Kitchen grease does not stay on the stove. It rises with the steam, settles on the range hood and the cabinets above it, mixes with dust and turns into a sticky film that a quick wipe only spreads around. To deep clean a greasy kitchen, you need the right order and the right product for each surface, not a stronger spray.
This guide follows the path the grease takes: from the range hood down to the floor. For a kitchen that has not had a deep clean in months, plan on about two to three hours. The slow sink comes at the end, because it is a different problem with different fixes.
What you need
- Dish soap and hot water: the base for almost every surface.
- Baking soda, to make a paste for sticky spots and the oven.
- A kitchen degreaser, only for surfaces its label allows.
- Microfiber cloths (several, because a greasy cloth stops cleaning), a non-scratch sponge and a soft brush.
- A plastic scraper or an old card for baked-on spots.
- Rubber gloves and a bucket or the sink for soaking.
Use one product at a time and never mix cleaners. Bleach mixed with ammonia releases toxic chloramine gas, and bleach mixed with an acid such as vinegar releases chlorine gas, as the Washington State Department of Health warns.
The right order to deep clean a greasy kitchen
Work from top to bottom so that drips land on surfaces you have not cleaned yet. Start the soaks first, so they work while you clean everything else.
| Step | Area | What to use | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oven (start the soak) | Baking soda paste or approved oven cleaner | 5 min, then it sits |
| 2 | Range hood filters (start the soak) | Hot water and dish soap | 5 min, then it sits |
| 3 | Range hood and upper cabinets | Warm soapy water, baking soda for sticky spots | 30–40 min |
| 4 | Backsplash and cooktop | Dish soap; cooktop cleaner for glass | 20–30 min |
| 5 | Microwave and appliance fronts | Steam and a damp cloth | 15 min |
| 6 | Finish the oven and filters | Scraper, sponge, rinse | 20–30 min |
| 7 | Counters, lower cabinets, sink | Dish soap | 20 min |
| 8 | Floor | Floor cleaner suitable for your floor | 15 min |
Start the oven and the filters first
Oven. Check the manual first: it says whether you can use oven cleaner, whether the racks can stay in, and how to use a self-clean or steam-clean cycle. Never combine a chemical oven cleaner with a self-clean cycle unless the manual says so. With the oven cold and off, remove the racks and sweep out loose crumbs. Mix baking soda with a little water into a spreadable paste and cover the bottom and sides, avoiding the heating elements and the door seal. Leave it for several hours or overnight while you clean the rest of the kitchen.
Range hood filters. Most hoods have metal mesh or baffle filters that clip out from underneath. Whirlpool’s instructions for its vent hoods are to clean metal filters in the sink or the dishwasher with warm water and detergent. For heavy grease, soak them in the hottest tap water with a good squeeze of dish soap, then scrub with a soft brush after 15–20 minutes. Charcoal filters, used in hoods that do not vent outside, are not washable: Whirlpool says they last up to six months with normal use, then you replace them.
Range hood and cabinets above the stove
Turn the hood off before you clean it. Wipe the outside with warm soapy water, following the grain if it is brushed stainless steel, and dry it so it does not streak. Then clean the underside, where most of the grease sits, using a damp cloth rather than spraying near the light, the fan or the switches.
The cabinets next to and above the stove usually hold the most grease, especially around the handles and along the bottom edge of the doors. Dust them first: wet dust turns into grey smears. Test your cleaner inside a door, then work in small sections:
- Wipe with a cloth dipped in warm water with a few drops of dish soap and wrung out well.
- For sticky spots, rub a little baking soda paste with the cloth, gently, in the direction of the grain.
- Wipe again with a clean damp cloth to remove the soap.
- Dry immediately, especially the edges and corners, where water makes particleboard swell.
Stop if the cloth picks up color or the finish turns dull or tacky. That means the finish itself is wearing out, and more degreaser will make it worse.
Backsplash and cooktop
Warm soapy water handles most backsplashes: tile, glass and stainless steel. On natural stone, skip vinegar and other acids, and on painted walls use very little water. Near outlets, put the cleaner on the cloth, never on the wall.
