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Best product for grease removal before painting

12 years ago

After reading the post about pot racks and grease forming from grease particles in the air, I'd like suggestions fr a good product to clean an old wood cabinet before painting. It came from a home of smokers from the looks of it and already has old grease stains. Plus would the product be gentle enough to use on my creamy white beadboard walls when the need arises, hopefully not for awhile. No hood over the stove, not practical for lots of reasons; but I do use splatter guards over skillets.

Featured Answer

SYinUSA, GA zone 8

12 years ago

Try TSP - trisodium phosphate. It's available at Lowes or HD and should make short work of grease and soot.

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Comments (7)

function_first
12 years ago
I second the recommendation of TSP (avoid the "TSP substitute" that sits next to it on the shelf), it can't be beat for removing grease before painting. A word of warning, though, do NOT use it to clean your painted beadboard walls (or any other painted finish that you're not re-painting), it is a de-glosser so it will mar the finish.
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STPP is sodium tripolyphosphate, a complex phosphate compound (powder) which was in laundry and dishwasher detergent back in the day before phosphates were eliminated. It can be found via Amazon sellers, eBay, and other online sources. STPP differs from TSP (trisodium phosphate, used for paint prep, driveway cleaning, etc., can be found at Home Depot and such) in that TSP generates a precipitate when binding to mineral content in water and STPP does not. This is what I see on this topic thread regards to opt-in for reply notifications. It varies depending on what are the available choices, and (for me) does not appear at all on topics I did not start and have not yet posted a reply.
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function_first
12 years ago
Oops, just looked up what a de-glosser is. I mispoke -- TSP is not a de-glosser (that's a different type of product), what I should have said is that it has de-glossing properties, meaning that it will affect the sheen of a painted surface -- not what you want when you're only cleaning.
User
12 years ago
TSP first and then an alkyd stain blocking primer are a must. Otherwise the grease stains will just come right through the latex.

And installing a hood is easier than you think if your range is on a an outside wall. It can vent directly outwards. It will help the yuck problem tremendously. It's not just the kitchen cabinets and walls. The air currents carry the grease particles. It's the whole house walls and especially the adjacent soft furnishings like carpet, drapes, and chairs.
clvransom
12 years ago
Greased Lighting available at HD.
brickeyee
12 years ago
"TSP is not a de-glosser"

Strong TSP solutions and hot water will degloss very well.

It was used to degloss even lead paint for a long time.
It can sometimes even remove latex paint.

Paint thinner is far less likely to damage any finish than TSP or just about any other cleaner.

You will need a LOT of rags or paper towels, and paint thinner is flammable.
catkin
12 years ago
Basic ammonia in water with a few drops of dish soap. Cuts grease like crazy and will not take any paint off--makes glass sparkle like crazy and is cheap!

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