Kitchen Grease Cleaning Showdown: Three Methods Under $2 Total—One Blew My Mind

My kitchen’s biggest pain point was the range hood filter and the built-up grease around the stovetop. I’d tried all sorts of cleaners from the supermarket—some worked, sure, but at 40-50 RMB per bottle, the cost adds up fast.

Last week I spent three weekends systematically testing three different methods for kitchen grease removal. Conclusion: there are some things so cheap you won’t believe they work better than store-bought cleaners.

Method 1: Baking soda + white vinegar, cost: 3 RMB

This combination is well-known, but the key is the ratio and waiting time. My approach: mix baking soda with water into a paste, apply to greasy areas, spray white vinegar on top, wait 15 minutes, then wipe with a wet cloth. This works great for light grease. For the filter, soaking it for 30 minutes, the grease mostly just fell off.

Cost: soda 2 RMB, vinegar 1 RMB.

Method 2: Soapy water + old toothbrush, cost: 0 RMB

For gaps around the stovetop and the gunk around burner knobs, soapy water plus an old toothbrush is the best combo. Soapy water softens the grease, the toothbrush’s stiff bristles get into crevices. Basically free, but requires a bit of patience.

Cost: zero.

Method 3: Heavy-duty — caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), cost: 5 RMB

This was the most “astonishing” result from my testing. Dissolved caustic soda in water, applied to the most stubborn grease—the effect was almost immediate. But note: caustic soda is caustic, must wear gloves, and never use on aluminum.

Cost: caustic soda 5 RMB, gloves 2 RMB (if you already have them, free).

My final routine:

For daily maintenance: baking soda + white vinegar (once a week). For stovetop gaps: soapy water + old toothbrush (every couple days, quick wipe). For heavy buildup areas: caustic soda solution once a month for deep cleaning. Total monthly kitchen cleaning cost: under 15 RMB. Way cheaper than buying cleaners.

Don’t ask how I know—all lessons learned from trial and error.