You can try both natural and commercial cleaners for this purpose. Apply any suitable degreaser to the cabinets and scrub with a drill brush attachment. If you don't have the drill brush, no problem; try a soft-bristle brush and scrub it by hand. Take a damp microfiber cloth and strip off all the grease and dirt.
Importance of Pre-Work
Cleaning and degreasing are a significant part of this prep work. In addition to repairs, sanding where needed, caulking, and making sure your cabinets are secured to the wall properly.
Clean the cabinet by spraying it with a degreaser solution and wiping it down with a rag. This removes all the oils and grease that could prevent a perfect finish. If ordinary cleaners aren't effective, consider using a stronger cleaner like trisodium phosphate (TSP), which is sold at hardware and paint stores.
Dish Soap. Grease-cutting dish soaps, like Dawn, are the gentlest choice for degreasing kitchen cabinets. If extra cleaning power is needed, use a non-scratch abrasive sponge to help safely scour away sticky grease film.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle, adding liquid dishwashing detergent to cut through the grease. Spray outside doors and let the solution sit for one to two minutes. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. Spray inside doors and shelves and let the solution sit for one to two minutes.
Your best bet is probably an orbital sander. You could hand sand your cabinet, but it will take a lot of elbow grease. You may even want to use both. An orbital sander can make quick work of the bulk of the cabinet door, but a sanding block or sanding sponge can help you cover any grooves or tight spots by hand.
I use Murphy's Oil Soap and a little water. Cleans the grease right off. How do you clean sticky wood cabinets? The sticky residue you feel is the grease particles that float in the air while cooking and then attach to the cabinets.
Apply a few drops of concentrated dish liquid, like Dawn®, into a bowl of warm water, then dip the sponge in. Squeeze the sponge until suds form. The cleaning agents in Dawn absorb grease just as well on kitchen surfaces as they do on dishes.
Mix up a 50/50 combo of water and baking soda until you have a paste. Apply the paste to grease stains with a clean microfiber cloth using small, circular motions. Swap out cloths as they become soiled, and continue until you have a grease-free surface.
Use oil soap, such as Murphy Oil Soap ($4, Target), to both clean and shine your cabinets. This non-abrasive solution will make your cabinets look new without causing any damage. Always use damp, not soaked, cloths when cleaning wood cabinets. Too much liquid saturation will hurt the wood.
Sand your cabinets
You can sand by hand if you like, but your arms will probably get pretty tired. Painted cabinets should get a thorough sanding with 120-grit paper, but no matter the finish, do a final pass with 220-grit.
Once your cabinets are clean and dry, use a 100 or 150-grit sandpaper to roughen up the surface of the cabinets. Cabinet paint won't adhere properly to a smooth or shiny surface.
Proper cleaning, deglossing, and using good-quality cabinet paint are key to painting cabinets without sanding. What happens if you don't sand cabinets before painting? If you don't sand cabinets before painting, at worst the paint will chip or peel. At best, the paint will remain solid and durable for years.
The risk you run with not sanding is that your new paint job will chip almost immediately after it's dried. For most experts, like Dan McRorie of Fitzwater Interiors, creating a smooth, even surface is the single most important part of the project—even if you're going from a stain to a color.
Dawn® Platinum makes cleaning kitchen cabinets So Dawn Easy! The unique formula quickly breaks down grease particles while staying gentle enough to not cause any damage. Be sure to use a soft cloth or sponge when cleaning.
Mix 1 cup of water, 1 teaspoon of white toothpaste, and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Use your finger or a spoon to mix it well. Dip a sponge in the mixture and scrub down your cabinets. Rinse with a damp cloth until all residue is gone.
Kitchen cabinets that have not adequately dried after cleaning can also become sticky. This is because cabinets are usually made of porous materials that absorb water and cleaning solutions. So, when water and cleaning solutions don't dry properly, they leave behind a sticky residue.