Really disgusting kitchen

[GirlInterrupted]

I need some help please. We are trying to clean a rental property before moving in and the kitchen is absolutely disgusting.

It appears that they have been cooking with doors and windows closed for years. Everything you touch is sticky, but not the normal kind of sticky that comes off with soap and water!

We have spent hours yesterday scrubbing the extractor hood and cooker. And the tiles around cooker although the grout still has the yellow/brown sticky residue on!

Even with using cif, you still need to scrub. We have used scrubbing brushes the green scrubby things and cloth. The scrubbing brush is ruined as the brown sticky stuff is now embedded in the bristles.

Anther problem is that the kitchen units have been repainted and they have obviously used just normal gloss paint as it scratches so easily. Just from trying to wash down the one door that is sticky, I have managed to scratch the door.

Is there another way to get this clean? Vinegar maybe? Please let me have all your advice.

And before you say it, we were lucky to find this place for the price, it is in a fab area and close to everything, and the rest of the place is not too bad, just the kitchen. The agent thinks nothing of the dirt, he was very proud of himself for wiping the dust off the windowsill!

Hi - I’ve had some success with this when I had a similar problem - good luck

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HG-Grease-Away-500-Cleaning/dp/B000IU3VWQ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=IMTSMOH46HNU&keywords=grease+remover+kitchen+heavy+duty&qid=1685174529&sprefix=Grease+remover+%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Buy a tub of Gorilla Wipes. I degreasedyears of cakes on grease with these, it just lifts off with the wipe. They evensorted a recirculating extractor fan which had never been cleaned!

A steam cleaner should work. Steam, wipe, repeat.

Second that HG Grease Away stuff. It does a really good job.

Following

Cif cream is probably the best, or a similar abrasive paste like bar keepers friend. Try dipping the brush bristles in very hot water to dissolve the grease.

You need a degreaser to deal with this gunk. Try Cif floor cleaner or Elbow Grease spray. You could also try bio washing powder in very hot water.

Sugar soap!! I am the tenant in a rental that nobody ever cared about including landlords and everything thick with grime that nothing, even bleach, wouldn’t touch. Sugar soap stripped it all right off.

Get a cleaner in to do a deep clean. I had to do a kitchen that wasn’t ours and I would never waste my own energy on something so disgusting again.

You need a degreaser. Such as Sugar Soap, you can get it from B&Q or a good hardware shop.
Or combination of a steam cleaner and a sharp scraper blade, my dd is a professional cleaner and these are the methods she uses, it it’s really bad she does the steamer / scraper first then washes down with the Sugar Soap

I had to do the same thing when we moved last. Elbow grease spray and a scrub daddy came to my rescue for most of it and then the rest I just had to work hard at it to clean it properly.

With the cupboard doors I would just scrub them then look at repainting them properly later because they'll be a nightmare to live with if they scratch easily.

Sugar soap or elbow grease spray (dissolves so well!) and a scrub daddy sponge (doesn't scratch in my experience).

Elbow Grease or Pink Stuff paste and a Scrub Daddy

I've got nothing to add except I take my hat off to you for tackling other people's grease without giping 🤢

Agree with sugar soap and make sure you have really decent gloves and ideally eye protection .

Elbow grease spray. 💯
Let it sit for ten minutes then tackle with hot water & a scrubber.

I once had to resort to ammonia. It worked but it’s serious stuff - wear good gloves, mask and goggles. Open all windows. Do not mix with anything just dilute in warm water. It lifted all the grease very quickly.

www.proformula.com/uk/products-2/cif-professional-power-cleaner-degreaser/

This is used in professional kitchens - it removes caked on grease with no effort.

You need a good degreaser. We actually used one for cars. When I bought this it had been rented out to people who cooked with a lot of oil & a lot of steam. No extraction, lived here a few years 🤢🤮

best wishes!

personally I wouldn't worry about scratching the doors. Take photos of the dusgusting state the kitchen is in. Get it clean, then in the summer paint the doors with chalk paint and put a proper lacquer over it.

Thanks for all the advice guys! I will report back

I bet they kept the previous tenants deposit to hire professional cleaners due to the state of the kitchen then just never bothered and pocketed the deposit!

Do before and after pics

We had patches of sticky nasty/greasy stuff in our kitchen when we moved in. I scrubbed for ages with no success. As a last resort I sprayed with mr muscle and left it for 40 minutes and it wiped straight off. Good luck!

Why didn't the landlord sort it for you, the new tenants ?

TBH this was the landlord's job or the previous tenants.

It ought to have been inspected before you moved in, and professionally cleaned!

Would you not consider speaking to the owner and asking them to sort out a deep clean?

You should make a bit more of a fuss- this is not acceptable at all.