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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Best cleaning tips for grease build up on kitchen cabinets, help me please.

51 replies

CarbeDiem · 05/07/2014 14:23

I seem to be the only person who is in my house (PIL live here mostly) who gives a shite about cleaning the grease off the cupboards.
I've came back after 8 months and the cupboards are caked in sticky grease and tbh I don't fancy standing there for hours scrubbing away with degreaser AGAIN Angry

I'm going to tackle it next week when mil is around to overtly show her how to do it and that hopefully it's easy :)
I try to avoid chemicals where possible (asthmatic) so I'm thinking maybe some dish washer tabs made in to a paste - white vinegar - bicarb
Does anyone think any/all of these will work?
Give me tips lovely ladies (or gents if there's any here) please. I beg you.

OP posts:
whereisshe · 06/07/2014 07:32

Carbe yes I think the stain remover soap bar would. I may have, err, set our grill on fire once - large greasy smoke stain all over the cupboard above Sad and the soap bar got it off.

PigletJohn · 06/07/2014 07:52

There are lots of people who refuse to turn their extractors on.

wowfudge · 06/07/2014 09:26

If you have one of those stupid recirculating cooker hoods like the one we've inherited then unfortunately you do get greasy cabinets. I am going to try sugar soap for my forthcoming cabinet clean.

Leviticus · 06/07/2014 15:35

Cif cream cleaner took mine off very swiftly when we moved here. The cooker hood and everything.

ConfusedDotty · 06/07/2014 15:56

Method is on offer in Sainsburys right now, I stocked up yesterday as I love the stuff. It's best used with one of those micro fibre cloths. I keep the old Method bottles and fill it with diluted Zoflora, it smells great.

Wellwellwell3holesintheground · 06/07/2014 15:58

Flash bleach spray in the red and white bottle.

CarbeDiem · 06/07/2014 16:51

do your ILs actually use the extractor? - Nope :( and mil fries in oil a lot.
I'm not sure if it's the cupboards/varnish on them themselves that are the main problem. It can become sticky after just a few months of not cleaning them.

When did you last change the extracter filter wotsit? - Erm.... I honestly don't remember, probably a few years ago but when I use it, it does seem to be working well.

Oops! Where is :) Glad you got it off.

There are lots of people who refuse to turn their extractors on. Mil is one of those people.

I will tackle it at some point next week and report back.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 07/07/2014 08:38

I think I'd go straight for sugar soap.

In our last rental the ll deep fried everything from breakfast cereals to horlicks (at least that's what it seemed like by the state of the kitchen) and when the sun shone on the kitchen I smelt of grease.

It took me ages to get it off.

Buying this place was such a relief because it was a clean new build.

Ll ran a restaurant too

CarbeDiem · 07/07/2014 15:41

Thanks fluffy.
I'll probably first try the Method stuff first - simply for the fact I have a sainsbury near me and the DIY shop, for the sugar soap, is miles away.
If method doesn't work I will go out of my way to get some though.

OP posts:
CarbeDiem · 07/07/2014 15:43
  • I appear to like the word 'first' today Blush :)
OP posts:
upupupandaway · 07/07/2014 15:48

Most builders merchants sell sugar soap, anyone can shop there. Buy the powdered stuff, works out a lot cheaper. You could also try using a strong solution of biological washing powder. Agree with microcloths but use a cotton one for the final wipe down as they are more absorbent.

PigletJohn · 07/07/2014 16:10

soap also in the High Street

ArcheryAnnie · 07/07/2014 16:13

Method cleaners are available in waitrose. Their bog cleaner is the best I have ever, ever tried, and I live in a hard water area which turns the loos black.

ArcheryAnnie · 07/07/2014 16:17

You said that MIL fries a lot. If her frying is deep-fat frying, might your next xmas present to the pair be a deep-fat fryer? Would cut down on the cabinet grease in the long run.

Like these: www.tesco.com/direct/home-electrical/fryers/cat3374608.cat#prevTile=pt-210-2883_210-2883

upupupandaway · 07/07/2014 16:18

Where would we be without Wilko's?

CarbeDiem · 07/07/2014 21:01

It's actually not deep fat frying, thank christ as I shudder to think how much worse it would be, it's in a frying pan/pans. Often in the same meal she's boiling the arse off a few pans at the same time too so I don't know if the steam mixed with the fat is what's causing it to stick on the wooden cupboards more iyswim.

Thanks for the wilko link - will try and get to one tomorrow.

OP posts:
quietbatperson · 09/07/2014 21:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CarbeDiem · 09/07/2014 21:25

It does seem so Quiet :) and yes it's gas.
To be fair to mil she does clean the cooker often but seems to not notice the sticky grease.

OP posts:
quietbatperson · 09/07/2014 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NormaCore · 09/07/2014 23:12

I used a steam cleaner to get rid of old greasy hob splashes. It was so easy to shift - I couldn't get rid of it by scrubbing alone. Bought the Mumsnet Morphy Richards one - and it is lovely.

CarbeDiem · 10/07/2014 17:51

I bought some sugar soap stuff from wilko's today. I haven't had 5 mins to try it so will do it at the weekend.

OP posts:
lighteningmcmama · 11/07/2014 22:45

Marking my place to see what worked best!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 11/07/2014 23:12

Baby wipes! There's nothing that they don't very clean imeGrin

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 11/07/2014 23:12

Get not very-stupid phone

80sMum · 11/07/2014 23:25

If your cupboards can stand it, I find the quickest way to remove grease build up is with extremely hot water (and heavy duty thick plastic gloves). I usually heat a wet, lightly wrung out microfibre cloth in the microwave for a couple of minutes, so it's super hot, then wipe over the surface. The grease melts off.
Probably a very similar effect to using a steam cleaner. The downside is you have to keep reheating the cloth every few minutes - but it does work and doesn't use any chemicals.