I Spent Dozens on Kitchen Cleaner and Never Finished It: These Alternatives I Have Used for 3 Years

My kitchen used to have three or four bottles of cleaner sitting around—all different brands. Some were internet recommendations, some were impulse buys on sale.

And the result? I used less than half of any bottle before abandoning it. Not because they did not work, but because I always thought there is another bottle, so I never used them decisively.

Later I smartened up and switched to these alternatives—have not bought specialized kitchen cleaner in 3 years.

Baking Soda + Vinegar: Oil Stain Killers

This combo, I have used it countless times.

How to use:

1. Sprinkle baking soda on the oil stain
2. Spray with vinegar
3. Wait 5 minutes
4. Wipe with a cloth

The reaction between vinegar and baking soda creates bubbles that help loosen oil stains. The effect is genuinely comparable to specialized cleaners.

Best for: Stovetops, range hood filters, bottom of pots with burnt-on residue

Dish Soap + Warm Water: Daily Maintenance

Not every surface needs heavy artillery.

For daily stovetop wiping and dishwashing, dish soap + warm water is enough.

My habit:

• Wipe while the oil is still warm after cooking
• Warm water + dish soap works much better than cold water
• Wash the rag immediately after use, or bacteria will grow

Baking Soda + Dish Soap: Paste Cleaner

This is a magic weapon I recently discovered.

Recipe:

• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 tablespoon dish soap
• Small amount of water, mix into a paste

The paste advantage: it sticks to vertical surfaces—like the inside of your fridge door, inside your oven walls—without dripping.

Apply, wait 10 minutes, then wipe clean. Works great.

My Take

Cleaners are not better the more expensive they are. These three combos combined cost less than 3 yuan, but I think the effect is just as good as cleaners costing dozens.

Do you have any secret cleaning tips? Share them in the comments!