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. I use Murphy's Oil Soap and a little water. Be careful not to rub too hard or you'll rub off the finish.
(As a precaution, test diluted Murphy Oil on a small spot on a cabinet and wait for it to dry to avoid any issues.) Pour about a quarter cup to a half cup of the Murphy Oil Soap into a small bucket. Mix it with hot water. I like to keep it as hot as I can stand it.
These versatile cleaners are made from natural vegetable oils, and are safe to use on any kind of wood—including flooring, chairs and cabinets. Dilute a gallon of warm water with this soap, and use a soft rag dipped in the solution to wipe down your cabinets.
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.
Fill a bowl with warm water and add a few squirts of dish soap. Use your hand to mix it around. Take your sponge and wipe down the sticky areas. Let it sit for about a minute and scrub the areas with the grease.
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.
Mix up a few drops of dish soap (not dishwasher detergent) in a bowl of warm water until soapy. Use a sponge dipped in the solution, but not dripping wet, to gently work the grease and grime out. Follow up with clean water to remove lingering dish soap.
Simple solutions of dish soap and water can do wonders for cleaning away grease, splatters, and food messes. 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.
If you have a bottle of Murphy's Oil Soap under your kitchen sink or in your laundry room that you use to clean your hardwood floors, go get it and throw it in the garbage. Seriously, stop using it today. You can use it for other projects like furniture or cabinets but NEVER for wood floors.
For heavy cleaning, dilute 1/2 cup Murphy® oil soap per gallon. Clean with well wrung-out mop, and mop any excess water. No rinsing required.
When diluted properly, Murphy® Oil Soap Original Formula does not leave a residue. Despite the fact that it is called "oil soap," there is no "free oil" left behind. If you see a residue after applying Murphy® Oil Soap for the first time, it's likely that another cleaner was previously used.
Vinegar is the go-to natural cleaner when faced greasy cabinets. Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle. Mist on cabinets, let sit for a minute or two and then wipe clean with a soft cloth.
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.
Employ vinegar for stubborn grease stains: Spray white vinegar onto tough, caked-on grease stains and let it sit for a few minutes to soften the grease before wiping it away with a sponge.
Start With Gentler Kitchen Grease Cleaners
Alternatively, use a solution of equal parts hot water and white vinegar, which is an excellent kitchen grease cleaner. Spray the cabinet tops, let the solution sit for five to 10 minutes and then scrub and wipe the surfaces until they're clean.
Firstly dampen a clean, dry cloth or towel with undiluted white vinegar. Wipe down the greasy spots on your cabinetry, and leave the vinegar for 10 or 15 minutes. And the last but essential step – dry the damp surfaces with a clean paper towel. If any still-sticky spots need a do-over, don't hesitate to repeat.
Dish soap
Dish soap is easily the best cabinet degreaser for your kitchen. Most of the build-up on your cabinet doors is grease from cooking or food preparation, and dish soap is specially designed to remove grease from your dishes.
A mixture of dish soap, kosher salt, and baking soda can help remove dried grease. You may also want to use a mildly abrasive sponge (rather than a rag) to help lift off the grime.
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.