How To Clean Grease Off Laminate Kitchen Cabinets? [Full Guide]

Laminate kitchen cabinets ranked 4^th in popularity among Americans in 2014, according to Statista. According to the statistics, 6% of Americans in urban areas, 4% in suburban areas, and 13% in rural areas prefer laminate cabinets.

Their popularity is because they are sleek, practical, and economical.

Despite their popularity among other types of kitchen cabinets, they are highly vulnerable to grime, grease, and food splatters. However, the good news is they only require a simple cleaning procedure to keep them looking great. Read on to find out more.

JUMP TO: GREASE OFF LAMINATE CABINETS | LAMINATE GREASE REMOVER | PREVENTING A GREASE BUILD UP |

Why is there Grease on My Laminate Cabinets?

A sticky, greasy kitchen cabinet can be an annoying mess!

However, the bitter truth is that it’s a situation you can hardly avoid, especially in a busy kitchen.

I have spent many hours cleaning my kitchen cabinets, and believe me, it’s quite tasking.

Fortunately, it’s possible to get rid of all that grease! You can have your laminate kitchen cabinets sparkling clean once more.

But be froe we get there,

Greasy cabinet surfaces are a result of two main reasons:

Evaporation of the Oil You Use for Cooking

Every time you cook, the oil turns into vapor and evaporates.

The bad news here is that oil doesn’t, unlike water that turns into gas on evaporation. On the contrary, the microscopic oil droplets only float in the air before eventually cooling and sticking to the surface.

Thanks to this, your laminate kitchen cabinet will end up becoming greasy. Moreover, as the dust settles on the greasy surface, it becomes sticky.

Kitchen Cabinet’s Close Proximity to the Stovetop

Most kitchen wood cabinets in our homes are close to the stovetop. This positioning makes them vulnerable to grease droplets evaporating from your cooker.

Greasy hands also contribute a great deal to a greasy cabinet.

How many times, as you cook, do you touch your cabinet using greasy hands? Yes, that’s what I’m talking about.

The more often you do it, the more greasy your cabinet becomes.

Tip: Avoid touching your kitchen cabinet with greasy hands as much as possible. This helps protect your cabinet from grease.

How Do You Get Sticky Grease off Laminate Cabinets?

You have different options when it comes to cleaning your greasy kitchen cabinets. However, you can also easily do it using natural cleaning products.

I’m talking about cleaning products such as lemon, white vinegar, and baking soda. With these products, you may not need to use any chemicals.

Here are a few ways to get rid of this annoying mess.

Degrease with Hot Water and White Distilled Vinegar (For Thin Layers of Grease)

White distilled vinegar is among the most popular degreasing products for homeowners.

But why white distilled vinegar?

First, it contains acetic acid, which has excellent degreasing properties. Acetic acid is powerful in dissolving grease, in addition to killing bacteria.

Secondly, according to healthline.com., white vinegar is non-toxic and eco-friendly. Consequently, it has become the ultimate multipurpose cleaning solution in most homes.

Thirdly, white distilled vinegar has no coloring agents at all. As such, it poses no risk of staining your laminate surface.

Don’t use vinegar aggressively on the laminate surface as the acidic property in the vinegar can dull the laminate finish. However, I suggest this method for thin layers of grease built up. 

So, here is what you will need:

• A clean spray bottle
• Warm water
• A soft clean cloth
• White vinegar
• Some dishwashing liquid (to remove the tough grease stains)

The Procedure

1. Use the spray bottle to measure an equal quantity of warm water and vinegar (50/50)
2. Spray this solution on your laminate kitchen cupboard surface
3. Leave it for several minutes
4. Dip the soft clean cloth in warm water and rinse it to avoid too much water that may be detrimental to the surface
5. Gently wipe the laminate cabinet surface using a clean damp cloth to eliminate the grease stains.

