How to Remove Grease from Kitchen Wall Tiles
Sticky grease on the wall beside the stove melts quickly under warm soapy water. Clean the grout at the same time.
What you need
Supplies
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 1 tsp dish soap
- 500 ml (2 cups) warm water
Tools
- Spray bottle
- Paper towels
- Soft sponge
- Toothbrush
- Dry cloth
How to do it
- 01
Mix the solution
Put 500 ml of warm water, 1 tbsp of baking soda and 1 tsp of dish soap into a spray bottle and shake. Warm water breaks down grease better.
- 02
Spray and cover with paper towels
Spray the greasy tiles, press paper towels over them and spray again so they stick. After 10 minutes the sticky grease softens.
- 03
Wipe with a sponge
Peel off the paper towels, wiping as you go, then wipe from top to bottom with a soft sponge. The grease dissolves and the tile color returns.
- 04
Scrub the grout
Grease soaks into grout lines. Dip a toothbrush in the solution and scrub along the grout.
- 05
Rinse and dry
Wipe two or three times with a cloth dampened in clean water to remove the soap, then dry with a dry cloth. Leftover soap attracts dust.
Be careful
- Do not spray water on wallpaper or painted walls. Dab with a well-wrung cloth and a little soap, and test a hidden area first.
- Never clean while the stove or cooktop is on.
- Steel wool and abrasives scratch glossy tiles.
Malkkeum tips
- Wiping the wall with a damp cloth right after cooking, while it is still warm, keeps grease from setting.
- Turning the hood on before you start cooking reduces grease on the wall.
- A clear splash guard sheet behind the stove means you only need to wipe or replace the sheet.
Why kitchen wall grease gets sticky
Cooking fumes turn into tiny droplets of oil that settle on nearby walls. At first it is a thin film, but mixed with dust and heated again and again, it hardens into sticky yellow grime. Grease is acidic, so mildly alkaline baking soda and detergent dissolve it well.
For old, hardened grease
Grease that has built up for months may not come off in one go. Spray the solution and cover with plastic wrap for 20–30 minutes to soften it further. If some still remains, dissolve oxygen bleach in warm water and use it the same way, wearing rubber gloves.
FAQ
Should I clean the hood filter too? Yes. If the wall is greasy, the hood filter will be too. Doing range hood filter degreasing on the same day finishes the kitchen in one go.
