Grease happens. Whether it’s bacon splatters, spaghetti sauce pop-ups, or that mysterious sticky spot next to the stove, kitchen surfaces seem to collect grime like magnets. But here’s the good news—you don’t need harsh chemicals or pricey sprays to tackle it. This DIY kitchen degreaser is quick to make, safe for nearly every surface, and surprisingly powerful.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I’m all about finding simple, practical ways to save money without giving up results. Making your own kitchen degreaser is one of those easy switches that can really add up over time—and leave you wondering why you didn’t do it sooner.

Let’s talk numbers:

Dawn Platinum Powerwash Spray: $4.99 for 16 ounces (about 31 cents an ounce)
Zep 2-in-1 Fume-Free Cleaner: $9.99 for 24 ounces (around 42 cents an ounce)

Now, compare that to this homemade version: under $2 total for about 19 ounces. That’s roughly 10 cents an ounce—and you’re working with safe, everyday ingredients you probably already have on hand.

And here’s the bonus: you know exactly what’s in it. No mystery chemicals. No heavy fumes hanging in the air. Just clean surfaces, a healthier home, and a few extra dollars staying right where they belong—in your wallet. I don’t know about you, but that’s my kind of clean!

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Safe and Powerful Degreaser

No fancy ingredients here—just simple, hardworking stuff you probably already have tucked away at home.

Warm water: Good old H₂O gets the job done, but if your tap water tends to leave spots, using distilled water is worth the tiny extra step. It’ll help your surfaces dry clean and clear—no weird streaks left behind.
Baking soda: Not just for cookies or fridge-freshening anymore! Baking soda brings a gentle scrubbing power to the mix, cutting through grease without leaving a single scratch behind.
Blue Dawn Ultra dishwashing liquid: There’s a reason Dawn has a loyal fan club. It’s tough on grease, easy on your finishes, and a little bit goes a long way.
Lemon essential oil: Besides giving your kitchen a fresh, clean scent, lemon essential oil naturally helps break down oils and grease. Plus, your kitchen will smell like you’ve been cleaning for hours… even if it only took five minutes.

Together, these simple ingredients team up to create a powerful, family-safe cleaner—for just pennies compared to what you’d spend on store-bought sprays. And the best part? You’ll actually know what’s inside that bottle sitting on your counter.

Step-by-Step: How to Make and Use Your DIY Kitchen Degreaser

This DIY cleaner is safe for just about every kitchen surface you can think of—granite, quartz, slate, Formica, soapstone, stainless steel, porcelain, ceramic tile, finished wood, concrete—you name it. If it lives in your kitchen, you’re pretty much in the clear! Here’s how to mix it up and put it to work:

Pour 2 cups of warm water into a clean, empty 16-ounce spray bottle. (Tip: a little funnel makes this step way easier and a lot less splashy.)
Spoon in the baking soda, then add the Blue Dawn Ultra dish soap and lemon essential oil. These are your grease-fighting heroes.
Pop on the spray nozzle and give it a few gentle shakes. No need to go wild—a light swirl is plenty to get everything mingling.
Spritz the degreaser right onto greasy spots—stovetops, counters, cabinet fronts, backsplashes, you name it.
Wipe clean with a damp microfiber cloth, then grab a dry cloth and buff the surface to a pretty, streak-free shine. (Honestly, it’s ridiculously satisfying to watch the grime just disappear.)

Pro Tips for Best Results (and a Shiny Finish!)

Use Distilled Water (If You Can): If your tap water tends to leave spots on glasses or dishes, it’s likely loaded with minerals. Using distilled water in your degreaser helps avoid streaks and cloudy residue. It’s a small extra step, but trust me—it’s worth it for that squeaky-clean shine.
Give It a Little Shake: Baking soda likes to take a nap at the bottom of the bottle after it sits for a while. Just give your spray a gentle shake before each use to wake everything up and keep it working its best.
Two Cloths Are Better Than One: Keep one cloth damp for wiping and another dry for polishing as you go. It’ll make the job quicker and leave your surfaces looking downright show-off worthy.

diy kitchen degreaser recipe countertop female hand microfiber wiping

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5 from 1 vote

DIY Kitchen Surface Degreaser

This homemade kitchen surface degreaser is tough on grease but gentle on every surface you can imagine—granite, quartz, stainless steel, finished wood, ceramic tile—you name it! It's quick to whip up, easy on the wallet, and leaves your kitchen shining (without the harsh chemical smell).

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Category: DIY Household Cleaners

Cuisine: Housekeeping

Yield: ounces

Materials

2 cups warm water distilled preferred — see notes
2 tablespoons baking soda
2 teaspoons Blue Dawn Ultra dishwashing liquid
20 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions

Pour the warm water into a clean, empty 16-ounce spray bottle.
Add the baking soda, Blue Dawn Ultra, and lemon essential oil.
Put the spray nozzle on and gently shake to mix.
To use: Spray directly onto greasy surfaces. Wipe clean with a damp microfiber cloth, then polish dry with a second cloth for a shiny, streak-free finish.

Notes

Distilled Water: If your tap water is hard or mineral-rich, using distilled water will help prevent streaks or cloudy residue on surfaces.

Mix Gently: Give the bottle a little shake before each use, just in case the baking soda settles at the bottom.

Surface Reminder: Safe for granite, quartz, slate, Formica, soapstone, stainless steel, porcelain, ceramic tile, finished wood, and concrete.

Pro Tip: Keep one cloth damp and one dry nearby to save time while cleaning!

Question: If you could magically eliminate one cleaning task forever, what would it be? Greasy counters, sticky floors, dirty dishes? Tell me in the comments below.

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Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

Carol Moser says:

July 17, 2026 at 7:00 am

Thanks! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while!

Pam says:

February 1, 2026 at 5:47 am

Anyone have problems with their spray bottles not working very long with this type of mix? Does the baking soda cause a problem with the sprayer?

Barbara says:

April 27, 2025 at 6:00 am

sticky floors

Mary Hunt says:
April 28, 2025 at 12:21 pm

Go to any page on this site and look lower right for the search icon. Click on it. Type in a keyword such as “floors”. Enter. There you go … every post written on that subject. Surely one will help you with those sticky floors!

linda says:

April 27, 2025 at 3:00 am

floors. no sooner than i vacuum/wash the floors when the cats will shed, unstuff their toys and use the scratching post with shoots little bits of its wrapping all over the floor. my grandchildren will leave crumbs all over and my son will take his coffee out on the porch, leaving a trail of drips in his wake. if i never have to clean another floor in my life would i be happy? probably not because it will mean no cats, no son and no grands.

Cindy says:

April 26, 2025 at 8:55 pm

No more dusting!!

Mary Hunt says:
April 28, 2025 at 12:23 pm

Not sure about your comment. Is that a question, demand or are you dreaming? Unless you can figure out how to enclosed our home in a hermetically sealed container, you will deal with dust. No home, no area is free of dust. If you have doors, windows, vents, flues, an opening of any kind, you will have dust. That’s life!

Cate says:

April 26, 2025 at 5:44 pm

What do I do with leftover spray? Can it be reheated?

Mary Hunt says:
April 29, 2025 at 10:47 am

I would just use the rest as-is. The warming makes it slightly more effective but it will still work great at room temperature.

How to Make a Kitchen Degreaser That Works on Every Surface

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Safe and Powerful Degreaser

Step-by-Step: How to Make and Use Your DIY Kitchen Degreaser

Pro Tips for Best Results (and a Shiny Finish!)