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Kitchen Grease Cleaning: What Actually Works After a Year of Testing

Kitchen Cleaning, Cleaning Hacks, Grease Removal, Range Hood —

I’ll be honest—kitchen cleaning is my least favorite chore, bar none.

Especially the range hood, with that sticky grease that just looks daunting. I’ve tried countless methods, taken countless wrong turns, and today I’m sharing what actually works.

Bottom line: baking soda + hot water is the most reliable combo I’ve found

Don’t get fooled by fancy cleaners. I’ve used imported ones, domestic ones, influencer-recommended ones—turns out the cheapest baking soda works best.

Here’s how:

  1. Remove the range hood filter (and any detachable parts)
  2. Boil a pot of water, add half a cup of baking soda
  3. Soak the filter for 15-20 minutes
  4. Gently scrub with an old toothbrush or sponge—grease comes right off
  5. Rinse with clean water, dry, and reinstall

I was genuinely shocked the first time I tried this. I’d used some expensive brand-name cleaner before, spraying and scrubbing for half an hour with residue still left. After the baking soda soak, one gentle scrub and it was clean—saving time, effort, and money.

Daily stovetop maintenance beats deep cleaning

I used to wait until my stovetop was disgustingly greasy before tackling it—over an hour each time. Now I wipe it down right after cooking, every single time. Two minutes max.

My routine:

  • While the stovetop’s still warm post-cooking, wipe with a damp cloth
  • Once a week, deep clean with baking soda solution
  • For pot bottoms, steel wool + dish soap, patience required

This keeps the stovetop perpetually clean, avoiding that ‘too gross to touch’ stage.

One overlooked spot: the top of the range hood

Most people only clean the filter, ignoring the flat surface above. Lots of grease accumulates there, and since it’s out of sight, it’s often forgotten.

I clean this every two months. Lay down old newspapers, spray baking soda solution, wait a few minutes, then wipe. If it’s built up too thick, use a scraper for the big chunks first, then detail clean.

Tool selection

  • Dual-sided sponge: soft side for daily grime, rough side for stubborn grease
  • Old toothbrush: perfect for crevices and filter holes
  • Fish-scale cloth: for final drying, no water marks
  • Scraper: essential for thick buildup, but be careful not to scratch surfaces

One mindset shift

I used to treat kitchen cleaning as a ‘major project’ requiring half a day. This mentality made me procrastinate until grease built up thicker, doubling the cleaning difficulty.

Now I break it into chunks: stovetop today, range hood filter tomorrow, spice rack the day after. Each session just 10-20 minutes—much more manageable, and actually more effective.

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Keeping it clean isn’t for showing off; it’s about feeling better while cooking.

Got any kitchen cleaning hacks to recommend?

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