How to Degrease Your Kitchen: A Step-by-Step Guide.
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How to Degrease Your Kitchen: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Kitchen grease is rarely caused by one dramatic spill. It builds gradually from cooking vapour, splashes and everyday use, leaving a sticky film on hobs, splashbacks, extractor fans and cupboard doors.
The right kitchen degreaser can make the job much easier, but technique matters too. Here’s how to remove grease thoroughly while taking care of the surfaces in your home.
Why does kitchen grease build up?
When food is cooked, tiny particles of oil and fat become airborne. They settle on nearby surfaces, where they mix with dust and other household residue. Over time, that thin film becomes difficult to remove with a standard surface spray alone.
Grease is especially common around:
- Hobs and cooker controls
- Splashbacks and kitchen tiles
- Extractor fan filters and covers
- Cupboard doors near the hob
- Microwave doors and handles
- Worktops and nearby appliances
A dedicated degreaser is designed for this kind of residue. For everyday dust and light marks, a general-purpose cleaner may be enough. For sticky, cooked-on or greasy areas, a stronger kitchen cleaner is usually the better choice.
What you’ll need
-
A kitchen degreaser, such as
Brumol Spray Degreaser 750ml AZUL - Two clean microfibre cloths
- Warm water
- Rubber gloves
- A soft brush for textured surfaces
- A dry cloth for finishing
Before you begin, read the product label and test the degreaser on a small, inconspicuous area. Take extra care with painted, varnished, delicate, aluminium, natural stone or porous surfaces.
How to degrease kitchen surfaces
1. Let the surface cool
Never apply cleaning products to a hot hob, oven or appliance. Wait until the surface is completely cool, then remove loose crumbs and food particles.
2. Spray sparingly
Apply the degreaser to a small section rather than covering the entire kitchen at once. Working in sections gives the product time to loosen the grease without allowing it to dry on the surface.
Avoid spraying directly near electrical switches, sockets, vents or appliance openings. Spray onto a cloth instead where appropriate.
3. Allow the product to work
Follow the dwell time stated on the packaging. A degreaser needs time to break down the greasy film, but leaving any cleaning product on a surface for longer than instructed is not automatically better.
4. Wipe away the residue
Use a damp microfibre cloth to lift the loosened grease. For textured tiles or stubborn areas, use a soft brush rather than an abrasive scourer that could scratch the finish.
Rinse or change the cloth regularly. A dirty cloth can simply spread the grease around.
5. Rinse where needed
Some surfaces, especially food-preparation areas, should be wiped again with clean water after degreasing. Follow the product label and the care instructions for the surface.
Finish with a dry cloth to remove remaining moisture and prevent streaks.
How to clean the cooker hood and extractor area
The area around an extractor fan often collects a particularly stubborn layer of grease. Remove any washable filters according to the appliance instructions before cleaning them.
Apply degreaser to the cloth or filter surface as directed, allow it to work, then rinse thoroughly if the label requires it. Never soak electrical parts or place filters back while they are still damp.
How to prevent grease build-up
A short weekly routine is easier than one large deep clean:
- Wipe the hob and nearby splashback after cooking
- Clean cupboard handles and doors regularly
- Wipe extractor surfaces before residue becomes sticky
- Deal with spills while they are still fresh
- Use a separate cloth for greasy areas and general surfaces
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Never mix a degreaser with bleach, ammonia or another cleaning product. Always ventilate the room and keep cleaning products away from children and pets.