Time spent in the kitchen will no doubt produce tasty treats and delicious meals; however, all the mixing, suatéeing, boiling, and frying leads to grease buildup on your cabinets. Degreasing them after hours of cooking can seem like an ongoing task, but we’re here to share that it’s not (phew)! With the right tools and cleaning materials, you’ll have those cabinets shining in no time.
Here’s how.
1. Wipe down surfaces
Your first step to shiny cabinets is giving them a quick wipe down first. This helps remove dust that’s stuck and has started to collect on greasy cabinets. Use a dry or slightly damp microfibre cloth to efficiently collect dust particles. Avoid feather dusters that end up moving the dust particles onto other areas of the kitchen, or worse, create a dust cloud (which means you’ll have to wait for it to settle and start all over again).
2. Get your bucket and sponge ready
Pour a tablespoon of dish soap, like Sunlight, into a bucket with recently boiled water. Armed with rubber washing-up gloves (to protect your skin), a soft sponge and a microfibre cloth, start gently scrubbing your cabinets.
- Use the soft sponge to gently scrub the grease off the cabinet. Going over it a couple of times to ensure the hot water and dish soap break down the grease.
- When you’re happy with the result, use a warm and damp microfibre cloth to wipe the cabinet down, catching any remaining particles or grease spots.
3. Use degreasers for tough cabinets
If the hot water and dish soap trick isn’t doing the job, consider buying a commercial degreaser. Make sure it’s compatible with your cabinet surface: check the packaging for compatibility with wood, varnishes, paints, and glass. The usual method is to spray the solution directly onto the surface and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping it off.
If the packaging isn’t all too clear, test a small spot on a greasy cabinet first, before committing to using it fully.
4. Weekly cleaning habits
Once you’re cabinets look shiny and new, you might think ‘it won’t be long before they become greasy again’. To avoid this inevitable scenario, consider incorporating these simple weekly cleaning steps:
- Clean as you cook: Get into the habit of cleaning as you cook, think washing the chopping board as soon as you’re done using it, and wiping any spills as they happen. This is how the pros keep their restaurant kitchens spotless by the end of service.
- Spot clean: As soon as there’s a splash of butter or oil that hits a cabinet, use warm, soapy water to spot clean it. The fewer spots, the less grease buildup.
- Wipe cabinets weekly: Just as you deep-clean your kitchen weekly, don’t forget to give your cabinets the weekly deep-clean they deserve.
We all have greasy kitchen cabinets; it’s unavoidable when cooking our favourite meals. As long as you’re kitted out with the right tools and cleaning materials, you’ll have them shining in no time!
Also See: Why cleaning as you cook can make for a more enjoyable cooking experience
Why cleaning as you cook can make for a more enjoyable cooking experience
