How to Clean Greasy Kitchen Cabinets

I spend a great deal of time in my kitchen—whether I’m developing a new recipe, preparing dinner for my family, or making stovetop popcorn for a late-night snack. It’s not just a kitchen; it’s my workspace. And like any workspace, it’s important to keep it clean. The countertops get a scrub with soapy water after each use, the refrigerator handles get wiped with disinfectant spray once a week, and the sink is deep-cleaned after it comes in contact with any raw meats or seafood.

It wasn’t until I spoke with some cleaning experts that I realized I was neglecting the kitchen cabinets. They get covered in grease and develop a gross film without regular cleaning. But it’s not difficult to clean those cabinets with a little elbow grease and a little know-how. Experts swear by mixing Dawn with warm water and gently cleaning off the grease.

Why Cabinets Get Greasy

Cabinets get covered in grease from airborne oil particles produced through cooking. While this may seem obvious, what’s not so clear is how those oils find their way to cabinets and not just the countertop or stovetop closest to the source.

“The greasy film you notice on your kitchen cabinets comes from the oils used in cooking, along with any animal fats released from the food you prepare,” explains Derek Christian, co-owner of All-Star Cleaning Services. “Unlike water, which turns into individual gas molecules when it evaporates, oil doesn’t become a true gas. Instead, it forms microscopic droplets that become suspended in the air. These droplets travel on warm air currents, eventually cooling and settling onto nearby surfaces—like your cabinets, walls, and appliances.”

Over time that grease “builds up and mixes with dust, making it harder to clean,” says Armando Calderon, owner of Joy’s Cleaning Services, LLC. “Another common cause is from fingerprints, both on the handles and the edges of the cabinet faces.”

That grimy layer of oil and dust sticks to all types of cabinet surfaces, including wood, laminate and painted surfaces. Scott Schrader, chief marketing officer at CottageCare, describes that stuck-on grease and dirt mixture like “a stubborn rash.”

Pick the Right Product

Getting the grease off kitchen cabinets isn’t all that tricky. It starts with picking the right product. “My go-to method for cleaning greasy cabinets is simple but effective,” explains Taylor Riley, partner at AMR US Commercial Cleaning. “In a spray bottle I will mix water with a small squirt of Dawn dish detergent. Dawn contains surfactants, which break the surface tension between water and oil. Grease is so difficult to clean because it repels water, but when you use Dawn, you can trap the grease and force it to dissolve.”

Christian agrees that dish soap with surfactants is critical in breaking down and lifting away oil, and his preference is also Dawn. “It’s probably the single most effective soap for cutting through grease.”

If you are opposed to using Dawn, you can reach for a more all-natural option from brands like Seventh Generation. “They use coconut-based surfactants that still get the job done while being more environmentally friendly,” Christian says.

How to Clean Greasy Cabinets

Here is the go-to method for cleaning greasy kitchen cabinets:

1. Gently brush off any dust or debris using a microfiber cloth or dry sponge.
2. Make a solution of about 1 to 2 tablespoons of dish soap per 1 cup of warm water. 
3. Gently work the soap mixture onto the surface of greasy cabinets using a microfiber cloth or non-scratch sponge.
4. Give the mixture a few minutes to break down the oils.
5. Follow up with a clean damp cloth to remove residue.

“And here’s something I always warn people about: don’t scrub too hard,” Christian advises. “Aggressive scrubbing or using abrasive tools can damage or remove the cabinet’s finish. Avoid scrub brushes, blue scrub pads, and especially Magic Erasers. Even if they get the grease off, they can take the finish with it—and that’s a much bigger problem to fix. Let the soap and heat do the heavy lifting.”

For tougher grease build-up on cabinets, there are a number of products the cleaning experts recommended trying, including Murphy Original Formula Oil Soap (for wood only), Krud Kutter Cleaner & Degreaser or diluted Simple Green. Just be sure to first apply a very small amount of these products to a discreet spot on the cabinet, like inside a door, to ensure they don’t damage the finish. A simple DIY option for tough grease stains is to make a paste with baking soda and water (but avoid using this paste on delicate or finished surfaces, as baking soda acts as an abrasive).

How Often Should You Clean Cabinets?

How often you need to clean your kitchen cabinets depends on how frequently you cook. But in general, plan to degrease cabinets every one to three months, and perhaps more for any cabinets close to the cooktop. 

“The best way to deal with grease is to stay ahead of it,” Riley says. “Routine care beats deep scrubbing every time.” A quick wipe-down of your cabinets more frequently can reduce the time you’ll spend doing a deeper clean.

To minimize airborne grease in your kitchen, always use your hood fan. And be sure to wipe up any oil spills or splashes immediately.

The Bottom Line

Kitchen cabinets are bound to get greasy over time, thanks to airborne oil particles produced by cooking. A simple, gentle scrub with a sponge or microfiber cloth dipped in warm water and dish soap can help clean those gross greasy cabinets. Avoid scrubbing too vigorously or you could damage the surface or finish, and if you’re using a specialty cleaner for tougher grease build-up, test a small amount in a hidden location to ensure that it doesn’t discolor or damage your cabinet.