Clean the cooktop according to its type, always when it is completely cool:
- Gas: remove the grates and burner caps, soak them in hot soapy water with the filters, and wipe around the burners without flooding the igniters. Dry every part fully before you put it back; a wet cap gives an uneven flame.
- Glass or induction: remove crumbs first so they do not scratch, then use a cooktop cleaner and a non-scratch pad. Use a scraper only if the manufacturer allows it.
- Electric coil: lift out the coils and drip pans only if the manual says they are removable. Never soak the coils.
Microwave and appliance fronts
Heat a microwave-safe bowl of water for a few minutes until it steams, leave the door closed for another few minutes, then take the bowl out carefully: it will be very hot. The steam softens dried splashes, so a damp cloth removes them easily. Wash the turntable in the sink. Then wipe the handles and fronts of the fridge, dishwasher and small appliances with a clean cloth, so you do not carry grease from the stove to everything else.
Finish the oven and the filters
Go back to the oven. Lift the softened paste with a plastic scraper and a damp sponge, then wipe until no white residue is left; a little vinegar sprayed on the remaining paste makes it easier to rinse. Clean the inside of the door glass the same way. Do not take the door apart: if grease is trapped between the panes, that is a job for the appliance’s service instructions.
Scrub the filters, grates and racks, rinse them in hot water and let them dry completely before you put them back.
Counters, lower cabinets and floor
Wipe the counters, paying attention to the strip next to the stove and behind small appliances. Clean the bottoms of oil bottles before you put them back in the cabinet, or the shelf will be sticky again tomorrow. Finish with the baseboards and the floor, which collects grease in front of the stove: vacuum first, then mop with a cleaner suitable for your floor.
What to do when the kitchen sink drains slowly
A slow sink is a plumbing problem, not a cleaning one, so more degreaser will not help. Try these steps in order and stop as soon as the water drains normally:
- Empty the strainer and remove any visible food from the drain opening with a paper towel.
- Check the garbage disposal, if you have one. Switch off its power first, as the manual explains, and never put your hand inside, even when it is off. Many models have a reset button underneath and a wrench socket for jams.
- Use a sink plunger. In a double sink, block the other drain with a stopper or a wet cloth, add enough water to cover the plunger cup and push and pull firmly 10 to 15 times.
- Clean the P-trap, the curved pipe under the sink, only if it has hand-tightened plastic nuts and you feel comfortable doing it. Put a bucket underneath, take a photo before you take it apart, and check for drips when you reassemble it. If you rent, ask your landlord first.
Never plunge or open the pipes if you have already poured a chemical drain opener: it can splash back on your face and hands. Call a plumber if several drains are slow, water comes up in another sink, there is a sewage smell, or the problem keeps coming back.
How to keep the grease from coming back
Most slow kitchen sinks start with grease poured down the drain. New York City’s Department of Sanitation explains that cooking oil and grease can clog pipes and cause sewage backups, and recommends letting it cool, pouring it into a container, sealing it and putting it in the trash. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before you wash them, and use a sink strainer.
For the rest of the kitchen, two small habits make the next deep clean much shorter:
- Turn on the range hood every time you fry or sauté, and wash the metal filters once a month.
- Wipe the cooktop, backsplash and the handles of the nearest cabinets once the stove cools, while the grease is fresh. It takes two minutes.
If you prefer to spread the work out, the kitchen tasks in our monthly deep cleaning checklist keep the grease from building up again.
Frequently asked questions
What dissolves heavy kitchen grease?
Hot water and dish soap remove most grease; give them a few minutes to work before you wipe. For sticky, old grease, use a baking soda paste or a kitchen degreaser that is approved for the surface. Patience works better than hard scrubbing, which can scratch the finish.
How often should I deep clean a greasy kitchen?
A full deep clean every three to six months is enough for most homes if you wipe the stove area after cooking and wash the range hood filters monthly. Kitchens where you fry often may need it more frequently.
Does baking soda and vinegar unclog a kitchen sink?
Not reliably. The fizzing looks powerful, but it does not dissolve a grease blockage deeper in the pipe. A plunger or cleaning the P-trap removes the clog; if neither works, call a plumber.