What Is The Best Degreaser For Kitchen Cabinets?

Nick Durante
by Nick Durante

Kitchen cabinets can take quite a beating throughout their lifespan. They are constantly exposed to temperature fluctuations, dirt, dust, and grease. Not only is it difficult to keep them clean, but it’s hard to prepare them before you repaint or stain them. What is the best degreaser for kitchen cabinets?

The best degreasers for kitchen cabinets are Goo Gone, Krud Kutter, and mineral spirits. You can also remove grease stains from kitchen cabinets with water and lemon juice concentrate, but that won’t help to thin or dissolve the paint. Mix warm water with a few drops of dish soap in a bowl and scrub your kitchen cabinets with the solution.

Always exercise caution if you use chemical degreasers such as Krud Kutter, Goo Gone, and mineral spirits. Never touch your mouth or face without washing your hands after you use chemicals to degrease your kitchen cabinets. Follow along as we explore the best degreaser for kitchen cabinets.

What Is The Best Degreaser For Kitchen Cabinets?

Degreasers that range from mineral spirits to Krud Kutter can work wonders on kitchen cabinets. There are many degreasers on the market, both natural and synthetic. This can make it difficult for homeowners to pick the right one for them. We have compiled a list to help you find the best degreaser for your kitchen cabinets.

1. Mineral Spirits

Few degreasers have proven as effective for kitchen cabinets as mineral spirits. Mineral spirits are primarily used as a paint thinner. The fast-acting nature and powerful performance are why DIY enthusiasts and professionals alike continue to use mineral spirits.

Made of petroleum, mineral spirits can quickly dissolve oil-based paint. Many professional painters rely on mineral spirits to dissolve the paint on cabinets. With that said, mineral spirits are most effective when the paint is still wet.

If the paint is somewhat dry, you can use the mineral spirits in conjunction with a wire brush to carefully scrape the paint away. You can expect the mineral spirits to evaporate within 15-20 minutes unless you over saturate your kitchen cabinets. Mineral spirits can also help remove simple grease stains from kitchen cabinets, but be careful as you don’t want to use too much.

2. Krud Kutter

Krud Kutter is an all-purpose degreaser. This product can dissolve everything from grease stains and dirt to latex-based paint and dust. Krud Kutter’s inclusion of several emulsifiers explains why it is so durable and works so quickly.

Use a liberal amount of Krud Kutter if you are simply trying to spot-clean grease stains on your kitchen cabinets. However, you can evenly apply a generous amount of Krud Kutter if you are removing an old coat of paint to strip the cabinets.

For stains, you only need to let the Krud Kutter sit on the grease for 3-5 minutes. This is enough time for it to break down and weaken the grease stains on your kitchen cabinets. After 5 minutes, simply wipe the solution off your cabinets with a damp rag and let them dry.

3. Dish Soap And Warm Water

The combination of dish soap and warm water can act as a simple degreaser for kitchen cabinets. While you can’t use mild dish soap and warm water to thin or remove paint, it is an easy way to remove grease stains. Add a few small drops of mild dish soap to a bowl of warm water and mix it with a stir or even your hand.

Lightly soak a rag or sponge into the mixture and ring it out if it’s over saturated. You can also add a drop or two of dish soap onto a sponge and run it under hot water for 30 seconds. Work the rag or sponge into the grease stains in a circular motion for the best effects.

Apply as much pressure as possible so that you don’t drag the stain across other parts of the cabinets. This works best on fresh grease stains, but the heat can help weaken or remove stubborn grease stains as well.

4. Lemon Juice Concentrate

It’s no secret that lemon juice concentrate is highly acidic. Lemon juice concentrate is an amazing natural degreaser that works quite well for kitchen cabinets. It isn’t the best option for removing paint, but lemon juice concentrate is a great way to remove tough stains from your kitchen cabinets.

You must dilute the lemon juice concentrate so that you don’t discolor or damage your cabinets. Generally, 1/3 of a cup of lemon concentrate to 2/3 of a cup of water is the perfect ratio. From there, simply soak a rag in the solution and scrub the problem areas.

If you have fresh lemons but no concentrate, you can simply slice and squeeze the lemon. This won’t be quite as effective as using lemon juice concentrate, but the fresh juice is acidic enough to break down stains on your kitchen cabinets. Simply squeeze some fresh lemon juice into a bowl or onto a sponge and scrub the stain.

5. Goo Gone Kitchen Degreaser

Not only is Goo Gone one of the best degreasers for kitchen cabinets, but it’s one of the best kitchen stain removers. You can easily spray Goo Gone onto grease and food stains on your kitchen cabinets. It only needs to sit on stains for 5-10 minutes to weaken and dissolve them.

Ideally, you should wash the residual spray off your kitchen cabinets after 10 minutes at the most. That way, you won’t damage the paint or wood beneath, as Goo Gone is quite powerful. The lemon and orange smell that Goo Gone leaves behind doesn’t linger for too long and it is pleasant.

Make sure to wash your hands after you apply Goo Gone. It can easily irritate your skin, eyes, mouth, and throat. Never touch your face after you spray or scrub with Goo Gone unless you wash your hands first.

How To Prevent Grease Stains On Kitchen Cabinets

The best way to prevent grease stains on kitchen cabinets is to clean them as often as possible. Remove grease spots as soon as they appear so that they don’t turn into stains. Ideally, you should clean your kitchen cabinets at least 1-2 times per week.

It will be harder for grease stains to form if your cabinets are free of dust, dirt, and grime. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to avoid grease stains entirely if your kitchen cabinets are near the stove. Try your best to move greasy pots to burners that aren’t as close to your cabinets, if that’s an option. Otherwise, your best option is to clean your cabinets 4 times per month or more.

Summing It Up

Mineral spirits, Krud Kutter, and Goo Gone are the best degreasers for kitchen cabinets. Natural remedies like lemon juice concentrate make it much easier to remove stubborn grease stains from your cabinets. Otherwise, you can use a homemade degreaser to clean your cabinets, such as a mixture of water and mild dish soap.

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Nick Durante
Nick Durante

Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.

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