’s a Spanish cleaning product and it melts grease like butter!

What a good idea - thank you!! Now if only I'd thought of that 16 years ago - though I had no idea cupboards tops could get like that

By cleaning razor, do you mean this type of thing?

Screenshot also included

www.amazon.co.uk/Lindas-Essentials-Glass-Scraper-Blades/dp/B0F9PGKYPD/ref=sr_1_8?crid=FFVXZZNHYJ8O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DPdn_A8axwJUW_CIEHbHPCBcnqYXh6HwAwJVw8X-LeC7AGdJKS1wEQLH4L9s6CtKbcv6CV0QUTCLHvUsLDQ1HxxzBcYh-aKlcw-pjDNOMiFlr9sOe36JTKknZ0olvQkIOQApwVrzAMMInpo6JuRvDt3SCcBwga4mxmWVZQ6mwvmQwjnD_WasD0ZbpzzSvfpytQsdWne9F1qRoD5s-Eydcrz2KKzEv1iTsXWZqWf9nlQI5kvv1wGPV0lvwklAh-xpTfrw0-mhTFQPUYzPN3OPBXlIctV9vWtaQrpRFSpDHBA.og3qKoO89d-9ppwU-fJhxvvIHUi5EO1TYyEq8PPuq6s&dib_tag=se&keywords=cleaning+razor+blade&qid=1791153131&sprefix=Cleaning+razor%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-8

This…
https://www.screwfix.com/p/ultragrime-pro-power-scrub-xxl-cleaning-wipes-80-pack/326ch

Quick wipe to remove dust and top layer grease

Little bit of washing up liquid on a sponge, swivel round and let sit to loosen.

Wipe again with above wipes.

Spritz and polish with your standard kitchen spray to remove any cleaning chemicals.

Magic eraser sponges work a treat.

Any cream with beads or the pink stuff remove all that grime.

My mum used the newspaper method, but I can see the top of the cabinets and that would bother me.

You've probably tried this but when we bought our current home the tops and underside of the kitchen cupboards were similar. They were so bad that I don't think the previous owners had ever cleaned them.

I used Cif cream cleaner, left it to work, and a bit of elbow grease and it actually worked really well. Some kitchen roll to mop up excess grease and dirt. Chuck the cloths afterwards.

Oven cleaner works well too. Just do a test spot in case it melts the finish

Yes but Temu do them for like 80p

Honestly though, the Fairy Spray is amazing it seems to just melt stuff and lift! I dont know how bad your cuboard tops are but worth a go with that, brillo pads and a cleaning razor :)
EDIT TO ADD PIC;

Yeah, I tried Cif, one of the first things I tried

I am crap at mumsnet links!

Trying again;

https://share.temu.com/IZM2dTauM8B

I find washing powder brilliant at stuff. A spoonful in half a bucket of warm water, a large sponge and splash liberally. Wipe over again and the grime just dissolves. Very cheap and very effective. Brilliant on the bathroom.

So, I would do as above, then sugar soap and then pop wallpaper over as described by a pp (I’ve been eyeing off the top of a large wardrobe lately).

Can you get Dawn dish soap in the UK? I use that mixed with white vinegar and it works great.

And this reminds me, I should probably get the ladder out!

This stuff is amazing!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inspired-litre-Heavy-Duty-Degreaser/dp/B015FEZJMO/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?adgrpid=188969642280&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.s0VO7Ip1SSQvfKReCL-JwCeUXMChrOeOYTQCDXwJNkePzDL0ukCWGgszXirAyit9ElPqs1ZSbKlSPRcC3tn05tEvW1E1NRhu8LywBtozAA5MaMhnJZdTnh2mcfw6foDWsZmMHeqY74M5sp13TfiYsy6hV0zrBrF0IFDmkmoPoxHCJoTxJMagVuZ6R2u7BoieRymHAu8gDrWHlf8FYB_9gg.i0fdtB_-ytkAQEBOX7Aw7pyn9-cOc0YT5xNjFswKZ0s&dib_tag=se&gad_source=1&hvadid=793447442338&hvdev=m&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=1007450&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=11462825713132122568--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11462825713132122568&hvtargid=kwd-42537335043&hydadcr=22297_2419987_376508&keywords=professional+degreaser&mcid=d0228bb9c8a43c379aa1a6bca8a0a0d4&qid=1791190477&sr=8-7

I used it to clean my cooker hood when I realised the top of it, way up high and out of my sight, was thick with grease 😳 spray it on, leave it for 10/20 minutes and then wipe it off.

It sounds completely wrong but the easiest thing is cooking oil! A generous amount of oil wiped over the area lifts the sticky residue then you can just wipe it off with washing up liquid and warm water.

Put some kitchen paper towels on the top then spray and leave to activate for max of 30 minutes. Alternative to paper towels is a muslin square, extremely good at getting rid of encrusted dust and oils.

Have to say that Lidl's glass and window spray is a good cheap alternative.

I've had great results on the top of kitchen cupboards using elbow grease spray. That was in an ex rental where you could smell they'd used the frying pan at least once a day, it was truly filthy and everything was sticky to the touch...

Black liquid soap/ Savon Noir.

FrenchSoaps.co.uk

amazing stuff

Washing soda with washing up liquid mixed with boiling water