How to clean greasy painted kitchen cabinets

Gail
by Gail
  6 answers
  • Lcm15980977 Lcm15980977 on Feb 15, 2018

    With a mixture of white vinegar, Dawn dish liquid and water.

  • Diana Headman Diana Headman on Feb 15, 2018

    I’ve used Mrs. Myers grapefruit multipurpose cleaner and 20 Mule team mixed together with great results

  • Malicity D'Obscura Malicity D'Obscura on Feb 15, 2018

    I am a retired Union Scenic, House Painter, and Fine Artist. You have a lot of options, and I'm glad you asked, as prep is 90% of a successful paint job.


    Most people use TSP, which I believe is now available in a less toxic than the original version(!)


    I cleaned a 50 year old, unprotected, paper billboard, that had been glued onto a bar wall, which was an extremely busy, heavy smokers, dive bar. For that, I used Blue Dawn (the stuff that cleans oil spill muck off the wildlife), with some white vinegar, and water solution. (You can find a tonne of recipes for that and other non-commercial/homemade degreasers on sites such as Pinterest/online).


    Making sure that your cabinets are completely degreased, you should give them a quick sanding with steel wool/sandpaper, then be sure to remove ALL dust. You can wash/wipe down, and I suggest using a Tack-cloth, which a home improvement/paint store sell at about a buck a pop, or, if you have hair spray, you can spray some on a lint free cloth, as a DIY Tack-cloth.


    Invest in a decent bonding and sealing primer. If you are painting the cabinets dark, you should tint the primer/have the store tint it, a shade closer to your top coat, so that if it does get a nick, it won't be flashing bright white!


    I personally don't buy the Big Box Brand of paints and primers, as years of experience, along with research, has made me see the value in using quality materials, as much as the budget allows. There are great ones for cabinets out there, and the ones from BBS are OK, but I got paid to do a job that lasts.


    You may wish to consider, if this is a not well ventilated area (particularly for bathrooms), to add a packet of anti-mould product. Usually about three bucks, and hey, why not?


    Hope this helps.

  • Susan Susan on Feb 15, 2018

    gently with mr. clean eraser - degreaser spray... GENTLE is key.

  • Renee Valdivia Renee Valdivia on Feb 15, 2018

    Use Murphy’s Wood Soap.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 15, 2018

    Use something less greasy than murphys oil soap, white vinegar mixed with water and blue dawn dish soap or try Cabinet Magic available at Home Depot down the cleaning aisle