How to remove grease from walls without removing paint

What Are Grease Stains and Why Do They Appear on Walls?

Most often, we come across grease stains on the walls in the kitchen.

When you prepare the meal, oil, and grease often splatter on the wall, kitchen appliances, and work surfaces. Grease is easily removed from kitchen work surfaces, tiles, and appliances, but removing greasy stains on walls requires more effort.

What is good to know here? It is wise to remove the stains as soon as possible. Any delay in cleaning leads to a layer of dust settling on the greasy stains, making cleaning even more challenging.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Grease Buildup?

Trust us, there is no place where meals are prepared that has never had stubborn stains. One of the main causes of oily buildup is cooking and frying food, which results in residue splashing around the area. Insufficient ventilation also contributes to the formation of such stains because steam and oil particles have nowhere to go but remain inside and cling to the surfaces. Regular cleaning service can help prevent long-term accumulation.

If the kitchen is not regularly maintained for a long time, grease and dirt will settle and harden. Eliminating impurities becomes even more demanding, so it is important to remember the importance of regular cleaning and adequate maintenance.

Which Areas Are Most Affected by Grease?

During meal preparation, steam, and fat droplets spray and quickly settle on surfaces in areas where you frequently fry or bake. The most affected areas in the kitchen are the walls and tiles near the stove. In addition to other surfaces, oily stains often remain on appliances, countertops, and tables. If there’s a spill, marks may also appear on the floor.

What Are the Best Cleaning Solutions for Removing Grease?

Fat stains on walls, kitchen appliances, and other surfaces can persist but know that you will quickly eliminate them with appropriate cleaning products. We’re sharing with you some tricks that can help you get rid of them.

DIY methods

For tile walls in your house, one of the simplest and safest ways to clean grease is to make a paste from a bit of water and baking soda. Apply this mixture to the grease, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it with a damp cloth. Households often use white vinegar and water prepared in a 1:1 ratio. This proved to be an excellent homemade product for removing grease stains because the mixture, prepared efficiently, breaks down grease and removes all dirt.

For wallpaper, you can use a mixture of cornstarch and oily water, which you will apply to the wallpaper with a wet cloth. Regardless of which DIY method you choose, test the prepared mixture on a small wall surface first to ensure the paste or solution will not damage the wall surface.

Commercial degreasers safe for painted walls

How to remove grease from walls without removing paint? The answer could be using degreasers.

When buying degreasers, pay attention to the composition of the product and the recommendations for use. If you need to clean delicate surfaces in your house, remember that the aggressive ingredients of certain products can cause damage, so be sure to check whether the product contains any abrasive ingredients that could harm the paint or finishing layers on the walls.

How to Prepare Before Cleaning?

To effectively remove grease stains, we advise you to prepare adequately. Here’s what you’ll need.

Essential Supplies

Make sure you have the following:

• Microfibre cloths are great for cleaning grease because they are gentle but effective in absorbing dirt. They leave no lint or streaks and are great for use on painted surfaces and sensitive materials.
• White vinegar is considered a natural disinfectant and a frequently used household product for removing grease stains. It’s natural acid helps break down dirt.
• Baking soda, along with white vinegar, is another mandatory supply for fighting impurities and removing stubborn grease stains in the kitchen.
• Dish soap contains enzymes that break down fat. It is very effective for cleaning kitchen surfaces and can be combined with baking soda and white vinegar.
• Commercial degreasers (usually as a last resort) can also be used to remove cooking stains. Once again, we remind you to pay attention to the ingredients of these products, because the abrasive ingredients can damage the surfaces being cleaned.
• Spray bottle – you need it to make it easier to apply the prepared solution.
• Warm water is necessary.
• Scrub brush or sponge to clean grease stains.

Safety Precautions

Be wise – think ahead. 

Wear Gloves to Protect Your Hands

When using cleaning products, especially those that contain harsh chemicals or are designed to remove stubborn stains, it is very important to wear rubber gloves. If the skin on your hands is prone to irritation or allergic reactions, be sure to wear gloves before cleaning.

Test Cleaning Solutions on a Small Area

Also, be wise and test the product before use to remove dirt and grease stains. Choose a small and inconspicuous area and test the product there to make sure that using it will not damage the paint on the wall or cause unwanted changes to the surface. It’s always better to be safe than to fix the damage later.

How to Get Grease Off Walls – Step-by-Step Guide for Each Type of Wall

Painted Walls

You can clean a wall in several ways, applying different methods, depending on how complicated the stain on the wall is to clean. You can try the following:

• Make dry cleaning the first step. Use a soft cloth or sponge to remove the grease.
• Next, you can try cleaning with a mix of water and mild detergent. Dip a cloth in the solution and gently clean the grease from the wall with gentle movements, without aggressive scrubbing. 
• If the stain is stubborn, try cleaning it with a paste and mixing baking soda and a little water.
• If none of the DIY methods work, you can look for a store-bought product designed to treat oily stains on surfaces—but always do a patch test before use.

Wallpapered Walls

You must know whether your wallpaper is washable or non-washable. Why is this important? This will help you choose the correct cleaning method.

If your wallpapers are washable, try these steps:

• First, remove dust with a microfiber cloth. 
• Second, make a mix of water and a little dish detergent. Instead of detergent you can mix vinegar and water. Apply the prepared solution to the stain on the wallpaper and try to remove the stain with a soft sponge.
• Remember to remove the solution’s remains with a clean and damp cloth and then dry the area you cleaned.

If you have a stain on non-washable wallpaper, you should not use this solution with water to clean it, but you can try to remove the stain with a dry sponge.

Kitchen Walls

Grease stains often end up on kitchen walls, but you can achieve great results with the right approach. 

• Remove excess fat with a dry cloth or kitchen towel. 
• Mix water with baking soda and fresh lemon juice. Apply the paste prepared this way to the part of the wall that you want to clean. 
• Instead of baking soda, you can also use degreasing products, such as kitchen sprays, which are very effective at removing stubborn stains. 
• After cleaning, wipe the kitchen wall with a dry cloth and let it dry.

How to Prevent Future Grease Stains?

Regular Cleaning Tips

Although it may sometimes be burdensome or you may not have time, know that cleaning the kitchen immediately after cooking is the best way to always keep your kitchen tip-top. There’s no magic wand here—dirt has to be removed sooner rather than later.

If you notice an oily stain on the walls or other surfaces, wipe it off immediately without waiting to dry and harden with dust. The faster you act, the easier the cleanup will be.

You can clean using one of the DIY methods mentioned above or buy a specialized kitchen cleaning product. 

Protective Coatings and Solutions

When preparing meals on the stove, you can use a grease splatter guard for stovetop. This is a very practical way to reduce the chance of grease stains on the kitchen wall. You can also use pots, pans, and pots with lids.

Conclusion

Sometimes, the question “How to remove grease from walls without removing paint?” can be tricky, but there is always a way to fix it. Getting rid of oily residue from various surfaces can sometimes be challenging, but with regular cleaning services, you can keep your cooking area clean and tidy.

Need Help? Get Professional Cleaning Assistance Today!

We believe that this text has helped you find the answer to the question, “How to remove grease from walls without removing paint?” and that you will deal with this problem more easily from now on because you know that there is a solution for it.

However, keeping your home in perfect condition is not always easy. If you need help with regular maintenance, you can count on us.

Chicago Maid Match offers various professional cleaning services, and our team will make sure every corner of your home is spotless. Whether you need a standard or deep cleaning service, this is a way to save time and energy, eliminate this obligation, and enjoy a clean, tidy, and hygienic home.

Contact us today to book your cleaning service and experience the comfort of a truly spotless home.