The dangers of neglecting grease are great, especially for commercial kitchens. A grease-covered kitchen can make occupational injuries and health code violations more likely, potentially resulting in fines and a damaged reputation.

Whether you’re running a restaurant or just trying to keep your home’s kitchen clean, knowing how to effectively eliminate grease will ensure you’re able to properly sanitize your cooking space with minimal stress and strain.

Supplies You’ll Need

• Degreaser, or heavy-duty kitchen cleaner (e.g., white vinegar or Dawn’s heavy-duty degreaser)
• Dish soap
• Baking soda
• Microfiber cloths
• Sponges
• Scrub brushes
• Bucket
• Rubber gloves
• Trash bags
• Paper towels
• Mop and mop bucket

How to Deep Clean Grease

Soak Removable Parts

Remove any detachable parts of your kitchen appliances, from stove burners to oven racks, and soak them in a large basin with hot water and dish soap, or ideally a degreasing solution. This will loosen up the built-up grease and make it easier to clean later.

Degrease High-Use Areas

Use a degreaser or dish soap with warm water to wipe down your countertops and cabinets as well as your walls and backsplashes. Sinks can be cleaned with a degreaser or baking soda. For particularly tough grease deposits, mixing baking soda and water can help break through the grime. Resistant stains on countertops should be scrubbed with a non-abrasive cleaner to avoid damaging the surface.

Removing Grease From Appliances

Stovetop and Oven: Apply a degreaser to the stovetop and inside the oven. Let it sit for as long as recommended on the degreaser product, giving the grease time to break down. Once the degreaser has done its work you can clean up the grease residue with a sponge or scraper.

Microwave: Place a bowl of water with lemon slices or vinegar inside the microwave and heat it until it steams. This steam will loosen any grime and make it easy to wipe clean.

Refrigerator: Remove all the food inside and wipe the interior with a water and baking soda solution to eliminate odors and grime. Clean the shelves and drawers separately before placing them back in the refrigerator.

Dishwasher: Place a cup of vinegar on the top rack and run a cycle without any dishes to remove grease build-up as well as any lingering food odors. Also be sure to remove and clean the dishwasher’s food trap/filter.

Wipe Down Cabinets and Drawers

Wipe down the exterior and interior of your cabinets and drawers with a degreaser or a vinegar and water solution, using a toothbrush to clean the gaps and crevices and a cloth to polish the handles and knobs.

Floors

Grease buildup isn’t exclusive to kitchen areas above fryers or stovetops. Floors can develop a greasy film as well. Sweep the floor for debris and then mop with a suitable floor cleaner. If you have a tile floor, it may be more effective to scrub with a brush and a baking soda solution so you can thoroughly clean the grout.

Polish and Finishing Touches

Inspect all cleaned areas to ensure no spots were missed. Polish stainless steel appliances with a nonabrasive cleaner to prevent accidentally scratching the surface and restore their shine. Wipe down glass surfaces and mirrors with a glass cleaner for a streak-free finish. For stainless steel sinks, use a polish specifically designed for stainless steel.

Grease Trap Maintenance Can Reduce the Risk of Grease-Related Problems

Grease traps that aren’t properly maintained become less effective at trapping FOG, potentially leading to grease seepage or even backups from clogs. Grease also literally stinks, whether it’s a filmy coating over your commercial kitchen’s appliances and surfaces or grease seeping out of pipe fittings under sinks.

Regular grease trap cleaning won’t eliminate grease buildup in your kitchen, but it can help maintain proper sanitary conditions and prevent unappetizing odors from permeating your place of business.

One-Off and Routine Grease Trap Cleaning and Oil Recycling Services in Atlanta

Southern Green Industries has been providing Atlanta businesses with assiduous grease trap cleaning and waste oil recycling services for over 15 years. We work around your schedule to make grease trap cleaning easy and unobtrusive, giving you peace of mind about the state of your commercial kitchen.

Call (404) 419-6887 today to receive a free grease trap and oil recycling service quote from one of our specialists.