Inside: This cleaner has become my go-to for everything from DIY clean grease off cabinets to homemade heavy duty degreasers for all around the kitchen. Give it a try—your cupboards will thank you!

When we moved back to our house after almost eight years away, we returned to a sad, broken home—and an especially gross kitchen. Grease was splattered over everything. I remembered a homemade heavy-duty degreaser I had used years ago that worked miracles. Without a doubt, this is the best DIY grease cleaner I have ever used. And trust me, I've used it on just about everything since.

DIY Grease Cleaner - before and after picture

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I Can’t Believe I’m Showing You This…

I can’t believe I am willing to show pictures of the tops of my cupboards. Honestly, I didn’t even think to look up there for the first few weeks after we moved back. There were just so many other things to clean and fix. But once I did look… yikes.

Part of me wishes I hadn’t seen the grease buildup at all—but the good news? It’s all clean now thanks to this DIY grease remover!

What You Need to Make This DIY Grease Cleaner:

1/8 cup borax (optional, but effective)
1/4 cup washing soda, not baking soda
1 squirt Dawn dish detergent
1/8 cup baking soda
5 cups hot water

This DIY grease cleaner with baking soda and Dawn is incredibly effective for breaking down stubborn kitchen grease. You can also skip the borax if needed—it still works wonders!

How to Make This Heavy Duty Grease Cutting Cleaner

Make sure you have rubber gloves to wear while you use this. The borax can be a little harsh on skin, and you'll want your water as hot as possible for the best results.

You don’t have to use borax. The combination of baking soda and Dawn alone makes a great homemade grease remover—but adding borax cuts cleaning time in half!

Instructions:

In a large bowl or bucket, mix all ingredients together.
I like to add the Dawn before the water—it prevents a suds mess.
Use the hottest water that comes out of your kitchen tap.
Dip a cleaning cloth, sponge, or rag (one you don’t mind staining) into the cleaner and scrub away!

I hadn’t even finished cleaning the top edge of the cupboard door before taking the photo below. The difference this DIY grease cleaner makes is like a miracle.

Be sure to wipe everything down afterward with clean hot water to remove any residue.

Bonus: Use It on Your Range Hood Filter!

I also used this homemade grease cleaner for kitchen cabinets to clean my range hood filter, and it worked like a dream. After removing it from the hood, I soaked the filter right in my sink filled with this DIY degreaser.

After about 5 minutes, I pulled it out and it looked sparkling new. I gave it a quick rinse with hot water and left it to dry before replacing it.

This stuff is a miracle worker—not only for cabinets but also as a DIY clean grease off stove method and even as a homemade degreaser for engine grime (though for engines, you’ll need to rinse very thoroughly).

Yield: 1

DIY Grease Cleaner

Get rid of stubborn grease stains effortlessly with our powerful DIY grease cleaner. Say goodbye to grease and hello to sparkling clean surfaces!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Materials

1/8 cup borax
1/4 cup washing soda
1 squirt Dawn dish detergent
1/8 cup baking soda
5 cups hot water

Tools

Large bowl
Rags

Frequently Asked Questions: DIY Grease Cleaner Questions

Can I use this DIY grease cleaner on wood cabinets? Yes! This solution is safe for most sealed wood cabinets. Be sure to test a small area first and always wipe with clean water after scrubbing.

Will this remove grease stains from clothes? This is a homemade degreaser for clothes, but you should spot-test first. Apply a small amount to the grease stain, gently scrub, and rinse before washing as usual.

Can I store this cleaner as a spray? Yes, you can store it in a spray bottle. Just shake before each use as the ingredients may settle. This makes a great homemade grease cleaner spray for small spots and quick wipe-downs.