Important Note: Marmite and chocolate spread stains may prove to be stubborn and would require extra TLC. Make a paste of salt and vinegar and use an old toothbrush to scrub such stains, then wipe.

Also Read: What Is Kitchen Cabinet Refacing? 

Degrease with a Dishwashing Liquid (Safe for Laminate Finish)

Dishwashing liquid is the other common degreaser for your laminate kitchen cupboard.

It effectively cuts through the grease and grime, loosens, and removes them.

What makes dishwashing liquid so effective?

This liquid contains an active ingredient called triclosan. Although it only accounts for less than 2 percent, it’s responsible for degreasing and killing bacteria and fundi.

Caution: You will need to rinse the surface thoroughly because triclosan can be harmful if ingested.

Here is what you will need:

• Warm water
• Dishwashing soap
• A soft and dry cloth
• A cleaning sponge

The Procedure:

1. Put a few drops of the dish soap in warm water
2. Soak the cleaning sponge into the mixture
3. Squeeze the sponge to get rid of much water
4. Follow the grain of the cabinet surface as you wipe it with the damp sponge
5. Anytime you encounter stubborn stains, pour some drops of dishwashing liquid directly on the sponge, then wipe.
6. Dip the sponge in the water again, rinse it and repeat the procedure till your surface has no more grease stains.
7. Lastly, wipe the surface with a dry clean cloth to eliminate grease residue.

Important Note: Dishwashing soap is a strong degreaser that you can use for thick grease stains.

 Degrease with a Citrus Multipurpose Cleaner (Safe for Laminate Finish)

Citrus Multipurpose Cleaner is another natural degreaser for your laminate kitchen cabinet. It contains citrus oil that takes down grease and stains easily.

Here is what you need:

• Two soft clothes
• A citrus multipurpose cleaner
• Warm water

The Procedure:

1. Spray the citrus multipurpose cleaner directly on the cabinet surface
2. Allow it to rest for several minutes
3. Dip the soft clean cloth in the warm water, then rinse it
4. Wipe the cabinet surface with a clean damp cloth to remove the grease
5. Get the second soft clean, dampen it, then wipe the surface again to remove any residual grim
6. Dry the surface thoroughly

Important Note: Citrus Multipurpose Cleaner is a premium degreaser that you can use for thick grease stains.

Degrease with Baking Soda and Lemon (For a Thick Layer of Grease)

Many homeowners tout this mixture as among the best natural cleaning products. It does excellent work, especially when dealing with stubborn thick layers of grease.

With baking soda and lemon, you can give your laminate kitchen cabinet a brand new look.

You will need:

• Warm water
• Juice from one lemon
• A soft sponge
• A spray bottle
• Baking soda

The Procedure:

1. Mix the lemon juice with two parts of warm water and one part of baking soda
2. Put the mixture into the spray bottle.
3. Spray the mixture directly onto the cabinet’s surface
4. Allow about 2-3 minutes for the baking soda to get rid of the grease
5. Using the soft sponge, gently wipe down the grease.
6. Rinse the sponge and repeat the process
7. Using a dry cloth, buff the cabinet

Remove Grease Builtup using Murphy’s Oil (For Thin Layer Grease)

Yes, Murphy’s oil is good for laminate kitchen cabinets. You can use it to remove grime that has built up for many years. 

1. Pour a dash of Murphy Oil Soap on a soft cloth or damp sponge
2. Wipe the greasy area with the damp sponge
3. Wipe the area again using a dry cloth
4. If you want to clean the entire cabinet, mix half a cup of Murphy oil soap into a gallon of warm water
5. Wipe your cabinet with a microfiber cloth to remove any dust
6. Dip a sponge into the Murphy oil mixture and wring to drain most of the water
7. Using the cloth, wipe your laminate cabinet  
8. Keep rinsing the cloth and dip it back again into the water as the need arises.

Fighting Oil With Oil

You can use vegetable oil to remove grease from your laminate kitchen cabinets.

