Discover the Most Effective Homemade Degreaser

Woman with jug of vinegar and cleaning supplies at table
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Written by Jennifer Magid

Updated: December 21, 2023

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The aftermath of cooking up a storm in the kitchen can make it feel like it’s not even worth the effort. Cleanup can be a pain between the splatters of grease on countertops, the stove, and your clothes. Luckily, there are numerous ways to eliminate grease without spending a fortune on cleaning supplies. These are the best ingredients to use to make a homemade degreaser.

Homemade Degreasers for the Kitchen

Using baking soda Sodium bicarbonate and white vinegar for home cleaning. White vinegar in spray bottle and baking soda in glass jar.

Baking soda and vinegar work well on all types of messes, including grease.

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Kitchen grease from frying and cooking with oil can leave stains and buildup. It’s best to clean up spills and splashes promptly, which makes removal easier. There’s no need to spend money or expose yourself to harmful chemicals, though. All you need to do is mix up some basic ingredients that you likely already have within your home. These are common ingredients that you can make a homemade degreaser with:

Vinegar: The acidic nature of vinegar helps break down grease and dirt without causing damage.

Baking soda: While vinegar is acidic, baking soda is alkaline. When you mix the two ingredients, it creates an ideal cleaning solution that works harder than either ingredient alone.

Dish soap: Dish soap is so good at degreasing because it features surfactants. It’s able to cut through grease and grime gently without damaging items.

Make Your Own Cleaner
Any of these above-mentioned ingredients work pretty well when mixed with water to cut through grease. But using them together can be even more powerful. Mix one cup of vinegar (preferably white distilled vinegar) with one cup of baking soda, three cups of water, and half of a cup of dish soap. Use a cloth or sponge to wipe away grease stains.

Homemade Degreasers for Clothing

Overflowing laundry basket. Household chore concept on white background

The same household ingredients that cut grease in the kitchen can work on laundry.

©Paul Michael Hughes/Shutterstock.com

We’ve all been there — dropping some pizza grease on your clothes while enjoying a slice. Whatever you’ve stained your clothes from, you don’t need to despair. The same ingredients that degrease your kitchen can also work on clothes.

White vinegar: This ingredient can be used alone to treat stains. Mix one part vinegar to 4 parts water, and apply to the grease stain. When you throw the items in the wash, the smell of vinegar should come out. 

Baking soda: Sprinkle baking soda directly on the stain and scrub before washing the clothing item.

Dish soap: Squeeze a dollop of dish soap on the clothing stain and let it sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Then throw the clothing item right in the wash.

The uses for vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap are endless. Keep these items on hand, and you’ll never fear a grease mishap again!


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About the Author

Jennifer is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on dogs, travel, and gardening. She holds a Master's Degree in Journalism from New York University. A resident of Connecticut who has lived all over the country, Jennifer enjoys working on trick training with her standard poodle, and spending time with her family outdoors.

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