The best household degreasers depend on the surface. For kitchen baked-on messes, Easy Off Heavy Duty Cleaner is unmatched. For multi-purpose versatility, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is the top eco-friendly pick, while Zep Heavy Duty Citrus Degreaser provides commercial-grade, citrus-based power for tough grease.
Ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap can effectively cut through grease and leave your kitchen surfaces clean and fresh. In addition to using the right cleaning products, it's important to clean up spills and messes as soon as possible.
Dawn is a highly effective, versatile degreaser, but it is not "just" a degreaser. It is technically a dish detergent formulated with a blend of surfactants. Because of its mild pH (around 9) and skin-safe composition, it safely breaks down fats and oils without the harsh chemicals found in heavy-duty industrial degreasers.
Best Overall Degreaser: Krud Kutter Original
The overall winning degreaser? Krud Kutter Original. It may not be as light as the others, but it's still gentle enough to use all over your home. Shields notes that Krud Kutter is water-based and works both indoors and out.
The best everyday homemade degreaser combines 1 cup warm water, 1 cup distilled white vinegar, 1 tbsp baking soda, and a generous squirt (about 1/2 tsp) of natural liquid dish soap. Mix in a spray bottle, shake well, spray the greasy surface, let it sit for 5–10 minutes, and wipe clean.
Effective degreaser alternatives depend on the mess. For kitchen grease, use a DIY spray of 1 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, and 1 tsp dish soap. For heavy-duty grime on bikes or tools, use pure dish soap, mineral spirits, or kerosene. For multi-purpose commercial replacements, try concentrated cleaners like Simple Green Industrial Cleaner.
This is my favourite all purpose cleaner - mix 2/3 of Dawn and 1/3 vinegar in a spray bottle It is awesome for glass shower doors, grease on clothes and sinks.
The strongest over-the-counter degreasers rely on highly alkaline formulas or potent citrus solvents to break down thick, baked-on buildup. Top heavy-duty options include Super Clean, Zep Industrial Purple, and Ecolab Professional Strength, all of which require dilution for safe use.
The best grease dissolver depends on the mess, but alkaline degreasers (which break down fat molecules) and surfactant-based cleaners (which lift oil away) are the most effective. For daily kitchen messes, heavy-duty commercial sprays, or natural remedies, here are the top solutions:
A natural degreaser effectively breaks down stuck-on kitchen grease using safe, eco-friendly ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and citrus. It is highly effective for cleaning stovetops, ovens, and countertops without relying on harsh chemicals or toxic fumes.
Dish soap has the ability to lubricate and break down the bonds of fats and grease. When poured into the toilet, dish soap helps lubricate the waste causing the clog, while also breaking down its structure, allowing it to easily flow down the drain.
If you're cooking and have a grease spill, you can clean it up immediately before it becomes a problem later. One easy way is to sprinkle flour over the spill. Let the flour sit for a few minutes to absorb the grease and then you can easily wipe it up.
Hotels keep glass shower doors spotless by combining strong commercial cleaning agents with routine maintenance and smart preventative coatings. Because they deal with heavy daily guest turnover, housekeeping staff rely on quick but highly effective strategies to prevent soap scum and hard water buildup.
Yes, Windex can function as a light-duty degreaser. Because it contains surfactants and ammonia, it effectively breaks down and dissolves light grease, oils, and fingerprints.
Here are some options:
The best everyday homemade degreaser combines 1 cup warm water, 1 cup distilled white vinegar, 1 tbsp baking soda, and a generous squirt (about 1/2 tsp) of natural liquid dish soap. Mix in a spray bottle, shake well, spray the greasy surface, let it sit for 5–10 minutes, and wipe clean.
Glass is not well-suited for baking soda, due to its abrasive nature. In fact, you might accidentally scratch your mirrors or windows if you attempt to clean them with baking soda. If you're looking for an all-natural cleaner for these surfaces, vinegar is a better bet.
To clean years of baked-on grease, ditch harsh scrubbing and use a chemical degreaser (like sodium hydroxide-based oven cleaner) or a heavy-duty degreaser like LA's Totally Awesome. Apply the cleaner, cover the area with plastic wrap to lock in moisture, let it sit overnight, and easily wipe the dissolved grease away.
The best degreaser is the one that gets the job done
GREASECUTTER PLUS penetrates baked-on grease, RENOLIT SPRAY is quick and easy for ongoing cleaning, QUICK DEGREASER L'AMICO SI is the best solution for everyday stains.
Mixing vinegar, dish soap, and baking soda causes a rapid, neutralizing reaction that generates carbon dioxide gas. This produces a thick, bubbly foam because the dish soap traps the escaping gas. While the fizzing looks powerful, it neutralizes both ingredients and effectively leaves behind salt water.
While white vinegar is an excellent natural cleaner, its acidity means it can damage certain surfaces, strip finishes, or cause rust. You should generally avoid using it on:
Dawn-brand dish detergent, the basic, standard stuff, is actually an excellent degreaser. Use VERY HOT water to rinse any parts clean, and blow dry with compressed air or lay them out in the sun for a spell.