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What works best on kitchen cabinet grease buildup?

Lynn in Parkton, Maryland

7 years ago

Due to health and family issues, my cherry wood kitchen cabinets have not been cleaned for about 10 years. These once beautiful cabinets are dull and caked with grease build up.

In the past I always used Vernax to keep them clean and protected, but that does not seem to be able to cut through the buildup. I have tried a number of other products including orange oil, Murphy's oil soap, but nothing is appears to be able to cut through the grease easily. After lot of effort and rubbing on one of the least dirty cabinets, it still doesn't look clean enough to me. Does anyone have any product suggestions or should I start searching for a professional to clean the cabinets?

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Comments (10)

graywings123
7 years ago
I would try Greased Lightening or 409 or mineral spirits. It's likely you are also going to remove some of the cabinet finish as you clean. At some point grease embeds itself into the finish, and you can't get the grease off without taking off the finish.
Lynn in Parkton, Maryland
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for your response. I am not familiar with Greased Lightening. I'll look it up. I hate to hear the finish is damaged now due to my neglect. Any recommendations on restoration products?
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alh1881
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
This sounds weird, but try spraying the buildup with PAM, leaving it a few minutes, then washing with Dawn dish soap. You may need to gently rub it with a green Scotchbrite pad but don't overdo it.

This works for many stubborn greasy messes-- the PAM dissolves the grease, then the Dawn dissolves the PAM. I even use this method to get paint off my hands.
graywings123
7 years ago
Once you get the grease off, you might try something like Howard's Restor-A-Finish. Or you could try using the Restor-A-Finish now, using 0000 grit steel wool (available in the paint aisle of Home Depot, etc.)
Restor-a-finish
lindac92
7 years ago
The grease will only damage certain finishes. Lacquer is one....and unfortunately prefinished woodwork was often finished in lacquer. But you may get lucky and have a varnish or shellac on your cupboards.
I would use mineral spirits and a scotchbrite scrubber...gently!
Lynn in Parkton, Maryland
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the advice. The cabinets were new with the house and the house was built in 1977. The last time I cleaned them well was 2004 and I used Vernax and they looked beautiful. Now, 13 years later, I'm facing a mess. If the cabinets are 40 years old, would that help with a guess as to what type of finish they have?
graywings123
7 years ago
There are various tests for determining what type of finish is on a wood product. Try googling things like, what finish is on my cabinets.

Here is one article:
cabinet finishes
Lynn in Parkton, Maryland
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks!
Michael
7 years ago
The grease buildup requires an emulsifier to break it down. I would try Orange Oil, followed by a very hot water sponge rinse.

Apply the Orange Oil cleaner with a soft paint brush and allow to soak for 5 minutes. Work slowly, one area at a time. Years of buildup doesn't come off in seconds.

Begin removing with an open cell sponge, half loaded with hot water. A sea sponge works best.
Lynn in Parkton, Maryland
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the suggestion. Do you think the finish is ruined too?

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