When vegetable oil mixes with hardened grease, it softens it, making it easy to wipe it off. You can even make it more effective if you combine it with baking soda.

All you need is:

• 2 cups of baking soda
• 1 cup of vegetable oil

Procedure

1. Mix the one cup of vegetable oil with the two cups of baking to create a paste
2. Using a damp cloth, rub the paste on the part that has the grease stains
3. Scrub in soft circular motions using a toothbrush until all the grease clears

Best Laminate Grease Removers

A good degreaser should be able to cut through stuck messes, loosen them and remove them. Many degreasers feature a formula of oils and proteins that make this possible.

However, you need to ensure that whatever degreaser you choose is safe and works best for you.

Naturally, most all-natural kitchen degreasers are safe for your cabinet and your hands. However, not all will contain cleaning agents that help break down germs and bacteria.

On the other hand, standard degreasers can deal with bacteria and grease.

Caution: Be careful as you choose standard degreasers; not all of them might be safe. Avoid using degreasers that contain caustic. Caustic remove the finish from the laminate surface. 

Among the standard  Non-caustic degreasers in the market that you can trust include:

• Krud Kutter 305373 Kitchen degreaser
• CLR PRO Heavy Duty Cleaner and greaser
• Fantastik Advanced Kitchen and grease cleaner
• Easy-Off Specialty Kitchen Degreaser

Does WD 40 Remove Grease from Laminate Kitchen Cabinets? 

While WD 40 is an effective method to remove grease from the laminate cabinets; however, the cons of using this method are more than the pros. 

The toxic smell from the WD 40 stays forever. Also, It can cause Respiratory problems. 

However, you can use it to remove small patches of grease.

Important Note: The WD 40 spray is a powerful solvent-based degreaser that you can use for thick grease stains.

WD 40 spray is easy to use:

• Spray the WD 40 where the grease stains are on your laminate cabinets.
• Allow it some time
• Wipe the surface with a cleaning rag to remove the grease

Caution: When using the WD 40 spray degreaser in the kitchen, be careful not to lest you contaminate drinks and other food items. If possible, remove all food items from the kitchen before spraying.

Does Rubbing Alcohol Dissolve Grease in Laminate Cabinets?

Yes, rubbing alcohol helps to dissolve grime on your kitchen wood cabinets. This degreaser is safe for your cabinet and inexpensive.

Important Note: Alcohol is not all that powerful against grease. Consequently, use it to remove thin grease stains only.

To degrease using alcohol:

• Apply alcohol to the area that has grease
• Give it a few minutes to break down the grime
• Use a cleaning rug and bar soap from rubbing the area

Caution: Do not leave puddles of rubbing alcohol on the laminate cabinet surface for too long; it can cause damage.

Preventing a Grease Build Up

You have cleaned your laminate cabinet, and now it is sparkling clean, right?

Even so, you haven’t stopped cooking. That means there is a possibility of another grease buildup in the coming days.

So, here is how to ensure that you prevent grease buildup in the future:

1. Wipe the cabinet surfaces weekly using a simple soft cloth and a degreaser. This will help remove any grease marks.
2. Cover the surface of your kitchen cabinets with any of the following:

• Baking paper
• Brown paper
• Newspaper
• Cling wrap
• Aluminum foil

3. Wash your hands regularly while cooking to avoid transferring grease from your hands to the cabinet.

Aftercare for Laminate Kitchen cabinets

Cleaning and degreasing your laminate kitchen cabinet also removes moisture and protection. Consequently, it’s essential to replace this after the degreasing process.

Consider the following tips to help you in the aftercare of your laminate cabinet.

• Polish the surface using products that have beeswax to prevent the surface from drying
• Avoid strong chemical cleaners and bleach
• Don’t Use Abrasive Materials
• Avoid string mops or sponge mops

Check out This Video to Take Care of Your Laminate Cabinets Regularly