The best kitchen degreaser depends on how old the grease is. Fresh splashes come off with hot water and washing-up liquid. Sticky build-up on cupboard tops, extractor hoods and tiles needs an alkaline degreaser, such as soda crystals dissolved in hot water or a dedicated degreaser spray. Baked-on carbon inside the oven needs a thick bicarbonate paste left overnight or a caustic oven cleaner. Always rinse surfaces that touch food afterwards.
Kitchen grease is not one problem but several. A splash on the hob, a tacky film on top of the cupboards and black carbon on the oven floor each need a different approach, and using the strongest product on everything is how worktops and cupboard doors get damaged. Degreasers are one of the core items in the kit UK cleaners actually use.
Why Kitchen Grease Is So Hard to Shift
Every time you fry or roast, tiny droplets of oil travel on the steam and settle on nearby surfaces. On their own they wipe away easily. Left for weeks, they trap dust and slowly harden as the oil reacts with air, turning into a sticky, varnish-like film that plain water just slides over. That is why the top of the kitchen cupboards and the extractor filter are always the worst spots.
Degreasers work in two main ways. Surfactants, like those in washing-up liquid, surround oil droplets so water can carry them away. Alkaline cleaners, like soda crystals, react with fats and break them down, which is why they cope with older, hardened grease far better than acidic cleaners such as vinegar.
Types of Kitchen Degreaser Compared
| Degreaser | Best for | Avoid on |
|---|---|---|
| Washing-up liquid and hot water | Fresh splashes, everyday wipe-downs, worktops | Very little; rinse to avoid a sticky residue |
| Soda crystals (sodium carbonate) | Extractor filters, tiles, hob trims, greasy drains | Aluminium, wood, painted surfaces; wear gloves |
| Bicarbonate of soda | Oven doors, hobs and pans, as a gentle abrasive paste | High-gloss doors and easily scratched finishes |
| Plant-based degreaser spray | Cupboard doors, splashbacks, worktops, appliance fronts | Patch test on lacquered or painted doors first |
| Caustic oven cleaner (sodium hydroxide) | Heavy, baked-on carbon inside ovens and on oven racks | Aluminium, painted surfaces, skin and eyes; never use as a general spray |
| Steam | Hobs, hoods, grout and tiles without chemicals | Unsealed wood and delicate finishes |
The Best Degreaser for Each Part of the Kitchen
Extractor Hood Filters
Soak metal mesh filters in very hot water with a generous scoop of soda crystals for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse. Some are dishwasher-safe, so check the manual. Charcoal filters cannot be washed and need replacing.
Cupboard Doors and Tops
A plant-based degreaser or warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Wring the cloth well, because water soaking into MDF edges makes them swell.
Hob and Splashback
Washing-up liquid for daily splashes, then a bicarbonate paste for anything stuck on. Use a hob scraper on ceramic and induction glass rather than an abrasive pad.
Inside the Oven
The toughest grease in the house. Our guide on how to clean an oven without chemicals covers the overnight bicarbonate method in detail.
How to Degrease Kitchen Cupboards Step by Step
- Dust first. Wipe away loose dust with a dry cloth, or it turns into a grey paste when wet.
- Apply the degreaser. Spray onto the cloth or surface and leave it for two to five minutes to soften the film.
- Wipe in sections. Work one door at a time with a microfibre or Swedish dishcloth, rinsing the cloth often.
- Rinse. Go over the surface again with a clean, damp cloth to remove any residue.
- Dry. Buff dry so water does not sit on hinges, handles or door edges.
Tip: Once the tops of high cupboards are clean, lay a sheet of greaseproof paper on them. Next time, you simply swap the paper instead of scrubbing.
Safety and Food Hygiene
Rinse Food Surfaces and Protect Your Skin
The Food Standards Agency advises making sure any cleaning chemicals you use are suitable for surfaces that touch food, and keeping them out of reach of children. Rinse worktops and chopping areas after degreasing. Caustic oven cleaners need gloves, eye protection and an open window, and should never be mixed with other products.
Do Not Pour Grease Down the Sink
Degreasing the kitchen is pointless if the grease ends up blocking the drains. Thames Water warns that fats, oils and grease harden in cold pipes and that washing-up liquid does not break them down. Let cooking fat cool, scrape it into the bin, and wipe greasy pans with kitchen roll before washing up.
Our Pick for Everyday Degreasing
Natural Multi-Surface Cleaner – Eucalyptus & Geranium
A plant-based spray made with coco glucoside, a gentle cleanser that cuts through everyday grease and grime on cupboard doors, splashbacks and worktops without harsh fumes.
View ProductQuick Summary
- Fresh splashes: hot water and washing-up liquid.
- Sticky build-up on cupboards, tiles and hoods: soda crystals or a degreaser spray.
- Baked-on oven carbon: bicarbonate paste overnight or caustic oven cleaner.
- Vinegar is weak on grease; alkaline cleaners work better.
- Rinse food surfaces, wear gloves, and bin cooking fat instead of pouring it away.
Shop Cleaning Products
Plant-based sprays, cloths and steam tools for a grease-free kitchen.
Shop Cleaning ProductsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the best degreaser for kitchen cupboards?
A plant-based degreaser spray or warm water with washing-up liquid suits most cupboard doors. For thick, sticky build-up on cupboard tops, a soda crystal solution works better. Patch test on painted or lacquered doors first.
Does vinegar cut through grease?
Not very well. Vinegar is acidic and is excellent for limescale and glass, but grease responds better to alkaline cleaners such as soda crystals or bicarbonate of soda.
Is washing-up liquid a good degreaser?
Yes, for fresh grease. Its surfactants lift oil so water can carry it away. Older, hardened grease usually needs an alkaline degreaser as well.
How do I remove sticky grease from the top of kitchen cupboards?
Wipe off loose dust, apply soda crystals dissolved in hot water or a degreaser spray, leave it for a few minutes, wipe, rinse and dry. A sheet of greaseproof paper on top afterwards makes the next clean easy.
Can I use oven cleaner on other kitchen surfaces?
No. Caustic oven cleaners can damage paint, aluminium, some worktops and skin. Keep them for the inside of the oven and its racks.
How do I clean a greasy extractor fan filter?
Soak metal mesh filters in very hot water with soda crystals for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse and dry. Check the manual to see if yours is dishwasher-safe. Charcoal filters need replacing, not washing.
Sources: Food Standards Agency cleaning guidance; Thames Water, Fats, oils and grease; United Utilities, The facts about fatbergs.