AIBU to never clean the top of my cupboards?

[tryingtosortmylifeout]

I inherited an old and very sticky kitchen when moving into my new house. I’ve been deep cleaning all the cupboards and surfaces but the top of the cupboards (right near the ceiling, so not visible to anyone unless they are seven feet tall) are extra filthy. The whole of the fairly large surface is covered in a really sticky grease, presumably built up from decades of cooking, dust and general dirt and grime.

AIBU just to leave this for another five years or so until we (hopefully) manage to buy a new kitchen? Even if I wanted to I’m not sure it would be possible to clean it - it’s in such a state and my cloth basically just sticks to the dirt!

Photo attached - the whole of the surface is covered in it.

AIBU and WWYD?

Sugar soap will get that off easily.

Don't leave it, it has a smell of its own and even if you can't smell it other people will. Then line the top of the cupboards with something you can change twice a year.

I find doing this makes me feel quite ill so I take some antihistamines in advance now.

Nearly I find that too - it must be something to do with dislodging all those germs.

I don't clean the tops of my cupboards but they were sparkling when we moved in 18months ago. If truly vile I would clean them as couldn't stand knowing it was there in my nice clean kitchen

Although they look fine tbh

Holy crap I haven't even looked at mine!

Is cleaning the top of your cupboards really a thing?

Unless you regularly have very judgemental visitors who are over 8 feet tall then what is the point?

I had the same thing with my current house when I moved in and I used fairy liquid and a little hot water and green scourer, was lovely when it was done and I now just run a hot cloth over it every couple of months to keep it clean. I couldn't relax knowing it was so filthy.

Wallpaper on top is a brilliant idea and I am going to steal it after my new kitchen goes in. Thanks

That really doesn't look bad enough to worry about OP. I'd save yourself the hassle (and breathing in the chemical crap you'll need to make it sparkling).. Its not even like you'd easily be able to admire all you (very) hard work afterwards! Def don't bother for 5 years!!

Another one here who has never looked up there but it's bound to be disgusting. Seeing as nobody ever sees it, touches it or puts food near it I don't think I care.

I've been wracking my brain trying to recall if I've done mine since the new kitchen was put in.

That was in May ...

May 1998.

Time for another new kitchen?

I'm not sure the pictures show how horrid it was! The entire surface had a film of dirt with an almost sellotape-level of stickiness. You can see the difference in the attached pic - the lighter coloured bit is where I'd wiped!

I've now finished the whole surface and lined it with newspaper as suggested on here. Hurrah!

When we moved into our place it had been empty awhile as the elderly people had gone into care. The elderly woman was disabled and the man had been caring for her but had developed dementia. We gave ourselves a week to do a deep clean. I found chicken bones on the top of the kitchen cupboards !

Well done Op.

OP- once it's all done, get some of those spongy mats (wilko) that you pop inside cupboards and drawers to stop things slipping. That way you can just remove and replace saving you a job next time!

Glad to read the OP has got her problem sorted. Throwing my 2d into the ring: fine wire wool (any DIY store) and good old baking soda (I buy these big pots www.therange.co.uk/household/cleaning/cleaning-products/multi-purpose-cleaners/baking-soda/#104344)

I've only recently become addicted to the power of baking soda for cleaning, now I use it frequently.

@RetiredNotExpired interesting - perhaps I should buy a pot or two.

I'm just doing mine with a steam cleaner I was persuaded to buy by mumsnet a few years ago. I'm v slatternly usually but it is smelling lovely already...

@tryingtosortmylifeout - I was searching for ways to clean copper & brass without using stinky, expensive, and messy metal polishes and before you could blink I was using baking soda on everything :)

experthometips.com/cleaning-baking-soda-bicarbonate

www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/household-advice/a669645/21-cleaning-problems-you-can-solve-with-bicarbonate-of-soda/

www.yours.co.uk/lifestyle/home/articles/30-extraordinary-uses-for-baking-soda