No matter where you live, your kitchen will always be a gathering space for you and your loved ones. Kitchens are a place of comfort because it’s where you nourish the body with food and drink. Sharing a meal in your kitchen inspires hospitality, and your friends and family will appreciate the effort.

When the meal is done, you may notice your cabinets, counters, and appliances look a bit worse for wear. Quickly tackling these drips and splatters is key to keeping your surfaces in good condition, but you need a definitive guide on how to get rid of kitchen grease completely and thoroughly. Check out these tips to avoid long-lasting stains and damage to your kitchen’s surfaces.

A quick note on cleaning supplies — you should have most of the items needed for this project on hand already since most are required regardless of what you're cleaning. A spray bottle or two is a good idea for storing your homemade cleaner. Some prefer to use glass spray bottles; however, there’s no problem using a plastic spray bottle from the dollar store.

Most of these items will clean grease off every kitchen surface without damaging them. Bob Vila’s recipe using Castile soap is recommended for those who are concerned about “chemicals you might not want around your food-prep areas.”

Kitchen cabinets are the easiest surface in the room to clean. No matter what they are made of, kitchen cabinets generally have coatings, sealants, or glass surfaces. They also get dirty very quickly from spills and splatters. Murphy's Oil Soap is a great product that cleans and protects if you’re going to use a commercial cleaner and your cabinets are made of wood.

Step 1: If you’d like a simple DIY formula, use a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and warm water, then add two to three drops of dish detergent.

Step 2: Apply using your spray bottle, leave it for a minute or two, and then wipe it off with a soft cloth.

Step 3: Mix a paste of salt and vinegar for stubborn stains, and gently scrub the stain with a soft cloth or soft toothbrush.

A 15-page report by Denise G. Dias of K. State Research & Extension titled “Homemade Cleaners” states that this mixture is an all-purpose cleaning agent, a good surface cleaner and great for avoiding exposure to hazardous household disinfecting chemicals.

There’s nothing like the look of polished stainless steel. It’s bright, it’s durable, and it just sparkles when it's clean. Until it doesn’t. Stainless picks up everything from dust and grease to fingerprints and water spots. Keeping stainless surfaces looking their best takes a minute if you do it every day, but you’ll need something a bit stronger if you don’t.

If you’re a person who cleans everything in the kitchen daily, your microfiber cloth will perfectly take care of your stainless surfaces. Just rub them down with the grain, and you’re set. If you clean on weekends, an excellent product to clean the grease off stainless surfaces is . It’s like a secret weapon for your stainless steel.

You may be fortunate enough to have a kitchen graced with beautiful granite or marble countertops. These surfaces are usually sealed before being installed, but sealants must be applied regularly to keep the surfaces stain-resistant. Stone is porous and can be damaged with acidic cleaners and harsh chemicals. Using a lemon or an orange oil grease cutter on your counters may be tempting, but it’s important to resist that urge.

Blotting with clean, dry paper towels works best for a well-sealed countertop. If you feel the need to use soap, use a pH-neutral soap such as to ensure you clean the stone without acid damaging the counter.

Cornstarch is your best friend if you think the stone seal has been compromised. Use gloves if you find that cornstarch irritates your skin.

Step 1: Make a paste of cornstarch and water using 1/4 cup of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water at a time until it has the consistency of a paste.

Step 2: Dampen the grease-stained area with a sponge by pressing gently.

Step 3: Apply the cornstarch paste to the area.

Step 4: Cover it with plastic wrap and press on it firmly.

Step 5: Using a toothpick, poke holes in the plastic wrap to allow drying. This drying process is what makes the cornstarch absorb the oil.

Step 6: Let it dry for one to two days, then remove the plastic and paste.

Step 7: If the stain isn’t completely gone, repeat the process.

Step 8: Once the stain is removed, clean the surface with neutral soap and dry thoroughly.

A very modern trend in kitchen design is to construct countertops from concrete. It gives a sleek, austere look and feel, and the neutral color goes with everything. Similar to stone counters, concrete counter installers seal the surface before use. However, some people prefer a raw look without sealant. It looks good but is highly susceptible to staining, especially from grease and oil.

While the paste-under-plastic wrap method works well for concrete countertops, it uses different ingredients and a slightly different process. Where the cornstarch was allowed to dry under the perforated plastic in the process above, the acetone in the following procedure works on the stain under the plastic first without drying. Make sure you have proper ventilation to employ this cleaning method.

Step 1: Make a paste (the consistency of peanut butter) from baking soda, flour (or powdered sugar), and acetone.

Step 2: Spread the paste on the stain.

Step 3: Cover it with plastic wrap and tape the edges to maintain the seal. Leave for 24 hours.

Step 4: Remove the plastic and let the paste dry — it is during this drying process, that the baking soda and flour draw out the oils from the stain.

Step 5: Make sure the mixture is completely dry before you remove it from the countertop.

It’s important to note that acetone can damage some sealants, so make sure you know what type of sealant is on your counter before you begin.

Pro tip: if you don't know what kind of sealant is on your countertop, apply a small amount of the mixture in an inconspicuous area as a test.

Always remember that prevention is the best way to protect your kitchen surfaces, but dirt and grease are unavoidable in any kitchen. Keeping some protective heat-resistant pads, lots of kitchen towels and attractive trivets will extend the life and looks of your stone and concrete counters though even the best-kept surfaces will still need a good cleaning once in a while. Follow the steps above (and always do your research to avoid possible damages), and you'll be on your way to a spotless and grease-free kitchen in no time.

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