The Best Degreaser for Kitchen Cabinets Before Painting: An Easy Guide

Thinking of updating the look of your kitchen? Sometimes, a coat of paint is all it takes to give a room a facelift. But before you whip out the brushes, there’s one important step you can’t skip. You’ll need the best degreaser for kitchen cabinets before painting.

But Why Do You Need a Degreaser for Kitchen Cabinets?

The kitchen is one of the most used-up parts of the house. As much as we try to keep it clean, sometimes a few oil splatters reach wooden cabinets and we fail to spot them.

If you paint on your kitchen cabinets without even prepping or cleaning them, the paint will not adhere well to the surface. Worse, you’ll be getting a lot of bumps due to oil buildup. Safe to say, your work will become uneven with blisters, and this isn’t even the worst-case scenario.

Aside from requiring you to re-do the painting, you might also end up with more harmful issues such as mildew and mold. So, even if you have just cooked a couple of times in your kitchen, always degrease cabinets before repainting them.

Best Degreaser for Kitchen Cabinets

Don’t worry as degreasers are highly accessible. You just need to pick the right one to help you with your cleaning needs. Here are some of the best degreaser options available:

Easy-Off

The heavy-duty Easy-Off can clear up all of the greases in your kitchen in no time. This cleaner is trusted to destroy grime and grease and can even be used in outdoor barbecues and in the garage. But don’t worry, it’s safe enough for patio furniture as well as your kitchen cabinets.

Easy-Off is designed for non-porous materials. So if your cabinet is made out of varnished wood, glass, or metal (but not aluminum), you’re good to go. After using Easy-Off, make sure to rinse surfaces properly with water.

Stanley

The Stanley Degreaser Concentrate may seem like a small bottle at 32 ounces but it can actually make up to 64 gallons of cleaning product. This highly-concentrated degreaser is an excellent option for woodwork and countertops, pretty much anything you have in the kitchen.

To use the Stanley Degreaser Concentrate, you need to dilute a small amount in water. Don’t use the concentrated substance directly onto surfaces.

Stanley Home Products has been a trusted cleaning brand since 1931. You can expect excellent performance from the Degreaser Concentrate, which is twice as concentrated as the first formula.

Goo Gone

A lot of home buyers are now opting for fixer-uppers, cheaper price but requires more work. If you end up with a fixer-upper, get ready for the worst, especially in kitchens. It’s best if you are armed with tough cleaning agents, such as the Goo Gone Kitchen Degreaser.

One of the best things about this 1-step foaming cleaner is it’s simple to use. Just spray and wipe. If the gunk on cabinets is a bit tougher, let the foaming cleaner stay on for about a minute or two before wiping.

Be sure to check what kind of cabinet you have before using the Goo Gone Kitchen Degreaser as it isn’t recommended for varnished or painted surfaces as well as aluminum. It’s great for sealed stone, porcelain, finished wood, and glass.

Simple Green

One of the most challenging things to do is cleaning upper kitchen cabinets. If you put cleaner on it, it tends to drip. Good thing the Simple Green Company is offering their Foaming Crystal industrial cleaner.

This type of cleaner has a specialized foaming formula, which makes it easy to use on vertical applications. You won’t find anything, sliding off or dripping. it can also cling on to hard-to-reach areas (you know, like that area in between the cabinet the ceiling).

Dawn

One of the troubles with home renovations is, you might not have all of the resources. For example, the water might be turned off or cut off, especially when water fixtures are being installed. That doesn’t mean you have to change up your timeline because the Dawn Ultra Powerwash doesn’t require any water to get you started. You’ll just need water for the rinsing part.

And yes, you might think Dawn is just for dishes, but it isn’t. It’s actually pretty good as a degreaser for all types of surfaces. You can spray it on directly to your cabinet (let it sit for a while if the grease is tougher than most), then just wipe the mess away. Then just rinse the cabinets as needed.

Tools to Aid the Best Degreaser for Kitchen Cabinets

The best degreaser for kitchen cabinets before painting is no match for stains if it goes in alone. Don’t even think of using your hands to wipe away the mess, not only is that unsanitary but it can be potentially harmful too. If anything, always use gloves when handling degreasers, and maybe use one of the following tools too:

Scrub Daddy

Scrub daddy
Amazon: Scrub Daddy

It’s America’s Favorite Sponge! and with good reason. Scrub Daddy is an ingenious scrubber that becomes soft and firm depending on the water you dip it in. It can be used on a wide range of surfaces without leaving scratch marks, including wood. it also doesn’t hurt that the Scrub Daddy is cute, it’s got a smile on for cleaning.

Swedish Wholesale

If you don’t need a lot of scrubbing and just need to wipe away gunk, the Swedish Dishcloth is your best bet. The biodegradable and reusable dishcloth is definitely more environment-friendly than a paper towel. What’s more, it’s super absorbent.

Another good thing about the Swedish Dishcloth is when it is dry, it can be used for scouring. This product is safe for use on different surfaces, including wood, tile, steel, and marble.

Black + Decker

If you are the type who doesn’t want to use a lot of elbow grease, then the Black + Decker Grimebuster might just be your best friend. This rechargeable scrubber unit uses a powerful rotating motion to remove dirt and grime. Its handle is comfortable to hold and its head is replaceable (you can switch to a sponge head for more delicate surfaces).

The Black+Decker Power Scrubber uses a Lithium-ion battery and comes with a charging stand. This scrubber can be submerged in water if needed.

Conclusion: Best Degreaser for Kitchen Cabinets

Before you get going with your cleaning tools, there are some things you need to consider. For starters, check the type of paint the cabinet already has and what you plan on using (check out wood craft paints here).

The best degreaser for kitchen cabinets before painting is the one that will work with your needs. Sometimes, it’s about preference too, like do you want it scented or not. Do you prefer a liquid formula or a foaming one?

Always read the guidelines of the cleaner, like what surfaces it can and can’t be used with. And of course, always follow the instructions to prevent damaging your kitchen cabinets.

Did you enjoy our tips on the best degreaser for kitchen cabinets? Then be sure to check out our other articles, such as the best wood filler for painting or the best brushes for oil painting! Thank you for reading!