Removing Grease from Appliance Surfaces

Written by Julia Woodbury (last updated October 15, 2018)

You may have noticed some yellow discoloration around the edges of your toaster, your oven hood, or your grills. Rather than burn or heat marks, these yellow spots are probably congealed cooking grease.

How do you wipe up cooking grease that is never liquid? Most grease from cooking remains in the pot or pan and can be easily washed or wiped away while it is still liquid, but what about the grease that is airborne? It congeals on appliance surfaces before you have a chance to attack it with a towel or rag. Here are some ways to clean off that stubborn, yellow grease from your kitchen appliances.

There are various degreasing products on the market, but degreasing solutions can also be made from items from around the house. Before using any products, or even the homemade remedies, be sure that you know how your appliance surface will react to the chemicals. If you are not sure, test your selected solution on an inconspicuous area of the appliance to make sure that it will not have an adverse reaction to the surface. To create your own degreaser from household products mix together the following items:

  • One half cup of dish soap
  • Three tablespoons of ammonia
  • One half gallon of warm water

Apply this mixture liberally to the greasy area and allow it to soak for a few minutes according to the stubbornness of the grease stain. Once it has had time to sit, scrub the greasy area with a pad or scrubbing brush. Don't use an abrasive or metal scrubber or you will scratch the surface of your appliance. Wash the area clean with soap and water, then dry with a paper towel.

Another option is to use WD-40. Apply the solution and scrub the grease free with a pad or brush. Wash the grease and WD-40 off with soap and warm water.

The best preventative measure that you can make is to regularly wipe down your appliances after cooking, especially when you know that you've sent a lot of grease into the air. Something as simple as wiping down all your kitchen surfaces with soap and warm water will save you some tough scrubbing later.

Author Bio

Julia Woodbury

Julia Woodbury is a recent graduate of Brigham Young University. She delights in the written word and has interests in magazine writing and editing. ...

MORE FROM JULIA

Cleaning Fine China

What is keeping you from using that beautiful fine china that is neatly stacked and safely stowed away in the back of ...

Discover More

Cleaning the Range Hood

You can spend hours scrubbing your oven and range, but the whole job isn't done until you've cleaned your range hood. ...

Discover More

Cleaning Your Dishwasher

There is an opposite and equal reaction to every action, thus you don't clean something without getting something else ...

Discover More

Keep Your Hardwood Floors Like New Bona's hardwood floor cleaner is the #1 choice of professionals. The no-residue formula is specially designed to be safe for floors, families, and the environment. Check out Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Refill today!

More Cleaning Tips

Cleaning a Foreman Grill

The George Foreman Grill is quickly becoming a must have appliance in kitchens across the country. This is due to its ...

Discover More

Cleaning Appliances

When was the last time you cleaned your fridge, washing machine, or other appliance? Remember to maintain these machines ...

Discover More

Cleaning Coffee Machines

Home coffee machines are commonplace, inexpensive, and easy to maintain. If you find that you still have trouble making a ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 7 + 0?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.