To remove baked-on grease from metal, use a baking soda paste, simmer with dish soap and water, apply vinegar, or try a specialized cleaner like Bar Keepers Friend, always allowing time for the solution to work and using a non-abrasive scrubber like a nylon pad or crumpled foil, then rinsing thoroughly. For tough stains, combining these methods (e.g., baking soda then vinegar) or using a stronger product is effective.
To remove burned-on grease, apply a paste of baking soda and water to the affected area. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes to loosen grime. Use a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge to gently scrub along the grain of the stainless steel. Avoid steel wool or harsh chemicals that can scratch or damage the finish.
Vinegar and Baking Soda: A combination of vinegar and baking soda is a powerful homemade solution for grease stains. Vinegar cuts through grease, while baking soda acts as a mild abrasive. Procedure: Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
Best for Burned-on Food: Goo Gone Kitchen Degreaser
Goo Gone Kitchen Degreaser was our favorite product for cleaning burned-on food off of pans. With just one spritz of this easy-to-use spray (plus a Scotch-Brite sponge and a normal amount of elbow grease), we were able to clean the dirtiest pans in about 40 seconds.
Limited Effectiveness for Serious Clogs
The chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar can break up some minor debris, but it won't dislodge or dissolve the heavier blockages caused by grease, hair, soap scum, or mineral buildup.
Acetone is a great degreaser. Not only does it effectively remove large amounts of grease, but it evaporates quickly without leaving behind extra residue.
You should not use WD-40 on electronics, bike/drive chains, rubber/plastic parts, locks, car paint/belts, and anything in contact with food or that requires a true long-term lubricant like gears, as it's primarily a solvent and water displacer, not a heavy-duty lubricant, and can damage these materials or attract dirt, leading to future problems. It's a great degreaser and rust preventative for metal, but often the wrong choice for sensitive components or heavy lubrication needs.
Dishwashing soap is a great option as most people already have it to hand, and it's designed to break down grease and oil. Some dishwashing soaps have specialist ingredients in them to dissolve grease, making them especially useful for treating stains in clothing, too.
Cleaning a pan with baking soda & vinegar
Cleaning Your Oven with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Grease build up can be cleaned using an oil base cleaner or concentrated liquid dish soap and baking soda. I have great success using Murphy's Oil Soap, Concentrated liquid dish washing soap, or Lemon Oil to remove the grease, so one can begin to clean the food from the surface.
Acetone – Much like alcohol, acetone is generally safe to use and is a strong degreaser that can be used to wipe metal machinery clean after use.
Mix a few drops of dishwashing liquid — preferably a brand known for cutting grease — with your hot water. Dampen a fresh microfiber cloth with your hot soapy water, and wipe down the stove top. Again, you'll repeat as necessary. If your microfiber cloth starts looking dingy, replace it with a fresh cloth.
The Multi-Use Product is great for loosening and removing excessive surface rust. You simply spray it on the surface, wait around ten minutes, and scrub it off with something abrasive. Its lubricating qualities loosen the bonds between the rust and the metal surface it has adhered to.
7 Household Items To Use When You Don't Have WD-40
WD-40 is a solvent-based cleaner and penetrant for freeing stuck parts and displacing moisture, leaving an oily film, while silicone spray is a dry lubricant, offering long-term lubrication, water resistance, and protection for rubber, plastic, and metal without attracting dirt, making it ideal for hinges, seals, and moving parts that need a clean, durable finish. Use WD-40 to clean and loosen, then follow up with silicone spray for lasting lubrication and protection, as WD-40's residue attracts dust, whereas silicone repels it.
Goo Gone Kitchen Degreaser
Because foaming cleaners don't dissipate like a typical spray, they are better suited for these kinds of jobs. Goo Gone Kitchen Degreaser is a foaming cleaner that excels on both vertical and horizontal surfaces. It's formulated for tackling tough grease and grime in the kitchen.
Thanks to its solvent properties, Turpentine Oil is frequently used for cleaning and degreasing surfaces. It can dissolve grease, wax, and even certain adhesives, making it valuable for various industrial and household cleaning tasks.
Berryman® B-33 Engine Degreaser
And with no phosphates, abrasives, solvents, or VOCs, it's completely safe for use with your vehicle engines and small engine parts. That includes lawn mowers, hand tools, machinery, fleet, farm, and marine equipment.
Items to Never Flush or Pour Down the Drain:
Mixing vinegar and baking soda causes an immediate chemical reaction. This reaction forms water, sodium acetate (a salt) and carbon dioxide – the fizzy part. The amount of carbon dioxide gas that is produced from baking soda is remarkable – one tablespoon (around 18 grams) can release over five litres of gas!
However, this can occur when heavy rainfall meets blocked drains, and the drainpipes are unable to handle the volume of rainwater due to an outside drain blockage. That's why households are being encouraged to pour vinegar into their drains to help keep them clear.